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RE: Hook, Line and Sinker -- Story Openings (Part 1)
Ah, I like the topic here. The hook is so important when we're all inundated with things to draw our attention.
It's even worse on steemit, when there' no real REASON to read anything. I didn't pay for that story. I didn't buy that book. It has no fancy cover to draw me in. I don't feel obligated to do anything in particular. I don't know you, and unless I've read your stuff before, I don't trust that you aren't going to waste my time with a crappy story.
Everything looks the same to the reader.
So you gotta hook me quick, or I'm outta here, off to look for something that will hook me.
Great writeup @thinknzombie!
Thanks @negativer. If there are other issues that you see a lot that I've missed, please let me know. I can add them to part 2.
One of the biggest hooks, often overlooked, is the Title of the work.
This is a great point (and totally overlooked in my post). Especially for formats like Steemit where eyeballs are in demand. Images and titles are the first two things that will draw the reader in for sure.
Oh, yes. The images. On Steemit, ensure the Hook Image is the top image as it is this shown in the thumbnail. It does not help to keep the best photo for the bottom of the post if no-one ever sees it!
Yeah, the combination between Title, Image and First Line is what makes the hook a hook on steemit... But even making a good sounding title is hard, then what about a title that's good sounding and thought provoking at the same time?!
Another trick is make a surprise (or contradiction) between the title and the image, something that will make the reader think, why the the image has nothing to do with title...
It's a gamble since some people will think you're trying to trick them, or just not knowing what you're doing. But I love that type of gambles.
Ouch!!
It hurts because it's so true!!