Hook Them Or Lose Them
An Author’s Guide to Catching Readers on Page One
by D. Leitao
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Pub Date 25 Apr 2022 | Archive Date 13 Jul 2022
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Description
Yes, you can hook your readers from page one.
This book is based on a workshop I gave a while ago. Even as I was preparing the workshop, trying to distill the essence of crafting hooky stories in simple, easy-to-understand concepts, I was amazed.
Nobody had ever explained this to me.
Most of the books and courses on writing and structure don’t really touch on that. Truly. You could do all the steps in Save the Cat and totally miss how to hook readers because this information simply isn’t there.
I realized I had found something special; an easy way to help writers identify what works and doesn’t for their beginning paragraphs, and how to get the readers hooked in their stories. And that’s why I’m putting it in this book; because I think my explanation can help writers.
When I say help, I truly mean help, I don’t mean tying writers down with another concept that might stifle their creativity. This book is not about sticking your writing into a box or following rigid rules. While it provides tips and techniques to help you craft stories that readers won’t quit, the advice is simple, easy, and flexible enough not to hinder your writing style or dampen your inspiration. Still, it should quench many of your doubts on whether your writing is hooky or not, so that you can spend more time creating and less time worrying.
I’ll also provide you with advice for beginnings and examples of efficient first paragraphs so that you’ll never again freak out wondering how to start your book. Instead, you’ll feel confident that you can hook your reader from the first page.
Advance Praise
"This book has me eager to go back and change every opener I've ever written. Leitao gives insightful and rare advice on how to reel your readers in and provides excellent examples to work from. She walks her talk too as I found myself compelled to keep turning the pages in Hook Them Or Lose Them. I'm so excited to use these new tools in my next book!"
R. Dawn Hutchinson- Author of the Obluvium Series.
"I’d recommend this book to any writer who’s struggling with openings. It doesn’t matter if it’s a short story, novella, or full-length novel. You can apply these principles to anything that needs a strong hook."
Tessa Hastjarjanto, author of The Infernal Contracts
Featured Reviews
Kevin P, Reviewer
Unlike many book on writing that deal with all facets of the craft, Hook Them Or Lose Them is a short (easily readable in a sitting or two), tightly focus book dealing with a single aspect of writing. Hooking readers. More specifically hooking readers from the first page. D. Leitao’s lays out her ideas on the subject in a simple to understand manner, using real novels as well as movies/TV shows to back up her beliefs. She fully acknowledges that her way isn’t the only way and may not work for everyone, but I definitely think there is merit to her ideas and are worth considering. Thanks to Sparkly Wave and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Hook Them Or Lose Them.
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3I2EDCWU4EFS0/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
Samantha H, Reviewer
A quick helpful guide for writers on how to keep a reader interested in your work. Focuses on certain principles like emotion and prose.
Erica B, Reviewer
Concise and thoroughly engaging. Leitao talks about how to hook readers and keep them interested. This book was a great example of a theory in practice.
She gives great examples with little fluff, which I found particularly refreshing. A solid reference for writers.
Albert B, Reviewer
This was an enjoyable book with plenty of examples of what and what not to do. There is actionable information here for budding writers. It should be a welcome addition to writers' shelves.
Dora Archie O, Reviewer
This made for a light evening read, the kind that you'd want to know to add onto what you've heard before- and for me that was quite refreshing. The author shares three elements that your writing can have to keep readers hooked- and what I loved was the simplicity of them and the author's shared experience navigating good and bad examples of beginnings and tales.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.
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