How to HOOK Your Audience (Writing Advice)

Summary

In this informative video, author Brandon McNulty explores the concept of narrative hooks, essential for engaging an audience from the start. He defines hooks, discusses their importance in storytelling, and provides strategies for effective use. McNulty illustrates his points with examples from films like 'The Thing' and 'Breaking Bad,' offering tips to avoid common pitfalls in creating compelling openings. His insights aim to guide writers in crafting stories that captivate and maintain audience interest throughout.

Takeaways

• 📚 A hook is a narrative device designed to grab the audience's attention and invest them in the story.
• 🎬 Hooks can be placed at the beginning of the story, at the start of subplots, or at the opening of scenes.
• ❓ Raising questions in the audience's mind is an effective way to hook them.
• 😲 Surprising or shocking events can serve as strong hooks.
• 🤝 Establishing a strong emotional connection with the protagonist helps in hooking the audience.
• ⚔️ Showing conflicting ideas or emotions creates tension and hooks the audience.
• 🚀 Starting the story in the middle of dramatic action (in medias res) can be an effective hook.
• 📝 It's important to open with a strong hook but smaller hooks throughout the story are also effective.
• 🔀 Combining multiple types of hooks strategically can create a greater impact.
• 🚫 Avoid too much description, info-dumping, or overwhelming the audience with too many hooks at once.

Q & A

What is a narrative hook?

A narrative hook is a device used to grab the audience's attention and get them invested in the story. It may or may not be the story's inciting incident, which is an event toward the beginning that shakes up the main character's world.

Can a story have multiple hooks?

Yes, a story can have multiple hooks. These can appear at the opening of the story, the beginning of a subplot, or at various scenes throughout the story.

What is the primary purpose of a narrative hook?

The primary purpose of a narrative hook is to grab the audience's attention and keep them engaged in the story.

How can raising questions act as a narrative hook?

Raising questions puts intriguing thoughts in the audience's mind, making them curious about what will happen next in the story.

What is an example of a narrative hook from the movie 'The Thing'?

In 'The Thing,' the opening scene features a helicopter chasing and shooting at a dog, raising questions about why the dog is being hunted and what will happen if it isn't killed.

How can showing something surprising or shocking serve as a hook?

Showing something surprising or shocking grabs the audience's attention with a punch, making them eager to understand the unexpected event.

What is an example of a surprising narrative hook from the movie 'Frailty'?

In 'Frailty,' the opening scene where a man claims to know who a serial killer is and reveals it's his brother creates a surprising and engaging hook.

How can establishing an emotional connection to the protagonist serve as a hook?

Establishing an emotional connection by showing the protagonist's suffering, sacrifices, or private moments can make the audience sympathize and root for the character.

What is an example of an emotional narrative hook from the movie 'Joker'?

In 'Joker,' Arthur Fleck being attacked and beaten while trying to recover his stolen sign makes the audience sympathize with him and wonder how he will respond.

What is in medias res and how does it serve as a narrative hook?

In medias res is a technique where the story starts in the middle of dramatic action, immersing the audience in high-stakes conflict from the beginning, which can effectively capture their interest.

What are some strategies for using narrative hooks effectively?

Effective strategies include opening with a strong hook, building toward a major hook with smaller ones, scattering hooks throughout the story, raising new questions as old ones are resolved, and combining different types of hooks strategically.

Why should writers avoid too much description or info dumping at the beginning of a story?

Too much description or info dumping can overwhelm the audience and detract from engaging them in the characters and their goals. It's better to introduce details gradually after the audience is invested.

What is a common pitfall when using multiple hooks in a story?

A common pitfall is overwhelming the audience with too many hooks, which can cause confusion and dilute the impact of the story's engaging elements.

What should writers consider when opening a story with action scenes?

When opening with action scenes, it's crucial to provide context and stakes to ensure the audience cares about the action and understands its significance.

How can vague or inconsistent openings negatively impact a story?

Vague or inconsistent openings can confuse or bore the audience, making it hard for them to understand the story's direction or feel compelled to continue watching or reading.