Yo, if you see this, glad you're more active lately! I think "In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit" is my favorite hook. Not a huge Tolkien fan, but it just asks so many questions. What the hell is a Hobbit? What's life in this "hole" like? And the next chapter just goes into so much detail about Bilbo's life and the shire and everything
Thanks for offering your services! Your advice is always valuable and you're super articulate! You also get to the topic point quickly which makes learning/remembering important info easy! Glad you're back:)
Eleanor TheReader I love the quickly part, She doesn't waste time. I keep videos of special interest in a playlist for reference. I think it's great that she's generous enough to do this for free.
So Good! This is the best explanation of hooks. Everyone says you have to have a good hook but doesn't really explain a good from bad hook. Thanks for these examples. I would love more examples of good hooks and even examples of poor hooks and why they are poor. Great job.
Thank you so much! I am writing my first novel and your videos have been so helpful for me. I love that you use examples to demonstrate different techniques other writers have used. I had a breakthrough after watching this!
Are u kidding of course I will tell u. Book 1 is call Warrior Women of Superian Island: The legend of the Six Breasted Man. It should be out soon. BOOK 2 is already finished and I'm writing book 3 now. Gosh I feel like a fanboy forgive me. I can't believe u wrote me. I'm flattered and grateful. I listen to all your suggestions, & hope I meet the expectations of greater writers like yourself! Thank U so much U made my day. Hopefully if u read my book it will make yours.
Ace Johnson I feel like you wrote the reply to the wrong person. Doesn't matter though lol. I'll check your book out! Good luck on your writing journey :D
Please ignore the person that gave it a thumbs down. There's one in every crowd, but it's their right. Personally I want to thank you for your time and effort, it is greatly appreciated. (Also, please ignore the adverbs).
This is very helpful. Thanks to you, reverse engineering my opening scene to find out if there are any questions being raised will be of great benefit.
i love your videos because not only do i learn writing tips and gems, but because i get really interested in the books you give as an example. So it's a great way to get reading recommendations!
Of course I will tell you the title. It's Warrior Women of Superian Island: The Legend of the Six Breasted Man. I sent your response to someone else I felt like an idiot. Hopefully this gets to u. Thank u so much for reaching out to me. I followed all your suggestions, and pray it resonates with readers. I'm already writing Book 3. Hopefully Book 1 will be out soon.
Thank you so much for these new videos. Look forward to learning more about writing a novel. I may never write one, but I find it interesting to read and watch movies and to figure out their structure and predict what is coming next.
This was a terrific video. Ellen. Love that you included The Kite Runner. Just a beautiful book that was so well written with an intriguing hook, great characters and twists and a very satisfying conclusion. Keep them coming!
So excited about the forthcoming boot camp. Your videos are so insightful and helpful - thank you Ellen! I’ve contacted you to get booked in for November, I hope we get to work together ☺️
Finally, youve returned. Im so excited for more of your advice and videos. I hope you get around to making another four or five versions of your 25 ways to spot an amateur author.
Maybe it’s my penchant for mystery and pulps, but I like it when the protagonist gets dropped into a moving plot machine and has to figure out everything that’s going on alongside the reader.
I've heard an interview with JK Rowling where she admitted to concentrating on those aspects of her first book when she rewrote the initial chapters. In the interview, she admitted to doing so much world building in her pre-writing that she was giving away too much. In reading the final version that was published it's easy to see all the magical elements that are teased but we discover aspects of the Wizarding World and the plot just as Harry does.
That's how effective mystery should be really, in my opinion. A classic example is HP and Sherlock Holmes - not the BBC tv show. Another example I can think of is Eddard Stark slowly figuring out how and why Jon Arryn was *killed*
Years ago, I read a thriller/mystery novel with a really interesting opening hook. It describes a character's rather strange actions in great detail, without giving any clues as to his motivations. You just have vivid descriptions of a man acting oddly, and are really curious to know why. The explanation starts in the second chapter, and takes the rest of the book to resolve. redd.it/9448rt
Those were good examples of how to hook and how to keep them hooked. Quentin Tarantino does this very well himself in his stories by using first dialogue lines that raises questions, adding subtext to his dialogue and creating great suspense over the cours of the scene. You may want to use him as an example as well when you want dive even deeper int this subject in a future video.
Hello Ellen from Australia!! thank you so much for being so clear when explaining concepts! I've scoured youtube for editing and writing advice and yours is by far, one of the best channels I've watched! thanks so much for your hard work :)
I hope you'll one day make a video about how to write engaging exposition. I still have a little trouble writing it b/c I don't know how to write it without getting too informative.
Hi Ellen! You once said something about staying consistent with verb tenses. I'm not sure if this qualifies as inconsistent verb tenses. "The four young Ulbing children were bewildered at the things taking place around them." Can you tell me whether "were bewildered" and "things taking place" count as inconsistent?
As a reader, I always avoid a self-published book with a prologue. I'm glad you're going to cover it for the next video and I hope you'll steer newer writers away from that structure. Even accomplished/successful writers have a difficult time pulling it off and most just label it as the first chapter with a time-jump or integrate it into a flashback or something. Maybe it's the just the genres I read most, but to me, a prologue screams "heavy-handed Info dumping backstory"
"My Sister's Keeper" sounds reminiscent of the movie Parts: The Clonus Horror, but it's understandable if you wouldn't automatically make that connection because I'm sure it came out long before your time (1979).
Love your channel, love your videos. It would be awesome if you had a mic pack or some other audio recording that would make the video not sound so tinny...
Exceclent Video, it leaves me thinking about my current on going draft if it is catching enough the interest of the readers. Probably, one of my first self-reviewing process stage, will be the inclution of metter hooks. I missed in your vide some examples about hooks that are written in third person. If I am not worng, all the examples were in first person, that sound more intimate and commited with the reader. Is it harder to create good hooks when your narrator is on third person?. Thanks in advance and I really love yoour videos.
Carlos Boza The hooded man fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed - Stephen King. 3rd person. We know there is a man fleeing. And a gunslinger chasing him. And we know they are in a desert. Creates many questions. And sets the scene. All in one line.
They come from the northern reaches of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland? Obviously dragons from the rest of the British Isles prefer to holiday elsewhere. Helpful vid, thank you.
Hi, very interesting video. I have a question, since you focus on story hooks that start at the beginning of the book. Are there other story configurations that are structured like a chain of hooks? I think that your story hooks set up interesting scenarios that apply to the whole of the book, to a story that runs from the beginning to the end. I am trying to think about books that are more adventure-based, so in order to get from A to B, to C, etc. until you arrive at the end of your story (Z), you'd need multiple hooks, right? I am coming up empty here, except for some pulp fantasy books from the 90s, and those kinda do not count because the overall quest (A-Z) IS a story hook presetented by the prologue.
This is a good question. You'd probably call this kind if book a "page turner", or maybe the author purposely put in cliff hangers to pull the reader forward.
my goal is to have hooks throughout so the reader always feels that push of curiosity. I imagine the hard part will be striking a balance between new questions and satisfying answers so the reader doesn't feel too lost.
Merel Verhulst No. You will need a good opening line, but the opening hook is just fake English teacher writing "rules". The earlier the better, but anytime in the first chapter is normal.
Another one similar to the types of hooks presented here is: “At age 11, I broke my piggybank and went to see the hookers.” -M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran
Hi Ellen You don't look altogether comfortable standing while making your presentation, perhaps you should make your self a bit more comfortable. Try recording while seated in your favorite stool or chair.
Opening hooks can be simple: when your story is finished, just change the start so it offers a hint of what the story is about.
I love that you're giving examples from existing books for us to understand better😁
I'm so glad you're back.
Yo, if you see this, glad you're more active lately!
I think "In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit" is my favorite hook. Not a huge Tolkien fan, but it just asks so many questions. What the hell is a Hobbit? What's life in this "hole" like? And the next chapter just goes into so much detail about Bilbo's life and the shire and everything
DavidtheWavid Simple lines can wield great power.
I love it when you post new videos!! So glad you’re back. Please don’t go! 😭 Your videos are THE BEST videos of the booktube community.
Ellen Brock the best result of an education system working properly. thank you for shearing
Thanks for offering your services! Your advice is always valuable and you're super articulate! You also get to the topic point quickly which makes learning/remembering important info easy! Glad you're back:)
Eleanor TheReader I love the quickly part, She doesn't waste time. I keep videos of special interest in a playlist for reference. I think it's great that she's generous enough to do this for free.
Bruce Kelly my thoughts exactly! I do the playlist thing too, haha:) happy writing!
So Good! This is the best explanation of hooks. Everyone says you have to have a good hook but doesn't really explain a good from bad hook. Thanks for these examples. I would love more examples of good hooks and even examples of poor hooks and why they are poor. Great job.
Thank you so much! I am writing my first novel and your videos have been so helpful for me. I love that you use examples to demonstrate different techniques other writers have used. I had a breakthrough after watching this!
Thank you so much. I finished my first book and im waiting to get it published. I already started on book 2. You were very helpful!
I'm curious, what is the name of your book? If you want to tell me, please do lol
Are u kidding of course I will tell u.
Book 1 is call Warrior Women of Superian Island: The legend of the Six Breasted Man.
It should be out soon. BOOK 2 is already finished and I'm writing book 3 now.
Gosh I feel like a fanboy forgive me. I can't believe u wrote me. I'm flattered and grateful. I listen to all your suggestions, & hope I meet the expectations of greater writers like yourself!
Thank U so much U made my day. Hopefully if u read my book it will make yours.
Ace Johnson I feel like you wrote the reply to the wrong person. Doesn't matter though lol. I'll check your book out! Good luck on your writing journey :D
Sorry but thanks! Send u an autographed copy😇
Ace Johnson :)
Another amazingly helpful video from Ellen, thank you so much!!
Please ignore the person that gave it a thumbs down. There's one in every crowd, but it's their right. Personally I want to thank you for your time and effort, it is greatly appreciated. (Also, please ignore the adverbs).
This is very helpful. Thanks to you, reverse engineering my opening scene to find out if there are any questions being raised will be of great benefit.
i love your videos because not only do i learn writing tips and gems, but because i get really interested in the books you give as an example. So it's a great way to get reading recommendations!
Of course I will tell you the title. It's Warrior Women of Superian Island: The Legend of the Six Breasted Man.
I sent your response to someone else I felt like an idiot. Hopefully this gets to u.
Thank u so much for reaching out to me.
I followed all your suggestions, and pray it resonates with readers.
I'm already writing Book 3. Hopefully Book 1 will be out soon.
Thank you so much for these new videos. Look forward to learning more about writing a novel. I may never write one, but I find it interesting to read and watch movies and to figure out their structure and predict what is coming next.
PHOTOM42 You might surprise yourself. Anyone can do it. You could start with a flash story of less than 1000 words and take it from there.
Thanks for the encouragement. I was just thinking maybe I should start with a short story lol.
I am also glad you're back. Your recent videos have improved, but have always been truly excellent.
This was a terrific video. Ellen. Love that you included The Kite Runner. Just a beautiful book that was so well written with an intriguing hook, great characters and twists and a very satisfying conclusion. Keep them coming!
So excited about the forthcoming boot camp. Your videos are so insightful and helpful - thank you Ellen! I’ve contacted you to get booked in for November, I hope we get to work together ☺️
Best vid I've ever seen on this subject. The examples make all the difference. Brilliantly done! I'm a new subscriber!
Love your videos! Love writing but feel like I don’t have the time to finish my novel but I’m gonna keep on trying! Thank you so much for your help.
Finally, youve returned. Im so excited for more of your advice and videos. I hope you get around to making another four or five versions of your 25 ways to spot an amateur author.
Kierkegaard Just read my work and you'll spot 37 ways.
I know you are right. Just hearing your examples makes me want to read the books.
So glad you're posting your videos again, they're so helpful.
Water for Elephants ha a really great hook.
So glad to see you're making videos again! You're one of my go-to channels for learning about writing. Keep going!
This is awesome advice! I like to learn by example so just hearing how you break down each one has got the gears in my head turning
Kite Runner is so incredibly good. Arguably the best I have read in a decade or more. And a great book to learn how to write better.
Maybe it’s my penchant for mystery and pulps, but I like it when the protagonist gets dropped into a moving plot machine and has to figure out everything that’s going on alongside the reader.
I've heard an interview with JK Rowling where she admitted to concentrating on those aspects of her first book when she rewrote the initial chapters. In the interview, she admitted to doing so much world building in her pre-writing that she was giving away too much. In reading the final version that was published it's easy to see all the magical elements that are teased but we discover aspects of the Wizarding World and the plot just as Harry does.
That's how effective mystery should be really, in my opinion. A classic example is HP and Sherlock Holmes - not the BBC tv show. Another example I can think of is Eddard Stark slowly figuring out how and why Jon Arryn was *killed*
Years ago, I read a thriller/mystery novel with a really interesting opening hook. It describes a character's rather strange actions in great detail, without giving any clues as to his motivations. You just have vivid descriptions of a man acting oddly, and are really curious to know why. The explanation starts in the second chapter, and takes the rest of the book to resolve.
redd.it/9448rt
mediaocrity4 They are great, unfortunately it's too scary for many agents.
Write Heroes I get it. Starting like that is making a big promise, a big check you have to be ready to cash in or the whole ordeal will be a waste
Im so glad you're finally back Ellen!
I always love your vids!
Those were good examples of how to hook and how to keep them hooked. Quentin Tarantino does this very well himself in his stories by using first dialogue lines that raises questions, adding subtext to his dialogue and creating great suspense over the cours of the scene. You may want to use him as an example as well when you want dive even deeper int this subject in a future video.
This is also a great way to build into the future of your novel - sequels and spinoffs!
So happy to see you active again! Love your channel.
Can't wait for the prologue video.
Another fabulous video that I can put right to work in my writing. Thank you.
Where have you been?
Thanks for your insight and expertise.
so happy to see a new video from you!
I am watching all your videos now. They are too awesome!
Hello Ellen from Australia!! thank you so much for being so clear when explaining concepts! I've scoured youtube for editing and writing advice and yours is by far, one of the best channels I've watched! thanks so much for your hard work :)
Thank you so much Ellen!🌟🦋
I hope you'll one day make a video about how to write engaging exposition. I still have a little trouble writing it b/c I don't know how to write it without getting too informative.
Question: all three of these examples are in first person. Any examples of someone doing this well written in third person?
Definitely something I will think about for the opening of my novel. Thank you so much for sharing :)
Ellen's ALIVE!!!! :)
in love with your brain.
Ellen, your videos are great. Thanks for making them.
You’re back! (I guess that’s what you’d call a rhetorical comment.) Anyway, awesome!
Do you have any advice on how to write first person and second and third person? Please explain each one or any advice? Claudia
I love your videos! Please make more. I watch them all and like them all! 👍👍👍
Very helpful. Thank you.
Hi Ellen! You once said something about staying consistent with verb tenses. I'm not sure if this qualifies as inconsistent verb tenses. "The four young Ulbing children were bewildered at the things taking place around them." Can you tell me whether "were bewildered" and "things taking place" count as inconsistent?
As a reader, I always avoid a self-published book with a prologue. I'm glad you're going to cover it for the next video and I hope you'll steer newer writers away from that structure. Even accomplished/successful writers have a difficult time pulling it off and most just label it as the first chapter with a time-jump or integrate it into a flashback or something. Maybe it's the just the genres I read most, but to me, a prologue screams "heavy-handed Info dumping backstory"
Quartknee K I hate prologues, too.
"My Sister's Keeper" sounds reminiscent of the movie Parts: The Clonus Horror, but it's understandable if you wouldn't automatically make that connection because I'm sure it came out long before your time (1979).
Yay, glad you're back ;)
Love your channel, love your videos. It would be awesome if you had a mic pack or some other audio recording that would make the video not sound so tinny...
Exceclent Video, it leaves me thinking about my current on going draft if it is catching enough the interest of the readers. Probably, one of my first self-reviewing process stage, will be the inclution of metter hooks. I missed in your vide some examples about hooks that are written in third person. If I am not worng, all the examples were in first person, that sound more intimate and commited with the reader. Is it harder to create good hooks when your narrator is on third person?. Thanks in advance and I really love yoour videos.
Carlos Boza The hooded man fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed - Stephen King.
3rd person. We know there is a man fleeing. And a gunslinger chasing him. And we know they are in a desert. Creates many questions. And sets the scene. All in one line.
Too bad "My Sister's Keeper" didn't finish anywhere near as strongly as it started.
What a great piece of advice :-)
Looking for the Thread loop
How to Clickbait Your Book
They come from the northern reaches of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland? Obviously dragons from the rest of the British Isles prefer to holiday elsewhere.
Helpful vid, thank you.
This is so helpful! Thank you!
Hi, very interesting video. I have a question, since you focus on story hooks that start at the beginning of the book. Are there other story configurations that are structured like a chain of hooks?
I think that your story hooks set up interesting scenarios that apply to the whole of the book, to a story that runs from the beginning to the end. I am trying to think about books that are more adventure-based, so in order to get from A to B, to C, etc. until you arrive at the end of your story (Z), you'd need multiple hooks, right?
I am coming up empty here, except for some pulp fantasy books from the 90s, and those kinda do not count because the overall quest (A-Z) IS a story hook presetented by the prologue.
This is a good question. You'd probably call this kind if book a "page turner", or maybe the author purposely put in cliff hangers to pull the reader forward.
my goal is to have hooks throughout so the reader always feels that push of curiosity. I imagine the hard part will be striking a balance between new questions and satisfying answers so the reader doesn't feel too lost.
Thanks for the video..
Yay, a new video.
yeah but these are all 1st person examples would it look the same if it was in 3rd person
Another good video. Thank you miss allen 😆🙏. I'm your big fans. . . May allah bless you with peacefull life 😇
Are hooks used in regular books? Or only novels
The winter of 1975
If you've read The Kite Runner, you'll know why this is important and why it comes up so many times in Hosseini's novel
Thank you
I'd like to hear examples of third-person narrative opening hooks.
Brilliant!
Awesome helpful aids, Ellen! Thanks so much. (I was # 100 in the "likes" though I wish I could like it a 100 times!)
Thanks a lot!
Should the opening hook be in the first sentence?
Merel Verhulst No. You will need a good opening line, but the opening hook is just fake English teacher writing "rules". The earlier the better, but anytime in the first chapter is normal.
Yes
cool vid, i watched it twice
Great
Now I have my Ear Phones, so I can tune in. Hi Ellen! Love Grifiki
You live!!
"Authors Hook readers, by working at Libraries. And they never even wrote a Book."
Hm i dont get it.
I love you!
oh
"Who is John Galt?"
lol that first example qoute was bordering pretentious, sorry if i sound pretentious
Resurrection
Another one similar to the types of hooks presented here is: “At age 11, I broke my piggybank and went to see the hookers.” -M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran
I was forced to read The Kite Runner in highschool...
Great video but why are you sweating?
Zebulynn Hanson the lighting probably
DOGS
Honestly, as effective as they are, some of these hooks sound suspiciously reminiscent to clickbait… 😁
who here is American
Jesus christ you're good looking.
You're illustrating ATTEMPTS at a hook. I don't think any of these attempts would hook me --- they'd actually repulse me.
They almost sound like non-native writers who watched videos and are rotely following formulas for writing a novel.
Can you please give examples of hooks that DID hook you? I'm curious
Girl I love your videos and your content, but please get a decent pic lol
Hooks are over rated
Smart writing works best
Hi Ellen
You don't look altogether comfortable standing while making your presentation, perhaps you should make your self a bit more comfortable. Try recording while seated in your favorite stool or chair.