Creating Engaging Opening Lines: Hooks That Keep Readers Wanting More

The first chapter is the introduction of your book, and the first line/opening paragraphs are the first part of that. If you have been writing for a while, you know how important they are and if you haven't, well, they are super important. How do you make those opening lines exciting so that they make people want to keep reading? There's no one way to it, but there are a few common threads between standout opening lines, these are what will be discussed. 

You can’t write a killer opening if you don't know what entices your intended audience. Find out what their interest, needs, and pain points are, these are what your opening lines will be tailored to. You want to make sure you are not starting dull, so try starting your story in the middle of something cool. You already know exactly what would get your audience curious, so play to that.

Bringing in a character that's interesting right from the start is another trick that does it. Introducing a fun, intriguing character would make readers want to know more about them and what they're up to. Once again, play to your audience's interests. If you don't want to go the character route, how about popping a controversial question? They want to know the answers, so they'll keep reading to find out more.

Humans are emotional beings; you have good chances of hooking readers with your opening lines if they relate to it emotionally. Tap into general human experiences such as fear, excitement, or longing, to create an instant connection with readers and moreover evoking specific emotions from the outset establishes the emotional atmosphere of your story. It will appeal to people who relate to that emotion.

When writing your opening line, opt for language that reflects the overall tone of the story. One should be able to tell from the onset if the story will be funny, serious, or something else. Keep your content concise, clear, and to the point.  Getting the point, you're driving at shouldn't be difficult at all, your readers will appreciate this.

If you are using the right words and storytelling tricks to make them feel something, you can make people really want to keep reading your story. Yes, you might not get it on your first try, but with constant practice and revisions, you will soon become a pro.