This week, we will learn how to make our writing even more powerful by writing an enticing hook to lure readers in. We will learn one strategy a day:
Dialogue (Talking)
Onomatopoeia (Sound effects)
In the middle of an action
Powerful description
A question
You will be using the same picture throughout this week to help you practice writing an effective and compelling hook.
(Picture source: Once Upon a Picture)
What is a Hook?
In fishing, a hook is curved on one end and used to catch fish. In writing, a hook is a strategy that writers use to capture a reader's attention.
How do I use "Talking" as a Hook?
Look at the picture above and imagine a dialogue happening between the characters. What is something that they might say? Make sure that it's interesting, funny, or enticing. An everyday conversation will not be enough to pull readers in.
A Mini-Lesson on Quotation Marks
Quotations marks (" ") are often used in story writing to show dialogue (or talking) between characters. They need to be used correctly in order to make the writing flow smoothly.
Examples of Correct Usage of Quotation Marks:
The bear asked, "Where is my hat?"
The rabbit replied, "I don't know. I haven't seen a hat anywhere."
"Are you sure?" the bear asked.
"Yes, I am sure," replied the rabbit.
Notice how after each verb (underlined) before a quotation mark, there is a comma. The sentence inside the quotation mark follows the same sentence rules you have learned: capitals at the beginning and proper punctuation at the end.
There is, however, a special case (Sentence 4): if the quotation is before the verb, then the sentence inside the quotation cannot end in a period.
Directions
Look at the picture and use "Dialogue" as a writing hook.
Finish writing the rest of your short story based on the picture.
Re-read your writing to edit it.
Find a word or a phrase that you are really proud of and underline it.
Check that you have spelled correctly the words you know.
Check that you have taken a risk with unknown words and used them too.
Upload a picture of your writing on your e-Portfolio.
My Example
I used this picture to write my hook and paragraph:
(Picture source: Once Upon a Picture)
I followed the directions above and underlined the words and phrases that I thought were powerful and creative.
"Quickly!" shouted my sister as she pulled me along. "I'm trying! You have longer legs than me!" I retorted. We were on our way to our grandmother's house when we suddenly spotted this transparent creature who reached inside the house and scooped up our grandmother! Now, we're on this wild chase trying to catch this mystical creature before it disappears. The creature seems to know this plot of land very well - it jumps over the crops and ducks under the telephone pole lines. We try to keep up, but we find ourselves lagging behind with each giant step that the creature takes.
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