The Art of Keeping Readers Hooked
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethspanncraig.com
The last thing we want for our books is to have readers abandoning them halfway through. I’ll admit that, as a reader, if a book hasn’t grabbed me by the first 25-30 pages, I’m giving up on it. I have too many things on my TBR list. Here are some ways to keep readers invested in our books.
Deliver on Your Opening Promise
Your first pages set reader expectations about tone, pace, and genre. A thriller that opens with heart-pounding action needs to maintain tension throughout. A cozy mystery that begins with small-town charm should consistently deliver that atmosphere. Breaking your opening promise disappoints readers who chose your book for specific reasons.
Plant Questions in Every Chapter
Curiosity drives page-turning behavior. Each chapter should leave readers with questions they genuinely want answered. Will the detective realize the witness is lying? What’s behind that locked door? How will the character handle their impossible choice? These don’t need to be dramatic cliffhangers; even subtle mysteries about relationships maintain momentum.
Vary Your Story Rhythm
Too much intensity exhausts readers (and viewers: I remember the Jurassic Park film making me feel this way), while too much slow development is boring. Alternate between high-energy scenes and quieter moments. Consider following intense action with reflection time. Give readers breathers between emotional confrontations, then accelerate when your story needs momentum. This rhythm prevents reader fatigue while building toward climactic moments.
Create Characters Worth Following
Readers continue journeys with characters they’re invested in, not necessarily ones they like. Make sure your characters have something meaningful at stake, vulnerabilities that create connection, and enough agency to influence their situations. Readers will keep reading to find out what happens to characters.
Strengthen Your Middle Sections
Book middles often sag because initial momentum naturally slows. Combat this with fresh complications that change everything, surprising revelations about characters or plot, and emotional payoffs that feel earned.
What book kept you reading past your bedtime recently? For me, it was She Didn’t See it Coming by Shari Lapena.
Practical techniques for creating stories readers can't put down:
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