Why Where How
In Narrative Writing
A hook is an action that pulls your reader further
into a story. Anything that arouses curiosity and
interest from your reader is a narrative hook. It’s
that “I couldn’t put it down” sensation that a
reader experiences in good stories.
Why?
 The first few lines of any piece of writing are
essential because they set the tone and make
the reader want to read on.
 A good opening line should leave the reader
wondering. This wonder should invite the reader
to keep reading.
Where?
 If readers aren't “hooked” into your story, there's
a good chance they will not want to finish
reading it. If that happens, anything you've
written in your story later on, no matter how fun
and exciting, won't mean anything. Engage
your reader right away. Begin with your best!
 A great hook allows you
to keep your readers
around long enough to
dazzle them with deep
characters and your
exciting storyline.
How?
* Action
* Analogy
* Command to the reader
* Bold statement
* Definition
* Interesting fact
* Interjection
* Character’s thought or feelings
* Foreshadowing
* Onomatopoeia
* Opinion
* Questions
* Theme statement
* Verbal picture of setting
Action
Harold blinked as the old lady drew a gun out of
her purse and pointed it at the convenience
store clerk.
Literary Devices Such As:
Analogy/Simile/Metaphor/Idiom/Exaggeration
My life has been a carnival.
Like is like a journey through the forest.
My family is like an open book.
That guy's an absolute mad dog.
If I've answered this question once, I've answered
it a thousand times.
Command to the reader
 Run. You need to run now. Drop everything
and run.
Bold statement
If you found this, it’s too late.
New York is the best city in the world!
I'm never having children.
Definition
Amiable is the best way to describe her: she is
friendly and caring.
Perfect is the best adjective to describe her: she
is flawless in every aspect of her life.
Interesting fact
The diamond is hardest natural rock on earth.
Shock has been known to kill ten year olds. It
can cause their brains to explode and their
heart to stop dead still. These facts raced
through my mind as I stood dumbfounded in
front of my fourth grade classmates. I wish I had
stayed in bed!
Interjection
Ouch!
Stop!
Wait!
Yes!
Character’s thoughts or
feelings –
show(not tell) character traits
John looked proudly at the new painting he
had done and decided to enter it in the local
art contest.
Examples of Character Traits
afraid *angry * artistic* athletic *awesome
beautiful * bold *bored *busy * brave * brilliant * busy
calm careful * charming * cheerful * curious
dishonest * disrespectful * embarrassed evil * exciting
fair * fearful * foolish friendly * fun * funny
generous * gentle * giving * greedy * grouchy
happy * helpful * honest * imaginative *intelligent
jealous * kind * lazy * lonely * loving * loyal * lucky
mean messy * nervous * nice * nosy
polite poor * proud * pretty *quick*quiet
respectful * responsible * rude
selfish * serious * shy * silly *sneaky * spoiled * strict * stubborn
talented * terrified * thankful thoughtful * trusting * trustworthy
unfriendly * unselfish * wacky * wild *wise * wonderful * worried
Foreshadowing
a way of indicating or hinting at what will come later
Today it was a success. However, the next
meeting will probably not be so uneventful.
Onomatopoeia
the imitation of a sound
Achoo! Another interrupting sneeze during
math class.
“Buzzzzzz!” The sound of my alarm clock droned
in my ears as I struggled to come awake. With a
start I sat straight up in my bed. This was my big
day and I had to be on time.
Opinion
Settling for a cat wasn’t all bad. Tiger’s
affection is constant and his curiosity is a source
of hysterical entertainment. No dog could ever
replace him.
Question
Who is the greatest athlete of all times? I am, of
course.
Have you ever had a day when you wished you
had stayed in bed? As I rushed to catch the bus
on what seemed to be a perfectly normal day I
had no idea what was ahead of me.
Quotation
“Learn to laugh” is something my kindergarten
teacher told me after Ralph Morris spilled paint
on my daffodil picture.
Theme statement
Trees and rocks go through many storms every
year, and they never back down. Rock’s
surface eventually gets smoother, trees grow
bigger and taller every year. Therefore no
matter how hard or impossible it seems for us to
do something. We should never back down.
Stay with it until the end and results will come.
Theme: The overall message of
the story is often the idea that
sticks with the reader long after
the book is over.
 Crime does not pay.
 Love conquers all.
 Friendship means compromise.
 The end doesn’t justify the means.
Verbal picture of setting
The day of my birth began with Hurricane Charlie
pounding at our door in Charleston, South Carolina.
The sun was warm on my back as I raced toward
the waiting yellow school bus. As I nestled into the
worn leather seat I was greeted by the friendly
voices of other excited children. The look on my
face was one of confidence and contentment. With
a jerk the bus rumbled down the road and I was on
my way into one of the worst days of my life.
Which
will you
chose?