They say that you only get the first twenty seconds to capture reader’s attention; thus, it’s best to start with a bang. So how do you capture reader’s interest? With a great hook. A narrative hook is a narrative technique of creating an intriguing opening that draws the readers in and entice them to read further.
Here are some techniques that can help you get the reader’s attention and have them reading your book till the last page:
Capture reader’s attention at the get-go by making an intriguing opening. This means the first word or sentence is provocative, exciting, or enticing enough to convince the readers that your book is worth reading. A controversial statement or an intriguing question will encourage the readers to keep on reading. This statement hook will serve to frame the rest of the story.
Another great hook is starting in the middle of the action. This is called in media res. Readers get immersed in the story right away if you place them in the middle of the action. Why? Because being in the middle of the action with no context will make them curious and intrigue. They will have questions, and this will compel them to keep on reading.
Another technique that works well is appealing to your readers’ emotion. So open your story with an emotional scene. This type of opening draws the readers in because it will tap into their sense of empathy, and they will form emotional connection with the characters. This bond will carry them throughout the rest of the book.
A good hook makes the reader want to know more or compel them to ask questions. Whether it is using action or a strong statement, a good hook will make the readers interested in the character’s motivations, backstories, etc. while keeping them guessing what is next.
Starting with long descriptive sentence isn’t the best choice to capture reader’s interest. You don’t need to go into the details at the beginning of the story. It is best to leave the readers in suspense by leaving out details.
After capturing the reader’s attention, sustaining their attention is the next challenge. Yes, a great hook will get the reader’s attention, but remember that leaving them with more unanswered questions than answers will likely make them frustrated and may just put the book down. The trick is to introduce a new question every time you answer a previous one. This will keep the readers in constant anticipation and suspense, thus sustaining their attention throughout the whole book.
Sources:
Breezeel, Gary. “Capture Your Reader’s Interest.” Last modified August 28, 2023. https://whitecountycreativewriters.org/capture-the-readers-interest/.
Kurtus, Ron. “Getting the Reader’s Interest.” Last modified June 25, 2023. https://www.school-for-champions.com/writing/getting_readers_interest.htm.
Martin, Elise Welburn. “You Have 1–20 Seconds to Capture a reader’s Attention.” Last modified September 1, 2016. https://writingcooperative.com/you-have-10-20-seconds-to-capture-a-readers-attention.
Masterclass. “7 Tips for Writing an Attention-Grabbing Hook.” Last modified September 2, 2021. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-writing-an-attention-grabbing-hook.
