How to Write a Beginning that Hooks Your Reader

I can’t believe it’s the end of another week. I committed to writing at least one writing craft blog post per week, and it seems to come around so quickly. I hope you have all had a productive writing week. Mine has been here and there… I have been trying to find some stories suitable for sending to the National Flash Fiction Day Flash Flood, and then, hey presto – some rejections came in this week, so I will probably send those! Ha ha. You can take part in the Flash Flood, which posts a story every few minutes on June 13th, by visiting the site at the button below and following their guidelines.

Submit to the NFFD Flash Flood

So… onto the craft part of this post. I am posting one short writing related social media post every day (that’s the plan anyway, barring anything getting in the way, or me forgetting, LOL), and from those posts I sum up at the end of the week. So.. this week has been all about beginnings, so let’s get on with it. By the way, if you are interested in any workshops I do, or in hiring me as a mentor, then you can click on the menu buttons at the top of the page here, have a little look around, read my stories, and then visit my bookings page. I would love to work with you.
 
How to Write a Beginning that Hooks Your Reader
A strong beginning doesn’t just start a story; it makes a promise to the reader that their time will be well spent. The key is to draw them in to the world your characters inhabit without overwhelming them, offering just enough to spark curiosity while leaving space for questions to grow.
 
One of the most important decisions is where to begin. Often, the best opening isn’t the earliest moment in the timeline, but the moment where something shifts, where tension, change, or uncertainty is already in motion. Starting too early can dilute the energy whereas starting at the point of movement gives the story immediate life. All the details you want the reader to know about the backstory can be woven into the current moment timeline.
 
Intrigue comes from what’s withheld as much as what’s revealed. A reader doesn’t need to understand everything straight away. In fact, they shouldn’t. A carefully chosen detail, a hint of conflict, or a question left hanging can be far more compelling than a flood of explanation. Avoid info dump as much as possible. It’s tempting to begin with background, and to over-explain, but this can slow the story before it’s even begun. Info-dumping and throat-clearing often push the real story further down the page. Instead, aim to begin with something active or evocative, allowing context to emerge naturally as the story unfolds.
 
The opening lines are where the reader learns the tone and voice of your story. Whether the voice is lyrical, spare, intimate, or distant, those first sentences set the emotional and stylistic expectations. A clear, confident voice invites trust and encourages the reader to settle in.
 
Tell me, what’s your favourite opening line from your own work or someone else’s? I would love you to let me know in the comments. Also, if there is any aspect of writing you would like me to cover in future posts or blogs, then do let me know. And finally, if you are not already a subscriber to my monthly newsletter (which will occasionally be more than once if I have anything to let you know about) then click on the button below and hit subscribe.

Subscribe to My Newsletter