Writing is a skill that everyone should master and know how to use appropriately to reach their intended audience. Your story should not be obvious and predictable to your readers. Many people are not fans of obvious information but rather an enticing and catchy story that will keep them hooked to your content all through. You need to be specific with your writing and intentionally grab your reader’s attention from the start to the end. You will agree that there is a text that you automatically turn to the next page when you start reading. However, there are others that you will stop reading within the first minute due to lost interest. So, if you want to hook your readers, do the following:
State and entertaining statistic or a staggering fact
Mentioning a little-known fact will drive the reader’s curiosity high and capture their interest to want to know more. When you mention a statistic, you must mention the source of the information that the reader can easily refer to and get more information. You can include a couple of examples for better understanding.
Use quotations from famous people and books
Let the reader reflect on the issue by quoting a great and catch saying to capture the readers’ attention. The citation also goes ahead and sets the writing tone. However, do not use quotes just for the sake of filling your text. You need to select a relevant quote that speaks to the problem carefully. Also, avoid selecting overused quotes. Some of the popular quotes have been used rampantly to the point that they may not impact the readers. In your selection, try to be unique.
Ask provocative questions
The best way to involve your audience in any event, is by asking them questions. Even if they do not intend to respond, the questions will get them thinking about your topic. On the other hand, a provocative question is exciting that will drive the readers to brainstorm on the possible solution or way forward. However, you should first ensure that your question is appropriate and not offensive to some readers. Structure your question to promote your main idea. Every question you pose should lead the reader to agree with your idea and, at the end of the reading, fully agree with your writing as a whole.
Share a personal experience
People easily connect to personal stories and will often go for it without any motivation. A good boost is if your story has a lesson to learn at the end of it. So, you can express your story in simple words and use it as a weapon to hook your readers. Writing about a personal experience makes it easy for you to kick out the academic challenges and make it more exciting and easy to write. It also makes it easy for the reader as it reduces the concentration of scientific terms.
Use improbable statements to challenge yourself
You can make your writing more interesting by starting with a wrong opinion or a misconception to hook your readers. A curious reader will want to see your justification for the assertions you make. It creates an imaginary opponent to argue with as you prove how true your statement is and how you will drive the conversation until you switch to the right statement. Good examples are:
“Genetically adjusted food sources are outrageously destructive to our bodies. However, this reality has since a long time ago been invalidated by the researchers.”
“A few individuals concede that we should not consider the eventual fate of our planet. Who cares if we live at this very moment?”
Conclusion
A hook is essential to maintaining the interest of your readers. You need to use them wisely. You need to know your target audience to develop the best hooks that will be effective for them.