Writer Unleashed

#45: How to Hook Readers in Your First Sentence


Listen Later

If your first sentence is a dud, chances are readers won't give you a second chance.

In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 5 elements that will hook your readers from the get-go and keep them wanting more. We'll peek under the hood of some great hook sentences from the masters, and unpack what makes each one irresistible.

We'll explore how to:

  • Withhold to create suspense
  • Raise expectations and  curiosity
  • Juxtapose details to create tension
  • Set your story in motion


And to help your practice crafting hook sentences, download your FREE Guide, 9 Story Starters right here.

Want to connect with more like-minded writers and with me?  Join us on our private Facebook Group where I answer your most burning writing questions. It's totally free to join. 

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Writer UnleashedBy Nanci Panuccio

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

26 ratings


More shows like Writer Unleashed

View all
Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

Helping Writers Become Authors

1,012 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

863 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,724 Listeners

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

630 Listeners

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

226 Listeners

Pod Save America by Pod Save America

Pod Save America

87,868 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

113,121 Listeners

Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

Writer's Routine

313 Listeners

The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Podcast

12,741 Listeners

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

1,477 Listeners

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

786 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,525 Listeners

Offline with Jon Favreau by Crooked Media

Offline with Jon Favreau

2,328 Listeners

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

430 Listeners

Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

Writers on Writing

93 Listeners