Five Ways to Hook Your Readers

They say you have three to five pages to grasp a reader's interest. 

But in our fast-paced, information-driven, limited-attention-span world, I'd argue that's being generous. 

You might have one page. 

You might only have a paragraph or two.

This is why first pages are so important. It's where you cast your line, hook the reader, and reel them in. 

Photo by Domie Sharpin

Pulling a reader into your story from the very first page is easier said than done, but a strong story hook should be enough to grab their attention and keep them engaged.

So how do we write a strong story hook?

1. Start with action. Begin with something exciting, or with a character in the midst of conflict. Give your readers a taste of the suspense and excitement to come from the very first sentences.

2. Introduce your characters quickly. Give your readers just enough information about your protagonists and/or antagonists to pique their interest.

3. Use vivid imagery. Set the scene with descriptive language, transporting your readers into the story world right from the start.

4. Set the stakes high. Make it clear from the outset what's at stake for your character and why the reader should care about the journey that's about to unfold.

5. Don't give too much away. Your hook should tantalize readers and make them want to know more, but resolve your story question(s) slowly. This is what keeps those pages turning.

Bottom line: A hook should appear almost immediately within your story. To encourage your readers to continue reading, keep it interesting, unique, and specific to your story. 

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

When You're Burning Out

Writer burnout is a very real thing, and I feel fairly confident in saying that it affects every writer at one point or another. 

"Burnout" is the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that leads to a decrease in productivity. Writer burnout happens when a writer finds themselves not feeling any sort of passion for their work. 

Photo by Sebastian Sørensen

Now, I love a good slow-burn romance, but a slow burnout? Not so much. A slow burnout looks a lot like sitting down and not getting any work done, or struggling to get words onto the page, or avoiding sitting down to work at all, and it will seriously affect our productivity if it's not addressed. 

Early signs of writer burnout include a lack of motivation to get to work or a lack of excitement about our current project. It looks a lot like a lack of energy that can leave us feeling depressed or irritable. We may even dread going to the page because we know the writing isn't going "well."  

But if we can learn to recognize burnout at the onset, we may be able to rest and recharge before it gets too severe. 

(We need your stories, so please don't throw in the towel just yet.)

The best way to figure out how to recharge your writing batteries is to take a step back from your work. Try to focus on something else for a few minutes, a few hours, or even a few days. It can be as simple as doing the dishes or straightening up your desk. You can try meditating or taking long walks outside. Personally, I use movies to recharge. (Hello, Netflix!)

If you feel like you're in a rut and still want to write (especially if you're on a deadline), try going somewhere that's not your usual writing environment. Instead of writing in bed, head to a local coffee shop. Instead of writing in the morning, write at night. 

If you're not on a deadline, change up your format or genre. Instead of writing romance, try a mystery. If you were working on a novel, turn your attention to a short story or a poem. If you write on a laptop, pull out a pen. 

It's a truth that bears repeating: writing is not always fun. There are good writing days and not-so-good writing days. 

On those not-so-good days, focus on the long game, the end game, and try to remember your "why." 

Think about the readers you want to connect with. Think about the characters you want them to relate to or the storyline that you'll use to pull them away from reality for a few hours. Think about all the ways you'd like to inspire them and the message you want to impart.

Most importantly, keep in mind that for everything there is a season.

There is a season for writing, and there is a season for resting, and taking periods to rest is just as beneficial to your writing practice as "sitting down to write every day."

In fact, it's one of the best ways to...

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

White Room Syndrome

White Room Syndrome.

I'll be honest: this is a relatively new writing term to enter my vocabulary, though when I Googled this idea blog posts came up from more than a decade ago. (Go figure.)

It makes perfect sense, though.

When a scene doesn't include enough description to paint a clear picture in the reader's mind, it's as if the character is standing in a white room--they could be anywhere (floating in space, for all we know). 

With White Room Syndrome there's some action occurring, but the text is mostly dialogue, with zero sense of place.

When we're writing, we have to remember that the reader doesn't know what we know. We might have a clear mental image of our story backdrop, but our reader doesn't. Not until we impart the details. 

So how can we avoid White Room Syndrome? 

Think about where the story is taking place. Think about the time period. Think about the mood you're trying to establish within the reader. 

Then, consider pulling the character out of the setting and freewriting a page of nothing but the physical details of the location. Once this is complete, try to merge the action into the setting, thinking about what your character is seeing and hearing as they act and react. 

When writing, try to use all of your senses. Describe what someone might see, smell, taste, hear, and feel in the scene.

For example, what does the sky smell like on a hot summer day? What does it sound like when you're walking through a forest in the early morning? What does it feel like when you're holding hands with someone you love?

(Here's more on description, and here's a strategy I like to use.)

One caveat: don't overdo it. The reader doesn't need to know every single detail, just what's important to the story. It only takes a few key facts to establish a sense of place and ground the reader. 

White Room Syndrome is something you will likely address in a later draft. When the words are flowing (the dialogue always arrives the quickest for me) just focus on getting them onto the page. You can come back later to flesh out your scenes and descriptions.  

But to avoid "White Room Syndrome," the reader needs to be able to visualize the setting. They need to have that sense of what it might feel like if they were there.

It's the fastest way to a lasting impression. 

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

It's Here! First Love, with that little something extra...

It's Happy Release Day, and I'm so thrilled that my little rom-com was selected to appear in this anthology with a fantastic group of writers.

As one of the writers featured I was able to get an early copy, and I LOVE the variety and creativity between these pages, you guys. We were all working with the same concept (First Love) and took it in so many different directions. 

Here are my personal reviews of each story (minus my own) featured in this year's anthology: 

 

“The Art of Making Doughnuts” by Linda Budzinski

“A sweet surprise of a story. First love, with that little something extra.”

“My Heart Approves” by Melissa Maygrove

“Maygrove sweeps readers into the time and place from the very first line. A lovely historical promenade of two characters easing into a love not even a lie can’t temper.”

“My First Love(s)” by Templeton Moss

“A ‘he-said’ then ‘she-said’ tale of all the loves one man can (sort-of) recollect and the woman who sets him straight. Moss nails the characters’ voices and pacing. I am 100% sure this story is worth the read.”

“The Real Thing” by Sammi Spizziri

“It’s not the first love Lola anticipated, but a rideshare to the airport turns into a meet-cute worthy of the most classic of rom-coms.”

“Paper Faces” by Sylvia New

“A swoon-worthy historical account of a journalist who refuses to sacrifice her scruples and the man who adores her for it. The romantic tension between the main characters keeps these pages turning.” 

“Oliver’s Girl” by Michael Di Gesu

“An old man’s sweet imparting of love at first sight, and the namesake who believes in second chances at first love.” 

“Clyde and Coalesce” by Kim Elliot

“Sparks fly when a musician and teacher keep running into each other—sometimes literally. The romantic chemistry between them seeps off pages that seem to want to turn themselves.”

“Marmalade Sunset” by Denise Covey

“The vivid imagery and captivating descriptions of Greece pull readers straight into Cora and her grandson’s journey to reunite with her first love.”

“The Castle of Ohno” by S.E. White

“A grateful Hippolyta disarms the reclusive Konrad as two lonely outcasts work their way towards love in a gothic castle worthy of the most exceptional fairy tales.”

So if you're looking for a nice collection of sweet love stories....

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~