How Do You Write The Beginning Of A Book?
The hook, or beginning of a book, may very well be the most important part. When a reader picks up a book and starts reading, if he’s grabbed by the beginning, he’ll read on. If he’s not, chances are he’ll put the book down and never finish the first chapter. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, the beginning of a book must accomplish three things. The hook must give your reader a sense of what to expect in the rest of the book, raise questions in his mind, and most importantly, entertain him. Make the first line count. For a nonfiction introduction, avoid using words that lack impact, such as “This book is about all the different ways to cook broccoli.” Rather, plunge your reader into the world of your book right away. “Broccoli haters, close this book right now and go get yourself a book about bacon.” For a fiction hook, use the first line to grab your reader, packing a lot of information into a few words. Use devices such as dialogue, internal monologue, deep description, d
