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Exercise #32: Craft
Posted 12/5/03
You're thumbing through the new arrivals on the bookshelf in your favorite bookstore. What is it about one story that grabs and holds your attention? For most people, it's an "opening hook," a starting line or paragraph that pulls the reader right into the story and makes them want to read more... and if you're standing in the supermarket checkout line, you have to buy the book to read more of it.
A few of my favorite opening hooks from this group:
"He's so cute!"
"It's a he?" Robert shook his head, but was glad for his wife's happy tone of voice.
-- from Sharon Poppen's Exercise #13
Chen knew he would be almost impossible to detect, lying in the long grass beside the road.
-- from Kry Douglas' Exercise #16
To go anywhere with my brother is to court disaster. I knew this, of course, but this time it appeared I was wrong.
-- from Bob Burdick's Exercise #26
For this exercise, give us an opening hook or three. Make us want more!
Word limit: 100 per hook, 3 hooks maximum
Please use the subject line:
SUB: Exercise #32/yourname
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