What do you think?
Rate this book
Writing Active Hooks #2
Evocative Description, Character, Dialogue, Foreshadowing and Where to Use Hooks
Want to engage a reader from the first page of your novel?
Do you want to Keep them engaged? If so, learn
- Move deeper into the craft of writing hooks.
- Identify four universal hooks that can challenge a writer.
- Spot the most common pitfalls when writing hooks.
- Find out where hooks MUST be used to create a page-turning manuscript.
If you don’t yet have a solid understanding of hooks and where to use them, don’t second-guess yourself. Examine how authors in all genres incorporate hooks into their work and how you can duplicate the process in your own manuscripts.
Read this Kill the puppy.
Do you know what hooks are present? How many hooks? If you don't -- you need this book.
Every story needs hooks. The best writers know how and where to create them to keep the reader turning the pages. Do you?
Understanding how to compel a reader to keep reading doesn't happen by accident.
Powerful writing--no matter what you write--doesn't happen by accident.
Want to create page-turning novels? If not - ignore this book.
Do you want to Keep them engaged? If so, learn
- Move deeper into the craft of writing hooks.
- Identify four universal hooks that can challenge a writer.
- Spot the most common pitfalls when writing hooks.
- Find out where hooks MUST be used to create a page-turning manuscript.
If you don’t yet have a solid understanding of hooks and where to use them, don’t second-guess yourself. Examine how authors in all genres incorporate hooks into their work and how you can duplicate the process in your own manuscripts.
Read this Kill the puppy.
Do you know what hooks are present? How many hooks? If you don't -- you need this book.
Every story needs hooks. The best writers know how and where to create them to keep the reader turning the pages. Do you?
Understanding how to compel a reader to keep reading doesn't happen by accident.
Powerful writing--no matter what you write--doesn't happen by accident.
Want to create page-turning novels? If not - ignore this book.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2015
34 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Mary Buckham
29 books180 followersUSA Today bestselling author Mary Buckham credits her years of international travel and curiosity about different cultures that resulted in creating high-concept urban fantasy and romantic suspense stories. Her newest Invisible Recruit series has been touted for the unique voice, high action and rich emotion. A prolific writer, Mary also co-authors the young adult sci-fi/fantasy Red Moon series with NYT bestseller Dianna Love. Mary lives in Washington State with her husband and, when not crafting a new adventure, she travels the country researching settings and teaching other writers. Don’t miss her latest reference book Writing Active Setting.
Currently she is neck-deep into writing an Urban Fantasy series centered around five women drafted to combat preternatural beings agitating for world domination. The INVISIBLE RECRUIT series combines a fantasy/paranormal element with high stakes and the pace of action adventure stories. Mary loves creating thrills, spills and spells as she follows the ups and downs of fascinating characters starting with Alex Noziak, the heroine of INVISIBLE MAGIC, INVISIBLE FATE and INVISIBLE POWER.
Currently she is neck-deep into writing an Urban Fantasy series centered around five women drafted to combat preternatural beings agitating for world domination. The INVISIBLE RECRUIT series combines a fantasy/paranormal element with high stakes and the pace of action adventure stories. Mary loves creating thrills, spills and spells as she follows the ups and downs of fascinating characters starting with Alex Noziak, the heroine of INVISIBLE MAGIC, INVISIBLE FATE and INVISIBLE POWER.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 19, 2015
Unique Character Hook was by far one of my favorite hooks I have read when it comes to the development of hooks. Mary really opened up my eyes to see how I could envision my characters differently in my stories and intertwining them into the stories. It makes you think that your characters could even be better! I love the assignment that goes along with this - developing the characters.
Mary does a great job in teaching us the basics in her guide books - this one is not any different! Not only does Mary provide examples for the types of hooks that she is teaching, but she provides examples from actual published stories too.
Mary puts in Assignments with each section - they are great tips and ideas for the writer to work with. How to open up your eyes? Great! Mary has writers not only learning by reading, but learning by doing and I know in some 'help' books that is not the case. Mary seems to want all aspects of the writer to be developed. Such a great teacher!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to any person who wants to try their hand at writing, or even is a professional writer.
Mary does a great job in teaching us the basics in her guide books - this one is not any different! Not only does Mary provide examples for the types of hooks that she is teaching, but she provides examples from actual published stories too.
Mary puts in Assignments with each section - they are great tips and ideas for the writer to work with. How to open up your eyes? Great! Mary has writers not only learning by reading, but learning by doing and I know in some 'help' books that is not the case. Mary seems to want all aspects of the writer to be developed. Such a great teacher!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to any person who wants to try their hand at writing, or even is a professional writer.
April 9, 2015
Great sequel to Book 1 with more examples, hints and techniques for improving your writing with the addition of hooks.
Every time I read one of Mary's books (or take of one her courses) I feel invigorated to go back and scour my manuscript for opportunities to make it better.
Highly recommended for all writers, new and seasoned.
Every time I read one of Mary's books (or take of one her courses) I feel invigorated to go back and scour my manuscript for opportunities to make it better.
Highly recommended for all writers, new and seasoned.
April 19, 2015
A good book for those looking to write their own books. Lots of examples are given and Mary does a nice job of explaining the reasoning for each hook and what an author might think when choosing which to use.
September 9, 2016
Highly recommended. Great follow up to book one. I love how she gives concrete examples through the whole book.
February 1, 2017
Readable as opposed to just being used for reference. Really enjoyed the explanations and examples. 4.5 stars
October 21, 2021
Quite a bit of good, actionable info like in the first book, but this one felt long-winded. Still worth a read.
March 5, 2022
Okay if you're a beginning writer.
March 7, 2017
The second book starts off the same as the last, giving you a couple more hooks to learn about and then close to half way, we get to the part you would be waiting for, how and where to place your hooks. Mary goes into a lot of detail with this and now, after learning everything from the other two books, you can finally make use of all the knowledge you've learned. She talks about placement in the opening paragraph, in prologues, opening a chapter with a hook, ending a chapter with a hook, opening and ending scenes with a hook and ending the book with a hook.
One thing I often forget to think about is, “Have I hooked my reader? Are they going to keep reading?”. This book on writing hooks really helped me understand what could help hook a reader into your story. Which was, of course, the intended purpose of the novel. Although, I thought there was a lot of clutter that broke up the necessary information.
One thing I often forget to think about is, “Have I hooked my reader? Are they going to keep reading?”. This book on writing hooks really helped me understand what could help hook a reader into your story. Which was, of course, the intended purpose of the novel. Although, I thought there was a lot of clutter that broke up the necessary information.
April 18, 2015
Why do you need this book?
Strong and properly placed hooks raise questions in the readers’ minds and draw them through your story. If you can’t get your readers to turn the page, your book won’t succeed. If you can’t get your readers to finish your story, they probably won’t buy your next book. If you can’t give an editor or agent a reason to read on, you won’t make it out of the slush pile.
Building on examples from published works, Mary Buckham demonstrates how to construct and /or combine four additional effective hooks. She also explains the importance of hook placement and pacing. She includes examples for non-fiction, genre fiction, and literary fiction.
Writing Active Hooks-Book 2 is an excellent resource with tips and techniques that will improve the work of any writer from unpublished to multi-published. I highly recommend this book.
Strong and properly placed hooks raise questions in the readers’ minds and draw them through your story. If you can’t get your readers to turn the page, your book won’t succeed. If you can’t get your readers to finish your story, they probably won’t buy your next book. If you can’t give an editor or agent a reason to read on, you won’t make it out of the slush pile.
Building on examples from published works, Mary Buckham demonstrates how to construct and /or combine four additional effective hooks. She also explains the importance of hook placement and pacing. She includes examples for non-fiction, genre fiction, and literary fiction.
Writing Active Hooks-Book 2 is an excellent resource with tips and techniques that will improve the work of any writer from unpublished to multi-published. I highly recommend this book.
April 20, 2015
Mary has added another winner to her Active Series. She's definitely a 'hooker' who knows her way around the writing block...no stilettoes, Mary!
I thought I had a fairly good grasp on the writing process, but Mary, with her defined examples of hooks and types of hooks, opens the knowledge bank further.
Of course effective hooks need three-dimensional characters woven into a knock'em dead plot.
Take a stroll with Mary and buy this book, and Mary's other Active Series.
Beyond valuable info!
I thought I had a fairly good grasp on the writing process, but Mary, with her defined examples of hooks and types of hooks, opens the knowledge bank further.
Of course effective hooks need three-dimensional characters woven into a knock'em dead plot.
Take a stroll with Mary and buy this book, and Mary's other Active Series.
Beyond valuable info!
April 21, 2015
This book contains valuable information. It explains some of the different hooks and how to use them correctly. I am not a writer, but I easily understood this book! The examples the author uses make it come together in an understandable way.If I was going to write a book, this would be a must-have! Well done, Mary Buckham!
April 19, 2015
A great follow up to Hooks 1.
You don't need to be writting a novel for this to apply. I would recommend this to HS or College students to aid in getting better marks for those essays or papers.
now I can see why some books don't catch my attention and what I would do just to grab more readers.
You don't need to be writting a novel for this to apply. I would recommend this to HS or College students to aid in getting better marks for those essays or papers.
now I can see why some books don't catch my attention and what I would do just to grab more readers.
February 15, 2016
Great craft book
Of all the craft books I have read, this has to be among the best. I especially liked the great examples Mary provides.
Of all the craft books I have read, this has to be among the best. I especially liked the great examples Mary provides.
June 5, 2017
Excellent ideas for the writer. Ample examples. Well done!
July 17, 2017
Repetitive, but good as usual. Great analysis of hooks and how they're constructed.
June 3, 2021
Informative
This Mary Buckham is an expert in the use of hooks. There are many examples and books with hooks recommended to read.
This Mary Buckham is an expert in the use of hooks. There are many examples and books with hooks recommended to read.
July 14, 2023
Wonderful book on the use of writing hooks and where to use them!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews