Picture this.

You have an amazing idea for a story. It’s the story you were born to write! You know that readers will melt when they read it, but…you have no idea where to begin.

So you stare at a blank screen. You agonize for weeks about the opening line. That’s because you know those words are your first impression on agents, publishers, and readers alike. So no pressure or anything.

What you need is a killer hook. So how the heck do you write it?

First, remember that the hook isn’t just for the reader, but also for the writer. It’s your chance to summarize your main themes, characters, and/or plot points in a handy dandy sentence. It helps ground and organize you for what will be a months-long writing project, so if you ever get lost somewhere in the middle (and I do, we all do), it’ll be your compass home.

If that’s overwhelming, just think of it as your topic sentence. Remember those from grade school? It’s designed to summarize the main point of the forthcoming paragraph or, in this case, the forthcoming novel.

Now I can’t claim to be an expert, but if your beta readers leave comments like “Great hook!” or “First paragraph in. Nailed it.” you know you’re on the right track.

So here it is, here is my beta tested hook hack.

Write one sentence that is

Short. It should be easy to read in just one breath.

Simple. No purple prose, just simple to the point.

Intentionally Vague. It makes the reader scratch their heads just a bit. People don’t like to have unresolved feelings and thoughts, so they will read on.

Introduces Main Theme and/or Mystery. What is your novel all about? Readers want to know what they are getting themselves into!

Introduces the MC and/or Setting (maybe). If you can manage to fit it in, a bit about the MC or setting can go a long way to establish your fictional world.

Now I understand that is a LOT to ask of one sentence, but it works! This formula instantly hooks readers and makes them want to read more!

Just look to the classics for proof:

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë: “There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.” Short, sweet, and clearly identifies both the life of restriction our MC wants to overcome and her pessimistic outlook on life. Also, I want to know why she can’t do something as simple as take a walk.

Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” Establishes the main setting, which is a character in itself. Throws us immediately into the headspace of the MC, her longing or sadness. Innately mysterious, this opening line makes me want to know why she’s dreaming about Manderley so often.

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens: “Marley was dead, to begin with.” Establishes the morose tone immediately. Also serves as an inciting incident for our story. Brings up lots of questions about who Marley was, why should we care, and how did he die?

1984, by George Orwell: “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” Definitely makes you go “huh?” and read it again. Drops us into his world immediately.

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury: “It was a pleasure to burn.” Like 1984, this hook immediately drops us into a strange world. Establishes the main theme straightaway. And certainly you have to wonder why there is pleasure in burning, and what is being burned.

Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut: “All this happened, more or less.” I have no comments. This sentence is perfect. We should all be so lucky to write like Kurt Vonnegut.

There you have it. There’s a nice little hook hack for you. Just know I’ll be thinking of you when I’m writing my next novel come Winter 2026. For the record, I spent about a week writing my last hook so…here’s hoping this one goes as easily.