🎣 How to Write a Killer Book Hook (Free Template Included!)

Struggling to write that perfect first sentence? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Here’s a step-by-step hook template to help you brainstorm, write, and refine your book’s opener, no matter your genre.

Use this to spark ideas, find your tone, and grab your readers from line one.

🧠 Step 1: Get to Know Your Story

Answer these questions first. Your answers will shape the hook:

• Genre:(Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Sci-Fi, etc.)

• Main Character’s Situation or Conflict:(What’s their problem, desire, or secret?)

• Tone of the Story:(Is it dark, hopeful, funny, eerie, magical?)

• Themes to Highlight:(Love, identity, loss, freedom, revenge, etc.)

✍️ Step 2: Choose Your Hook Type

Pick the style that fits your story best:

• ✅ A Mysterious First LineSomething is off, but we don’t know what yet.

• ✅ A Shocking or Emotional RevelationThrow us right into the moment.

• ✅ A Striking Visual or ImageOpen with an unusual, eerie, or symbolic picture.

• ✅ A Big Question or Bold StatementChallenge the reader immediately.

• ✅ A Funny/Relatable ThoughtPull the reader in with humor or sarcasm.

🪄 Step 3: Plug into These Fill-in-the-Blank Hook Starters

Here are some customizable prompts to help you get started

🔍 “The day _____, I didn’t realize how much it would change everything.”Example: The day my twin sister died, I didn’t realize I’d still be talking to her a week later.

💔 “I wasn’t supposed to _____, but I did—and now someone’s going to pay.”Example: I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did—and now someone’s going to die.

👀 “Everyone says _____, but here’s what really happened...”Example: Everyone says the fire was an accident, but here’s what really happened that night.

🕯️ “They warned me about the _____. I should’ve listened.”Example: They warned me about the forest behind the school. I should’ve listened.

📜 “Before I tell you how it ends, let me explain how I got here.”Example: Before I tell you how I died, let me explain how I became a god.

🧪 Step 4: Experiment, Edit & Test

Try writing 3–5 variations of your hook using different tones and types. Then:

• Read them aloud.

• Ask a friend which one makes them curious.

• Choose the one that feels most like your book.

Remember, your hook doesn’t have to be perfect on the first try. It just needs to pull your reader into the story’s heartbeat.

🎁 Want More Help?

Download this Hook Template & Brainstorming Guide as a printable worksheet and start writing your opening today.

Download Here