How to Hook Your Readers from the FIRST PAGE!
Start in motion, not explanation. Something is already happening, going wrong, or about to change.
Anchor us in a character immediately. Give us a voice, an attitude, or a reaction we can latch onto.
Create a question the reader needs answered. Who is in danger? What went wrong? Why does this matter?
Ground the scene with one sharp detail. Not a full setting dump—just enough to make it feel real.
Let tension exist right away. Even quiet openings should carry unease, expectation, or desire.
Show stakes early, even if they’re small. What does the character stand to lose in this moment?
Avoid backstory on page one. Trust that context can come later—curiosity comes first.
Hint at the bigger problem. Foreshadow conflict without explaining it.
End the first page with momentum. A decision, discovery, threat, or emotional shift that makes stopping feel wrong.
Make the reader feel something. Confusion, intrigue, fear, empathy—emotion is the real hook.
