tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post4118820486556940236..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Crafting Hook Lines that Draw Readers inJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-5142401274727695752020-01-09T16:20:13.568-05:002020-01-09T16:20:13.568-05:00Sounds like hook line to me. And it also sounds li...Sounds like hook line to me. And it also sounds like you're doing it naturally as well. :) Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66389426119866675902020-01-08T19:10:14.067-05:002020-01-08T19:10:14.067-05:00For a recent short story that I published, the edi...For a recent short story that I published, the editor highlighted some lines that really stood out to her. I'm guessing those were hook lines. <br />Note to self: go through current work-in-progress for this.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25697064286611718242011-10-08T20:04:40.806-04:002011-10-08T20:04:40.806-04:00This is interesting - I'd always thought hooks...This is interesting - I'd always thought hooks were those dramatic points in thrillers that up the tension and add mystery to keep you reading the next chapter.<br /><br />Lines like, "As he set down the phone, the doorstep creaked."<br /><br />But I really like your expanded definition - how humor and emotion can pull us into a story just as much.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68528965167704970912011-10-06T13:49:55.277-04:002011-10-06T13:49:55.277-04:00Thanks all!
I think most of us probably naturall...Thanks all! <br /><br />I think most of us probably naturally put hook lines in our work. Good storytelling has that occasional punch to keep things moving. I know I did and never even thought about it until it was pointed out. <br /><br />Those are the little things I love to be aware of though. They work, and work for a reason, so why not consciously take advantage of them?<br /><br />CO, I'd go with "give my writing a little punch" myself. Feels stronger there at the end. The punch is the emphasis, not the writing.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41607565962163713522011-10-05T17:39:28.744-04:002011-10-05T17:39:28.744-04:00Great rule of thumb. I know I think of hooks for t...Great rule of thumb. I know I think of hooks for the end of a chapter but maybe not enough per page.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78200587939451469922011-10-05T16:58:06.702-04:002011-10-05T16:58:06.702-04:00I use one-liner paragraphs (which usually comes fr...I use one-liner paragraphs (which usually comes from the narrator) that has a touch of sarcasm in them. I try limiting them to a couple per chapter though, since they stand out. But I do put hook lines in the narrative.<br /><br />About number five: I read a blog entry somewhere how a powerful sentence has the emphasized word at the end. For example: "Give me liberty, or give me death". "Death" is the emphasise of the sentence. <br /><br />I have been using this to give my writing a little punch. Or is it "I had been using this to give a little punch to my writing"? What do <i>you</i> think reads better?chihuahuazerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677672177353350936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-86768671371016926122011-10-05T13:46:52.311-04:002011-10-05T13:46:52.311-04:00I only ever heard the phrase `hook lines' refe...I only ever heard the phrase `hook lines' referring to a story's opening. I never thought to look for them elsewhere. I'll have to remember that.Chicoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504144663440678542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67300013472534384602011-10-05T12:46:15.482-04:002011-10-05T12:46:15.482-04:00I don't add hook lines by will, but sometimes ...I don't add hook lines by will, but sometimes (not often), when I read through stuff I've written, I find them >:) <br /><br /><a href="http://cold-as-heaven.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Cold As Heaven</a>CA Heavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07558100567878233142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-58259820936666684462011-10-05T10:26:15.750-04:002011-10-05T10:26:15.750-04:00Great post Janice. I tend to think of hooks at the...Great post Janice. I tend to think of hooks at the beginning and the end of chapters, but I love the thought of sprinkling them thorough out.Angela Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09243582290698922119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-35846858396633908252011-10-05T09:39:57.538-04:002011-10-05T09:39:57.538-04:00The only hooks I work at are the chapter/scene end...The only hooks I work at are the chapter/scene endings. But one of my crit partners points out other lines he likes, so my subconscious must include a few.<br /><br />One more thing to look at in edits.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">Romance with a Twist--of Mystery</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67331498382874456682011-10-05T09:30:22.319-04:002011-10-05T09:30:22.319-04:00Great post! I love hooks, esp the funny ones. And,...Great post! I love hooks, esp the funny ones. And, I had to chuckle that you made a mental note to look up the definition, did that myself recently. A CP commented I drew great paralell reactions btwn characters and I had to noodle on that for a bit! I was like, "I did? What is that?" ;)Jessica Lemmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16388504462239939840noreply@blogger.com