MechanicalFoundational
Chapter Hook
Each chapter ends in a way that pulls the reader into the next.
Principle
The end of a chapter is the most powerful sentence in it.
Takeaways
- A hook need not be a cliffhanger; resonance also pulls.
- Different hooks for different rhythms — question, image, decision, threat.
- An unmarked chapter ending wastes the reader's pause.
Overview
Chapter hooks are the sentences and beats that close a chapter so as to shape the reader's pause and propulsion. They range from cliffhangers to quiet final images that gather the chapter's weight.
Examples
- A chapter ending on a decision the next chapter will execute.
- A chapter ending on an image whose meaning will deepen.
- A chapter ending on a question the reader will carry into the next room.