Hooking Readers

Hi all. It’s with great sadness that I’m announcing that this will be my last post for Unicorn Bell. It has been great fun, but I had to make some choices regarding what I can spend my time on. I’m really just not in a place where I can do posting here the justice it deserves. It's not the end for my blogging, though. You can still find me discussing writing at my blog and on Wattpad.

But yeah, all good things come to an end, and as it happens, I’m ending my time here by giving a spot of advice on beginnings.

Specifically, hooks.

See, I think writers have a tendency of looking at hooks wrong. Agents have this way of hammering on the importance of the first sentence, and as a result, writers agonize about how to make the first line as intriguing as possible.

The thing is…I believe that hooks are way much more than just a first line. Furthermore, hooks do more than make people want to read the next sentence. Which means that more often than not, I’m reading stories that start with a major gimmick for the first line but the immediate follow-up falls way short.

Hooks are there to serve one of two functions. If they’re good, they serve both. 1) They bring the reader into the character’s world. 2) They make the reader ask a question that would take further reading to answer.

Honestly of the two, the latter is more important. However, it’s important to note that “What the heck is going on?” is not the question you should be going for. Why would he/she say this? Think this? Do this? What leads up to it? How will the character react to it? Those are all good questions to encourage a reader to ask.

That’s a tough task to achieve with one sentence, though. Which is why you shouldn’t even strive for this. Instead, see the hook as something that must take place over the first five pages of your book. (But aim for fewer pages.)

How it works is this: 
First line makes the reader ask a question that encourages them to read the first paragraph. The first paragraph encourages the reader to read the second paragraph and on and on, each successive paragraph “hook” sucking the reader in deeper.

And before the reader knows it, they’ll be at the end of chapter 1 and paging over.

But an incredible opening line followed by no further hooking just doesn’t work. So stop cleaning up those few words and look at the bigger picture, will you? Overall, those first five pages are much more important than just the first line.

Thanks all! It's been fun. 

Day Four - Hooks #20

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier, dramatic and compelling.

Hooks - #19

I heard the mailman approach my office door, half an hour earlier than usual. He didn't sound right. 

Jim Butcher is my drug of choice. He wrote the Furies of Calderon, a fantasy series. 

The above quote is from my favorite wizard of all time, Harry Dresden, who is the MC of Storm Front, an urban fantasy series. 

Hooks - #18

You know me, then? I thought so. It is rare for travelers to journey to the high lands at the start of winter.

Hooks - #17

I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it. 


Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion made the switch to the silver screen today. Excellent book.

Hooks, #16

I’ve been in love with Sandra Baker since the second day of the sixth grade. That’s when I stopped thinking girls had cooties and started noticing they had breasts. Nothing much has changed since then. 

Day Three - Hooks

Some of these hook lines are famous. Others rather obscure. A few are tongue in cheek with little or no work on my part. Several are genuine lines to crit.

Submit from 20 words to 40 – 50 or whatever best suits your hook. Just remember, more words do not a hook make.
Submit to unicornbellsubmissions.gmail.com

Hook #15

“ I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he’s the one. Or at least as close as we’re going to get.”

A famous book that I hadn't read until last year, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Hook #14

I tossed my backpack in a corner of the studio and high-fived Rodney on his way out. “Hey, Kitty, thanks again for taking the midnight shift,” he said. 

He’d started playing some third-generation grunge band that made my hackles rise, but I smiled anyway.

A delightful surprise, Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn. This continues as the 'Kitty' series. 

Hook #13

“All I ask is that you pick up your sh*t so you don’t leave your bedroom looking like it was used for a gang bang. Also, sorry that your girlfriend dumped you.”


I was laughing so hard while reading this book, the hubby nearly performed CPR on me. Sh*t My Dad Says - Justin Halpern

Hook #12

The hill people and the Mexicans arrived on the same day.

A fantastic book written by a well-established author, A Painted House by John Grisham

Hook #11

There is one mirror in my house. It is behind a sliding panel in the hallway upstairs. Our faction allows me to stand in front of it on the second day of every third month, the day my mother cuts my hair.


YAY, someone guessed. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Hook #10

I’d been waiting for the vampire for years when he walked into the bar.

The famous first line to a famous first book of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, Dead Until Dark. TV show is True Blood.

Hook #9

I hadn't enjoyed a hangover since my University days with Vicki and Grey, and this one wasn't any different.

Hook #8

I sat packed into the back of a hummer with a bunch of Army guys. The convoy I’d joined currently headed to a compound where a local school was located. The air inside the cab was stale and charged with a nervous energy.

Hook #7

Before the car pulled into the driveway I knew whoever was inside had a hold on me.

“Is that a new one?” Greg slid off the trunk of my car and started stretching for our run.
“Guess so.” I shrugged. 

The car pulled along the sidewalk and the man driving got out.

Hook #6

Statistics show that most mortals sell their souls for five reasons: sex, money, power, revenge, and love. In that order.

Debut novel of Richelle Mead. Succubus Blues.

Say it. Out Loud. "Hook."

Some of these hook lines are famous. Others rather obscure. A few are tongue in cheek with little or no work on my part. Several are genuine lines to crit.

Changing horses in midstream. A woman’s prerogative. Fickle: thy name is woman.

I subtly changed the rules from 20 words to 40 – 50. Submit whatever best suits your hook. Just remember, more words do not a hook make. 

Submit to unicornbellsubmissions.gmail.com

Hook #5

I didn’t realize he was a werewolf at first. My nose isn’t at its best when surrounded by axle grease and burnt oil – and it’s not like there are a lot a stray werewolves running around


A great series and author.

Moon Called - Patricia Briggs, the Mercy Thompson series

Hook #4

When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. 

You guessed it.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins