Find a Hook
Read short passages to identify strong opening hooks, compare which grabs attention best, then write and test your own original hook sentences.
Step-by-step guide to find a hook
Step 1
Gather all Materials Needed and put them on a table where you can work.
Step 2
Pick four short openings from different stories or passages to compare.
Step 3
Place the four openings on the table so you can see them all at once.
Step 4
For each opening read it aloud one at a time.
Step 5
For each opening underline the very first sentence that starts the story.
Step 6
For each opening write one short sentence on paper saying why that first sentence grabbed your attention.
Step 7
Lay the four underlined openings side by side and number them 1 to 4.
Step 8
Rank the openings from most to least attention-grabbing by writing the numbers 1 to 4 on each opening.
Step 9
Write three original hook sentences on separate index cards using different styles like a question a surprise or a strong image.
Step 10
Test your three hooks by reading each aloud to a friend or family member and asking which one they like best.
Step 11
Rewrite your favorite hook to make it stronger by choosing one more exciting word or a clearer image.
Step 12
Practice saying your improved hook with energy so it sounds exciting when you read it.
Step 13
Share your finished hook and one-sentence explanation of why it works on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of index cards, printed passages, or a large table if we don't have them?
Use folded printer paper or sticky notes for the three hook cards, copy each opening onto scrap paper or a tablet screen instead of printed passages, and work on any flat surface like a kitchen counter or lap with a clipboard in place of a large table.
What should we do if my child can't find or agree on the very first sentence to underline or has trouble ranking the openings?
Have them follow step 4 by reading each opening aloud slowly and mark the first full sentence they hear, then complete step 6 by writing one short reason per opening to help compare before laying them side by side and assigning ranking numbers in step 8.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages (younger kids, middle grades, teens)?
For younger kids use only two openings, let them point and place a sticker on the underlined first sentence and dictate one hook to an adult on a single index card, for middle graders follow all steps with help writing three varied hooks, and for teens add timed challenges, genre variety, and post the polished hook on DIY.org as in the final step.
How can we extend or personalize the hook-writing step to make it more creative or publishable?
Record short videos of reading your three index-card hooks to compare energy, illustrate the rewritten favorite hook to strengthen the image as you choose a more exciting word, and then upload the best recording and your one-sentence explanation to DIY.org to get feedback.
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Facts about creative writing for kids
âď¸ Ernest Hemingway's sixâword story "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." is often cited as a masterclass in a tiny, powerful hook.
đ Charles Dickens' opening line "It was the best of times..." is one of literature's most famous first sentences and immediately sets up contrast.
đ° Journalists call the opening the "lede" (spelled l-e-d-e) to avoid confusion with the word "lead" (the metal).
đ§ Readers often skim openings, so hooks that surprise, ask a question, or promise something useful are more likely to keep them reading.
đŞ The word "hook" is used across writing, music, and advertising to mean a short, attentionâgrabbing opening.
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