Answer:
#1: Rhetorical Questions
#1: Rhetorical QuestionsRhetorical questions are questions with obvious answers or a simple “yes or no” answer. And they are great hooks because of this one effect.
#1: Rhetorical QuestionsRhetorical questions are questions with obvious answers or a simple “yes or no” answer. And they are great hooks because of this one effect.Your readers think you read their minds and thus they believe you understand what they’re asking for.
As a result, they keep reading.
As a result, they keep reading.You don’t have to be smart with the questions. You just need to do proper research to find out the likely questions your readers will ask. Then, ask them in a way that the answer is obvious. For example, I asked you a question, what do hooks do?
If you are a writer, chances are, you already know the answer. Maybe not definitively but partially. And I did my research.
If you are a writer, chances are, you already know the answer. Maybe not definitively but partially. And I did my research.Readers will most likely want to know more about hooks and how to apply them effectively, right? (I did it again.)
I read your mind and I asked the question you’ve been thinking all along. You keep reading because you want to know more.
#2: Cliffhangers
#2: CliffhangersCliffhangers are like dates. You tease each other to increase the attraction level between you and your date.
#2: CliffhangersCliffhangers are like dates. You tease each other to increase the attraction level between you and your date.It works in writing too. Not in a flirty way, but in a story development manner. You drop off as you are about to reach the climax.
#2: CliffhangersCliffhangers are like dates. You tease each other to increase the attraction level between you and your date.It works in writing too. Not in a flirty way, but in a story development manner. You drop off as you are about to reach the climax.That creates a feeling of incompleteness. And as mentioned before, our brains are not wired to deal with incompleteness. We will be curious and tend to find out more.
The last sentence of the “Reading is a mental conversation” section is a cliffhanger.
As you read from the introduction to the first section, I have established the idea of how your readers actually read.
And as I am about to reach the climax — how to find out the anticipation points in your writing — I break off to another section. I purposely left you hanging, so that you keep reading.
And as I am about to reach the climax — how to find out the anticipation points in your writing — I break off to another section. I purposely left you hanging, so that you keep reading.You may not notice that because the cliffhanger flows smoothly.
It does not disrupt your reading flow in any shape or form. You just keep reading.
#3: Transitions
#3: TransitionsNotice how I used numbers when we are discussing these hooks.
And I break my writing into sections to keep the transitions smooth.
And I break my writing into sections to keep the transitions smooth.Transitions are not words or tools you use but it is the arrangement of ideas to prevent them from clashing. Sometimes, it can be as simple as the three dots on Medium.
This tells the reader that these two sections do not relate to each other and a new idea is being introduced as they read on. You may have read that the human attention span is shorter than that of a goldfish nowadays.
Transitions are great to hold your readers’ attention for longer because you’re feeding them fresh perspectives and ideas without clashing or mixing anything up.
Transitions are great to hold your readers’ attention for longer because you’re feeding them fresh perspectives and ideas without clashing or mixing anything up.You can use transitions whenever you are writing about something new and unrelated. This will guide them to not get confused when reading.
Because confusion kills interest.
#4: White Space
#4: White SpaceProbably the most underrated hook out there. You might be thinking that writing two sentences per paragraph is not professional.
#4: White SpaceProbably the most underrated hook out there. You might be thinking that writing two sentences per paragraph is not professional.Do you value readership or professionalism? (Rhetorical question.)
I assume it is the former. Writers are nothing without readers.
So write them something that is easier to read especially on mobile devices. If you stick to four or five sentences per paragraph, it will look like a wall of text in your readers’ phone.
White space gives your readers the peace of mind to read with ease and to absorb the information better. It is all about the reader and not how you want to be perceived as a writer.
Use white space sparingly and see how your read ratio improves.
Use white space sparingly and see how your read ratio improves.
