A strange prophecy or prediction can be an effective hook. Like 'On the night of the blood moon, a hero will rise from the ashes of the forgotten city.' It creates a sense of mystery and anticipation, making the reader eager to find out who the hero might be and what the forgotten city is all about.
Starting with a character in a dangerous or exciting situation is also great. Say, a hiker lost in a dense forest at night, hearing strange noises. This hooks the reader as they want to know if the hiker will survive and what is making those noises.
An unexpected event at the very beginning is also a good hook. Such as a character suddenly finding themselves in a completely different world without any prior warning. This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder how the character got there and what will happen next.
Beginning with a thought - provoking question can also be a good hook. Such as 'What if you woke up one day and found out that the world you knew was just a simulation?' It forces the reader to start thinking about this wild concept and draws them into the story to find out if there's an answer or exploration of this question within the narrative.
A mystery or a riddle can be a great hook. For example, starting a story with 'The door was ajar, and a strange sound was coming from inside. What could it be?' It immediately makes the reader curious. Another one could be a shocking statement like 'She woke up to find herself in a world where time had stopped.' This kind of hook grabs the reader's attention right away.
A mysterious letter arriving at the protagonist's doorstep can be a great hook. It immediately raises questions and draws the reader in.
A strange object found in an unexpected place can be a great hook. For example, a golden key in a modern, high - tech office. It makes the reader wonder where it came from and what it unlocks.
Beginning with a description of a reindeer that has lost its way on Christmas Eve can be a great hook. It sets an unexpected and somewhat concerning tone that draws the reader in. The idea of a lost reindeer during such an important night for Santa and his team creates a sense of mystery and urgency.
The sudden appearance of an old-fashioned sleigh in a modern neighborhood. Maybe it's Santa's sleigh that has some sort of trouble, and the local kids get involved in helping.
A mysterious event or a strange noise can be a good hook. For example, starting a story with 'In the dead of night, a shrill scream pierced through the silence.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what's going on.
A surprising statement can be a great hook. For example, 'The day the sun didn't rise was the day everything changed.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what could possibly cause such a strange event. Another good hook is starting with a question like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world without colors?' This engages the reader's curiosity as they start to think about their own answer and are eager to see how the story will address it. Also, beginning with an interesting action like 'She ran through the dark forest, branches scratching at her face, not daring to look back.' This creates suspense and makes the reader want to know who she is, what she's running from, and why.
One good hook could be 'My life changed forever in a single moment on a rain - soaked street.' It immediately makes the listener or reader wonder what that moment was. Another is 'The day I found a mysterious key was the start of an unexpected journey in my life.' It creates curiosity about the key and the journey. And 'When I was left alone in a strange city with no money, that's when my real life story began.' This hooks people as they want to know how you survived.