Writing a good hook is all about grabbing attention right from the start. This excited your reader and makes them want to learn more.

Types of hooks:

1. Ask a Question
   “What if you woke up tomorrow and the internet was gone?”
   — Gets the reader thinking.

2. Start with a Bold Statement
   “High school is a complete waste of time—unless you know how to beat the system.”
   — Surprising or controversial lines spark curiosity.

3. Use a Vivid Description or Imagery
   “The sky bled orange as smoke curled above the rooftops.”
   — Creates atmosphere and pulls the reader into a scene.

4. Share a Shocking Fact or Statistic
   “Every minute, over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube.”
   — Makes the reader pause and think.

The key is to match the hook with your topic and audience.

Let your audience know what they’re getting into.
You can trick people into sticking around—but the moment they realize your content isn’t what they expected, they’re out. The better move? Respect their time and be clear from the start.

A strong hook lives right at the intersection of clarity and creativity:

• Clarity → Make it obvious what the content is about.

• Creativity → Say it in a way that sparks curiosity.

Here’s how that plays out:

Bad: “Today, I’ll teach you about storytelling.”
Boring. Generic. No hook.
Better: “Most people ruin their stories in the first 10 seconds. Here’s why.”
Clear topic, intriguing angle.

Bad: “Let’s talk about confidence.”
Too broad. No tension.
Better: “This one mindset shift will make you instantly more confident.”
Specific. Promises value.

See the difference? Don’t just name the topic—frame it so your audience needs to keep reading.

The Pickle Analogy:
Credit to u/OpusTales on Reddit

Think of your opening paragraph as a pickle! Here’s what that means:

— Make it snap! Pickles aren’t chewy and your opening is not a good place to give your reader something to chew on, either. First impressions are fleeting, which means you need to establish intrigue right away. A good hook is (usually) quick and to the point—just one or two sentences will do.

— Make it juicy! Like a tabloid gossip headline, your hook should give the reader a taste of the story ahead—but don’t give away everything at once!

— Give it some bite! Your hook should probably end with something that surprises or confuses the reader in a good way.

— Make it cravable! Leave your audience wanting more.

Example: let’s say your first sentence is “It was long, rusty, and I’d cut myself on it at least 12 times.” It’s short (the snap!) and establishes a few details about what’s likely a key item in the book without giving away too much (so juicy!). A sentence like this leaves your reader confused (the bite!) but intrigued (pickle craving!). What could the narrator be talking about? Will we find out soon? It’s an easy way to leave your audience “hungry” for more of the story.

Hope this helps!