Writing a hook for your query letter is probably the most important step in landing a literary agent for your fiction book. Literary agents get too many submissions to count, so it’s important to write a query letter that stands out instead of being rejected. To do this, you need to start your letter with an attention-grabbing hook that makes the agent want to keep reading.
But what makes a hook effective? How can you make sure your hook leaves a lasting impression?
In this post, I’ll cover the most important parts of a captivating hook and provide tips on how to write a hook that captures the heart of your story and piques an agent’s interest from the very first sentence.
What Is a Hook?
A query letter hook is a brief, attention-grabbing statement at the beginning of your query letter, designed to attract a literary agent’s interest. It gathers the heart of your story into one or two gripping sentences, highlighting its most intriguing or unique aspects.
The hook serves as a teaser that makes the agent want to read further, effectively setting the tone for the rest of your query. An effective hook often introduces the main conflict, stakes, or a unique element of your plot that sets your novel apart from others in the genre.
What Makes an Attention-Grabbing Hook in a Query Letter?
An attention-grabbing hook for a query letter typically has the following qualities:
- Concise and Clear: It quickly delivers the central conflict of your story in one or two sentences, making it easy for the agent to grasp the main idea without getting lost in details.
- Unique and Compelling: It focuses on what makes your story stand out, whether it’s an unusual setting, a twist on a familiar trope, or a particularly intriguing character or situation.
- High Stakes: It hints at the stakes involved in the story, creating a sense of urgency or tension that makes the agent want to know more about how the story unfolds.
- Emotionally Resonant: It taps into universal emotions like love, fear, betrayal, or hope, making it relatable and engaging for the reader.
- Genre-Appropriate: It reflects the tone and style of your novel, whether it’s suspenseful, romantic, humorous, or dark, giving the agent a taste of what to expect from the full manuscript.
A strong hook combines these elements to create an irresistible invitation to explore your story further.
5 Examples of Effective Hooks From Successful Query Letters
The hooks in these examples immediately draw the reader in by presenting intriguing conflicts, high stakes, and unique premises, all while hinting at the tone and genre of the novel.
1. “On September 11, Emily Morris is lazing in the bed of her lover, playing hooky while he goes to work at the World Trade Center office they share. When the towers collapse–along with the affair she’s been using to escape her unhappy marriage–she sees an opportunity. By September 12, everyone in her life thinks she is dead. By the next week, she is living a new life in California, pregnant and alone.”
People Who Knew Me by Kim Hooper (Psychological Fiction)
View the query letter
2. “Gabriella Giovanni has never met a man more exciting than a murder.”
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn by Kristi Belcamino (Crime Fiction, Mystery, Thriller)
View the query letter
3. “She had the talent, she had the drive, and she had the opportunity. Only one thing stood between Penelope Sparrow and the dance career of her dreams: her imperfect body.”
The Art of Falling by Kathryn Craft (Women’s Fiction)
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4. “Lynn was nine the first time she killed to defend the pond.”
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis (Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian)
View the query letter
5. “A boy with a hidden power and the girl who was sent to stop him have 24 hours to win a pickle contest.”
Pickle Impossible by Eli Stutz (Children’s Literature, Middle Grade, Adventure)
View the query letter
How to Write a Hook That Stands Out
Writing a hook that grabs a literary agent’s attention and stands out in a crowded market doesn’t have to be difficult or daunting. Follow the steps below to learn how to write a hook for your query letter:
1. Understand Your Story’s Core
Start by pinpointing the central conflict of your story. What is the problem your protagonist has to solve? What obstacle are they trying to overcome? This conflict is often the heart of your story and should be included in your hook.
Also, consider what makes your story unique and stand out from others in the same genre. Is it a unique setting? A twist on a familiar trope? An unusual character dynamic? These can help your hook capture an agent’s attention because they’re different from other stories and leave the agent wanting to know more.
2. Focus on the Stakes
Think about what’s at stake in your story, such as what your protagonist stands to lose or gain. High stakes create tension and urgency, which makes your hook more exciting. Also, make sure that the stakes are relatable to a wide audience by tapping into their emotions. The agent wants to know that your story can reach people who may not normally read your book’s genre.
3. Keep It Concise A hook should be brief and to the point. Try to put the heart of your story into one or two sentences. Do not include any unnecessary details that can weaken your hook’s impact. Also, be sure to use straightforward language so your hook is easy to understand. Complex sentences or vague language should be avoided because they confuse the reader.
4. Set the Tone
Your hook should reflect the tone of your novel. If your story is suspenseful, dark, romantic, or humorous, then the tone of your hook should be, too. It should give the agent a taste of what to expect from your manuscript.
It’s also a good idea to try to stir up an emotional response with your hook. It can be curiosity, fear, excitement, or empathy. An emotional connection can make your hook more memorable.
5. Test Different Versions
Write several versions of your hook, with each emphasizing a different aspect of your story, such as the protagonist, the conflict, or the stakes. This will help you find the angle that sounds best and is most exciting. Share your hook(s) with writing groups or readers you trust to see which version resonates the most. Feedback can help you refine your hook to get it just right.
6. Refine and Perfect
Once you’ve chosen the hook you prefer the most, refine it and rewrite it until it’s as strong as possible. Every word should serve a purpose. Make sure there are no grammatical errors, typos, or awkward phrasing. Your hook should demonstrate professionalism and attention to detail. If your hook is full of errors, the agent will wonder what your manuscript is going to look like and may immediately throw your query letter in the trash.
7. Integrate It Seamlessly
Place your hook at the beginning of your query letter to grab the agent’s attention right away. Make sure it naturally flows into the rest of your pitch. The hook should be used as a foundation for the rest of your letter, which will then expand on the key pieces introduced in your hook.
Conclusion
Writing a hook that grabs the agent’s attention and stands out in a crowded marketplace sounds intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be difficult. However, it is a very important step when writing your query letter. By understanding how to write a hook that pinpoints your story’s central conflict, stakes, and unique elements, you increase your chances of making a strong first impression.
Remember, your hook isn’t just an introduction—it’s your only chance to make an agent want to read more. By keeping it brief, emotionally resonant, and reflective of your novel’s tone, you’ll be on your way to writing a query letter that actually gets noticed.
