Narrative Hook

Disciplines > Storytelling > Story devices > xx

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

A narrative hook is a section at the beginning of the story that gets the reader or audience aroused and interested and thus wanting to continue to engage with the story.

Example

The first few minutes shows the hero in the final exciting scenes of a previous adventure before they start the adventure in this story.

The story starts with a dramatic mystery, such as person falling from a balcony.

A child is abducted. The parents are distraught.

Discussion

The hook works either by promising excitement or by intriguing the audience with a mystery and who hence want to find out what happens.

The Bulwer-Lytton Award is given annually for narrative hooks that go beyond the pail in attempting to grab the reader with purple prose and ridiculous drama.