Anatomy of a Scene: The Hook

After recently finishing a manuscript and immediately starting a new one while editing, I’ve been spending much time examining what’s in a scene. Not only that, what makes a scene strong, full, and worthwhile to a reader. Those topics include setting, dialogue, character goals and so on. But today I’m going to be writing about hooks.

Generally we talk about the hook of the story as the opening line or paragraph of a novel. In addition to that, I’ve also realized the importance of a hook at the beginning and end of each scene.

Writing a good hook results in catching a reader’s attention and making them want to read on. This applies most often to the first line/paragraph of a story but just as importantly to the end of each scene. You want to reach out to the reader, to make them want more.

Here are some elements of a good hook:

It makes the reader ask a question.

If it’s the opening line or paragraph, you want them to ask what’s going on. If it’s the first line or the last line or a scene, you want them to ask what’s going to happen.

It gives the reader a sense of the genre.

This is especially true in the first chapter. If it’s a suspense novel, open with a suspenseful line—draw your reader into the mood. If it’s romance, allude to that in your wording.

It makes the reader want more.

You always want your reader wanting more. There are many successful ways to do this throughout a scene, but writing an effective opening or ending line to a scene is going to propel the reader on. It’s going to make them move to the next paragraph or turn the page because they want to continue.

It drops the reader effectively into a time or place.

A successful first or last line pulls the reader into the moment. This can be done by establishing the setting, time period, etc. or placing the reader directly in the moment of action. Dropping them somewhere interesting or dangerous or different will cause curiosity and make a reader want to continue.

This isn’t an all inclusive list, nor do you have to apply every one of these items. But they’re good things to think about when approaching beginning and ending lines of a scene.

Here are some elements you wouldn’t want to use for a hook:

Always ending a scene with a neatly tied up conclusion. In some cases it works but in most it’s better to end the scene before the conflict is resolved.

Cliché’s. Opening scenes (more specifically the first paragraph of the entire story) with description about the weather or overused settings.

Starting or ending a scene with a hook that’s misleading (make sure it pertains to the story and the genre).

There’s no specific formula for creating a hook and everyone’s tastes are different. But following some general guidelines can help with your key goal—getting a reader interested enough to read more. What kind of rules do you follow to create a successful hook? Do you try to focus on beginning and ending lines or paragraphs to draw a reader in?

You or Your Character?

I love to get to know my characters by asking random questions—and sometimes I even learn more about myself. If you’d like to join in on the fun, just choose one or the other and tell me why. You can either answer for yourself, for a character in your current WIP if you’re a writer, or both. Here’s this week’s choice:

Cook it yourself

or

Order out?

The Pizza Novel

I was eating lunch with my little ones the other day—pizza because it’s easy and yummy. And I started thinking how I like my stories a lot like my pizzas. Just the basics—the dough, sauce and cheese. Simple, to the point and effective. Satisfying. Okay, I know I think too much, especially while I’m eating. Probably isn’t good for the digestion. But either way, the thought occurred to me:

My pizza habits correlate to my writing habits. Do yours?

Dough = Plot

I’m going to say the dough is the plot. It’s the foundation of your story. You don’t want holes because the rest will fall through. It has to be solid, so when it bakes or when you get it out on paper, it’s strong.

Sauce = The Setting

Yep, some people are all about the sauce and some aren’t. Some like it thick or zesty and some like it thin. Either way, it has to be consistent. I like a lot of sauce. I like my settings to become part of my stories, to affect each character and really leave an impression on them. Bring on the sauce!

Cheese = Characters

Oh yes, warm, oozing cheese full of goodness. In my opinion, the cheese makes the pizza. The characters make the novel.

Sometimes you have to have many kinds of cheese. A little of this, a lot of that for your main characters. But the characters are sort of like the glue that holds the whole story together. It’s the icing on the cake (you know, if I was using a cake metaphor).

Toppings = Voice

Toppings to me are what make that novel yours. It’s what gives your story a voice. Sometimes it’s simple. It’s just spices. Just enough to still stick to the guidelines of pizza making. And sometimes it’s more—to take your pizza, your story, to a whole new level.

Like I said, I’m a big fan of the dough, sauce and cheese combo. The basics. But I’ve learned that I need to add my own toppings to make that pizza mine. Perhaps not anchovies—I’ve never been good at humor. But sausage on occasion—for depth and substance. Italian sausage, I’d say because I like spice and I love accents! I’m still learning, but it’s a step I believe I’m ready for.

If your stories were pizzas, how do you like them? Do you follow the rules and stick to the basics or do you go crazy with the toppings?

You or Your Character?

I love to get to know my characters by asking random questions—and sometimes I even learn more about myself. If you’d like to join in on the fun, just choose one or the other and tell me why. You can either answer for yourself, for a character in your current WIP if you’re a writer, or both. Here’s this week’s choice:

Introvert

or

Extrovert?

What’s Out of Your Character’s Grasp?

I’d been struggling with determining my MC’s motivation in my current WIP. I knew she was a different person than she was a year ago and that she didn’t want that to change. Not only that, she likes where she is. Her job, her home, her friends. She can’t imagine going back to how things were before.

For some reason, however, this wasn’t translating into a goal or motivation. Until I asked myself what was out of my character’s grasp. What was it a year ago that she longed for? Independence. Freedom to get to know herself. A chance to live her life how she deemed, not how everyone else saw fit.

This was her goal. And that gave me her motivation. How much was she willing to do to keep it? What lengths would she go to in order to stay in her home with her new life? Let’s just say, it cleared up how she ended up where she is, why she went there and how she planned on staying there.

This is a necessary thing in order to have a strong plot. We have to know why our characters are the way they are. We need to know where they are and where they’re going. And we also need to know what lengths they’d go to in order to keep it that way. The harder they’re willing to fight, the better.

So what was or is out of your character’s grasp? What is he or she willing to do to achieve it or keep it that way?

Review of Shannon Taylor Vannatter's White Roses

I had the chance to read White Roses, by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, and it was such a joy. It had heart and a sweet message, and it impressed me both as a writer and a reader.

Many of you who read this blog are writers as well. We’re always talking about motivation and conflict and how to keep a reader interested in a book. White Roses is a great example of all three, especially conflict. Not only that, the wording is seamless, with a wonderful flow and good impact.

As far as the reader role, White Roses was just a treat. I love books that keep me wanting more and make me smile. That have me rooting for a happy ending. White Roses catered to all those wants.

Here’s the back cover summary of White Roses:

Grayson can't seem to move on.

Pastor Grayson Sterling loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. Grayson knows he needs to move on, that the continuing depth of his grief is not healthy for him or his young son. Desperate, he convinces his church to hire Mark Welch as associate pastor to relieve him of some of his load. When Adrea Welch arrives at his church with her brother, Grayson cannot deny his attraction to her.

For years, florist Adrea Welch has been artfully arranging white roses for Sara Sterling. Now those flowers are carried to the cemetery by a faithful, grieving husband. How can Adrea be so attracted to a man still devoted to his dead wife?

When secrets from Adrea’s past collide with their budding relationship, both she and Grayson must learn to lean on God’s abiding wisdom.

If you have a chance, hope over to Shannon’s Web site to learn more about her and the following books in the White Rose Trilogy. You can also visit her at The Inkslinger Blog. And, if you have the opportunity to read this book, I definitely recommend it.

You or Your Character?

I love to get to know my characters by asking random questions—and sometimes I even learn more about myself. If you’d like to join in on the fun, just choose one or the other and tell me why. You can either answer for yourself, for a character in your current WIP if you’re a writer, or both. Here’s this week’s choice:

Sunshine

or

Moonlight?

* Photos from flickr

Plotting Your Novel Part 9: Ready to Write

This is the last post in the Plotting Your Novel series and the final step in the process. This is where, after all the planning that’s been done, you’re ready to start writing.

So far we have:

* Gotten the initial idea and asked ourselves key questions to see if the idea could form an entire novel (this includes thinking of three large conflicts or plot points of the story)

* Written a short summary of the story and figured out the ending if necessary

* Figured out the theme of the story

* Found our inspiration for the story (including pictures or music) and done research

* Done a character sketch and discovered their goals and motivations

* Made a plot timeline and followed up with the chapter by chapter outline to whatever extent works for each of us

At this point, I usually have pages and pages of notes. This includes random note cards or sticky notes I’ve written on as well as anything I’ve printed for the research I’ve done. I like to organize it to some extent so it’s easy to read through as I start writing.

One of my last big steps is to think of a title for the story so I have something to call it. Sometimes it takes writing the whole story and brainstorming to come up with the absolute perfect title but oftentimes I have an idea beforehand and it’s what I can think of at that point that represents the story.

This is the last step in the 9-step plotting a novel process. I begin the story with my notes, spare paper to write a timeline as I go and character traits to keep them straight (like eye/hair color, etc). I also have my music with a specific playlist for the story and sometimes pictures to represent places or people. And, of course, I have my chapter by chapter outline.

When you start writing, what do you have at your disposal? Do you start on notebook paper or the computer? Do you have music, an extensive outline or a mind full of ideas?