The Snowflake Chronicles

Aug 30, 2023 Fantasy Newsletter Deadline Aug 28, 2023

Research

Editor's Picks

1. Friend or Foe?
2. A Gypsy Spins a Tale
3. Bard's Alternate Reality
4. Parental Warnings
5. Pots of Gold
6. Why I'm Useful as a Dragon
7. Attack on Rockway
8. Sol'ginok
9. Jack and Jill

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Hooking the Reader

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Where do you put the hook in the first or second paragraph?

Hook

How do you hook your readers?

About This Newsletter

"Beginning hook readers. Endings create fans."
Martha Alderson

"As a writer, there are times when you have something to say, and yet no particular 'hook' upon which to hang the missive you are burning to release."

Tim Wise

"Question marks are shaped like hooks for a reason: they will hook the reader and drag them deeper into the story"
Chuck Wendig

Letter From the Editor

Where do you put the hook in the first or second paragraph? The hook should go in the first paragraph. However, I have read some stories where the hook, at least for me, was in the second paragraph. I, and I suspect this is true for many readers, won't stop reading if the first paragraph doesn't hook them. This doesn't mean that an author shouldn't attempt to put the hook in the first paragraph, because that will usually guarantee the reader will continue reading.

Until I started rewriting the first chapter of Mark of the Blue Wolf, I didn't think much about the hook. When I reread the chapter, before editing and rewriting, I didn't realize where I placed the hook. After rereading the chapter, I found I had placed the hook in the first paragraph. Which is where I wanted the hook from the start.

How do you hook your readers? Does your hook consist of an action paragraph, a question, a character description, or dialogue? While dialogue may not be the best way to begin a story, it can hook the reader. I can testify to this because, sometimes dialogue hooks me.

Does the type of hook you use depend on the plot or the protagonist? The hook I chose for Mark of the Blue Wolf was a combination of the two. I did this because the protagonist is blessed or cursed (depending on one's point of view) with a talent that moves the plot forward.

The original chapter one can be found in the book, "Mark of the Blue Wolf"  [18+] "Chapter 1: Weeping Meadows" . I'll post the rewritten chapter on the newsfeed as soon as it's finished. I'm sure that the rewritten chapter will be somewhat different from the original chapter. Because there are some things I need to add and others I need to take out.

Editors Picks

STATIC

Friend or foe?  (13+) Drake Grimstone in DnD; In to the kobold lair. (2/2) #2299948 by M S Groves

A Gypsy Spins a Tale  (13+) A fortune told, events predicted #1926395 by Creeper Of The Realm

Bard's Alternate Reality  (E) August Sci-Fi #2302266 by WriterRick

Parental Warnings  (13+) A parent warns their child against the monsters of the world #2302455 by s

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2302449 by Not Available.

Why I'm Useful As a Dragon  (E) A list of things I love to do for my human friends. #2302592 by Massive Friendly Derg

Attack on Rockway  (18+) Not all casualties of war have only two legs. #2296903 by Arsuit

Sol'ginok  (18+) A "good" man learns he is not as good as he thought. #2302632 by Jtpete 1986

STATIC

Jack and Jill  (E) Daily Flash Fiction 12/23/22 W/C 300 #2287211 by QueenNormaJean maybesnow?!

Submitted by Readers

STATIC

In The Park  (E) A day in a city park. #1551319 by NaNoNette

Activities, Groups, and Contests

What multi-verse would you be in?  (E) What universe would you choose to live in if you could? #2302581 by 🐺Wolfkingdom🏰

GROUP

Flights of Fantasy Group  (18+) A group for writers of fantasy stories and poetry #2295322 by A E Willcox

Feedback "Fantasy Newsletter (August 2, 2023)" 

NaNoNette writes: I don't have any inanimate object stories, but I wrote this squirrel story after watching the squirrels in the park behind my sons' elementary school find Oreos in the trash bins.