From hook to plot

Hi,
I write romance/thriller kind of stories and I don't put any of the plot in the first paragraph, or even first chapter, as it's not possible. I always hope that the characters I've created can pull readers into my stories, as the characters are whom we meet first; then I set the plots out weaved through the stories.


Elodie

There's no rule on hooks or even a definition of what a hook is and whether it should be in the first paragraph or not. The general rule of thumb is to be interesting, to make the readers want to read on.

And why do you want to "give up" anything just to interest the readers? Sometimes people think they have to tell everyone the entire back life story to be interesting. Not really. There's much to say about suspense and making people "wanting more." Show them a little skin, and let them use their imagination.

I wouldn't give an authoritative answer because I can't...just what works for me. I always try to nail the reader with curiosity...something in the first paragraph, sometimes even, the first sentence that has them asking a question.

eg: from my 1st published book A THOUSAND SUNS:

'At a distance it looked like a tangled ball of fishing net and seaweed.' (Err...what looked like fishing net?)

eg: from my 2nd book LAST LIGHT:

'She stared at the door of room 204.' (Um...why's that then?)

The first paragraph should make the reader want to read the second paragraph. The second paragraph should make the reader want to read the third. The third...

The first chapter should make the reader want to read the second chapter...

On squeezing it all up front--A fisherman can't set the hook until a fish bites, and the fish won't bite until he casts his lure. There could be other prerequisites in this as well.

Some writers can do all of this in a paragraph or two, but the risk of rushing it into the first few words would be like jigging that fish in the side and yanking if out of the water in a single tug instead of letting it take the lure then playing it up to the side of the boat. If all you want to do is eat, do the first. If you want some sport along with the meal, play the fish. Which will be more rewarding (for the reader)?

mum23 said:

I understand the hook has to be contained within the first paragraph or two . . .

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You may be confusing “the hook” with hooking the reader. The hook of any story is the single element or statement that makes the reader want to read the book. It is usually stated on the jacket, back cover or inside flap of the novel.

For example: A code hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci could expose a centuries-old plot to conceal the marriage of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.

That is the primary hook for THE DA VINCI CODE.

Hooking the reader relies on the skill of the writer to pull the reader into the story with intrigue, action, or cleverness and motivate them to keep reading.

For example: The seller of lightening rods arrived just ahead of the storm.

This is the first sentence of SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury. It is a strong grab that hooks the reader into reading the second sentence, the third, etc.

So think of your hook as being the reason to read the story. Think of hooking the reader as the technique to get them to continue reading. Good luck.

Give up

I don't think it's a mater of "giving up" anything. At the same time, it's never a good idea to withhold any information from the reader. Whatever a viewpoint character knows at a given point in a story, first page or last, the reader should know as well.

It isn't a matter of explaining anything to the read. It's a matter of being honest with the reader. You can't hold back information. The reader doesn't need to know how the novel will end on the first page, but he does need to know what's happening at the moment, and have a fair idea what problem the protagonist is facing.

Maybe this says it best. You don't have to tell the reader why something is happening, you usually shouldn't, but you do have to tell him what's happening. If the POV character knows it, the reader should know it. If the POV character doesn't know it, the reader shouldn't be told, either.

mum23 said:

I understand the hook has to be contained within the first paragraph or two, but I have been told to explain what is going on within the hook also. I dont want to explain too much as I would like to draw the reader into the novel. How much do you "give up" in the first chapter of your novel?

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If by hook, we're talking opening paras, then they merely have to be intriguing or involving, rather than expository. If you can indicate the sort of story, and kick off the conflict, then so much the better.

What they must not be - IMHO - is confusing or coy.

Just remember to be subtle with your hook. I've read books (published even) which say things like, "The killer's face was well known to Betty, but we'll save that for later."

That's not a hook, thats a blatant attempt at manipulation and all it did was piss me off.

But thats just my opinion.

Jamesaritchie said:

Whatever a viewpoint character knows at a given point in a story, first page or last, the reader should know as well.

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I don't agree. If the viewpoint character is the murderer, but he has no reason to be thinking of the murder at the time, you don't need to impart this knowledge to the reader. Even if you're in his head.

mum23 said:

I understand the hook has to be contained within the first paragraph or two, but I have been told to explain what is going on within the hook also. I dont want to explain too much as I would like to draw the reader into the novel. How much do you "give up" in the first chapter of your novel?

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This question is less likely to come up with the blank page writer, since she doesn't know where she's going with the story. In any case, one hook won't do it--you need to keep hooking the reader all the way through.

mum23 said:

I understand the hook has to be contained within the first paragraph or two, but I have been told to explain what is going on within the hook also. I dont want to explain too much as I would like to draw the reader into the novel. How much do you "give up" in the first chapter of your novel?

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I'm guilty of poor opening chapters. The rest of the book will be pretty sound, but I have a habit of trying to do too much in opening chapters, even opening paragraphs. You'll be heading down the same road if you become consumed with getting out too much info, or with explaining in advance why things happen, or giving us the MCs BG right away. Use subtlety and maybe focus on an event that will later tie into the main story; I hate giving blanket advice like that, as if every story is the same. But maybe this will help you find the right beginning for your story.

I finally have an opening chapter that generally does hook a reader (judging from the SYW comments). The characters reveal just enough about a "situation" rising to keep reader interest, and there's just enough description to keep the reader's bearings. Their BG or backstories are only hinted at in dialogue. I try not to be coy or too enigmatic about details, that would just piss people off. But the major plot isn't even touched in the first chapter.

My chapter is far from perfect, and I'm not saying my opening is a shining example of how to do it... it just works for me, or at least, works better than what I tried before. But compared to what I had before: gimmicky opening lines, expository explanations/descriptions that were unnecessary, too much happening at once... I'm far better off.

I learned to focus and don't try to accomplish everything in the first few paragraphs anymore. I now treat my opening chapter like a short story that stands on its own with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, regardless how much or little it bears on the main plot. Of course, the events in that opening chapter are relevant to the overall story as are the characters, just I'm more subtle and patient.

Hope this helps.

Hooks

I read an excellent book on this subject, "The First Five Pages" by Noah Lukman. He says that an editor will buy a book based on the first five pages, maybe the first page and possibly the first paragraph! So, you really have to suck the reader in right away and make him want to continue.

Carlene

I think you're listening to advice on two different hooks: the one in the book, and the one in the query letter. So you may safely disregard the info about 'explaining what is going on' until you get to the query letter.

Some good first chapters: The Firm, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Corrections. Different genres, but they all have certain things in common. You might want to analyze the first chapters of each, or any other first chapters that you really like.