How to Hook Readers on Your Novel, and Keep Them Hooked

When reading a novel or watching a story unfold, there is nothing better than being so hooked you can’t wait for the next scene. My favorite novels are ones I couldn’t put down. But how do you hook readers, or viewers, on a story?

This effect is in part created by two elements:

1. Intriguing questions.

2. The reader caring about the characters.

Together, these story elements can compel readers to keep turning pages in anticipation for what will happen next. Making the most of these elements takes thought, care, and planning. 

Questions must continually run through your story, and from the beginning the reader’s care for the protagonist nurtured. Add these elements in the right amount and intensity, and you can hook your readers from beginning to end.

Where’s the Hook?

I started watching a new TV show a little while back. A few episodes into season 1 I was so hooked I went on some serious binge watching. 

The first two seasons were great. I couldn’t wait to figure out what would happen next and what was really going on with this story universe. The three main characters were engaging, and I was curious to see how their lives would unfold. 

This lasted until season 3, at which point I began to lose the intensity of interest I had in the first two seasons. By the fifth and final season, I was still curious to know how the story would end, but didn’t feel super motivated to sludge through the final episodes to find out.   

A few days ago I was driving in my car pondering this show, and started asking, Why? What causes me to lose interest in stories I find exciting at the start? Inversely, what makes me eager to finish a story? 

And above all, how can I ensure my novel is one readers can’t put down? 

Questions, Characters, and Readers

As I traveled on the freeway, I was struck with two reasons why I’ve lost interest in stories in the past.

1. Lack of intriguing questions.

2. Not caring enough about the characters.

I realized that near the end of the TV show the amount and intensity of the questions had decreased. I was no longer itching to know right away what the answers were.

The questions were not pulling me to the end, and some obvious questions weren’t being asked. One character disappeared during a season finale and no one even wondered if he was okay. 

I was asking myself questions I found intriguing while the show gave no air time asking the questions or seeking the answers. 

Secondly, the curiosity and care I felt for the protagonist at the beginning had lessened. I hadn’t grown in my care for her and her life.

The story was action scene followed by more external conflict with little continued exploration into who the characters were or new internal conflicts they had to face. My care for the characters and their lives had begun to dissipate.

Once I realized this, I connected the lack of these two elements within other stories I had lost interest in, and the opposite in stories that had me hooked to the end.

Now, how can we hook readers successfully?

---

---

How to Hook Your Readers

You always need at least one pressing question through every scene in your book. Until you reach the resolution when you tie up the loose ends, there must be questions pulling your reader through the pages. 

Some questions will be present throughout the story.

Example: Will the protagonist find true love? 

Other questions will be presented, answered, and replaced by more questions throughout the story to keep your readers on your hook. Without questions, your story will be a fact by fact narrative with nothing pulling your readers toward the last chapter.

You want to introduce questions from the very first scene of your story until the final pages. 

At the beginning, you will also want to start building the readers connection with your protagonist. A strong feeling of care must be established at the very start. 

You can have a treasure chest full of questions you trickle out to your readers, but if the reader doesn’t care what will happen to the protagonist, they won’t be interested in finding out the answers relative to them. 

By the first half of your novel there needs to be a strong emotional care from your readers for your protagonist. Once they care, your readers will stay on the hook.

Apply these two elements together, and you have irresistible bait.

Start Baiting Your Hook for Readers

Think of your current novel project, and start compiling a list of all the possible questions you could be introducing to your reader. Once you know your story’s questions, choose where you will introduce and answer each question. 

Remember: Some questions will overarch the whole story while others will be introduced and answered within the narrative. 

Then, read through the beginning scenes of your characters and ask if there is enough emotional draw for your readers. If you have trouble, take a look at some of your favorite stories and study how they got you to care so much for the protagonist. 

Tip: You can recruit an objective opinion from a fellow writer or avid reader for this part. 

These two elements will help your story become a page-turner. Applying these storytelling skills will require some thought and research, but they are also super fun to figure out. 

Now, go and hook your readers on your great story.

Featured photo by Fabiola Peñalba on Unsplash