Concept

Hooks

You might say: opening line, cliffhanger, chapter ending

Lines that pull the reader on. Lee Child: a first line makes a promise, and a good chapter ending satisfies without satiating.

What it does

Carries the reader across the gaps between chapters and sittings.

Ask

Why would someone read the next page right now?

Trouble

Chapters end at natural rest points, so readers rest.

What to look for

1. A first line making a promise
2. A chapter ending that satisfies without satiating
3. A gap between chapters that pulls to the next page

Connections

• See also: Dramatic question

Sources

1. Lee Child, Writing Popular Fiction, pp. 115–117 and 123–127The first line should be strong and bold but not desperate. Make it intriguing enough to deliver the reader to the next line, the next paragraph and the next page.

Use it on your project

teardown-apply: hold "Hooks" (hooks) from the teardown at https://teardownatlas.com/fiction-writing/ against my project

Paste it into a coding agent that has the teardown skills.

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