Creating a hook in the first few sentences of an article refers to anything that attracts the reader and then entices him to continue reading the entire piece. This is sometimes more difficult than writing the actual article. The choice of words in the opening paragraph should make him want to know more about whatever is the topic. Those first few sentences should tell the reader why he will benefit from the article.

If a reader is interested in the topic, his attention may remain for a few minutes. But if the opening gets him hooked, he may actually read the entire piece. It is every writer’s challenge to create the exact phrasing that will attract the reader’s attention.

Finding the right combination of words that will attract their interest takes persistence and work. You only need to think about the articles and stories that you have read. Do you skim through and search for shortcuts to absorb the information without actually having to read it all? That is what everyone else is doing.

The daily newspaper is a good example. Rarely does anyone read it straight through from front to back anymore. The same is true of the various magazines being published. Articles are shorter, more to the point, and simpler. Pictures can add impact and sometimes speak louder than words. Today’s readers try to make the most of their time and are looking for maximum benefit with minimal effort. They want the microwave version.

As a writer, you have to learn to communicate effectively and accurately in less space and with fewer words. It’s an ongoing challenge, but one that can be successfully met with preparation, practice, and creativity. Words are your tools of the trade. Use them wisely and carefully.

Tabloids that grab your attention because of outlandish, exaggerated, and preposterous claims show you ways to hook your reader. Study them searching for ideas. No matter how rushed you are or how distracted you may be, those headlines cause you to stop and read at least the first few sentences. Most people pass them by, but there are those who pick up the magazine and buy it. If these publications were not very profitable, they would not be in the stores. People want the sensationalism – the hook. Use it to your advantage.

Start with the headline or title using words or phrases that identifies with the reader or that evokes his curiosity. You want him to be interested enough to keep on reading. You choose your words carefully for the greatest effect. You want the story to be entertaining at the same time it is informative.

Experiment with specific nouns and choose strong action verbs. Remember that, unlike tabloids, sensationalism is not your goal.

Your message, however, cannot stand alone on the merit of the title or first few sentences. If you don’t hook the reader, you will lose him. The body of the article must have something substantial to say and must be able to do it creatively and concisely. Your topic needs to be every bit as interesting as the headline.

Remember, the reader is selfish and looking for something that will benefit him. After you have written your document, give it to someone else for proofreading. Their comments will help you as you work to sharpen the content.

You can help ensure a successful start to your document by answering the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How questions in main body of the message. Stay on topic and don’t wander off on tangents. Save those ideas as starter seed for other articles or documents. If your topic is very broad in nature, pare it down and make several articles from it. If you feel readers may need more information, you can always direct them to a Web site or additional resources.

Your message will be a waste of time if you don’t entice the reader into your topic. It sometimes helps to focus on only one person instead of a whole demographic.

An article needs to be relevant for the publication to which you are writing. A piece on zebras is good for a nature magazine, but it can also be modified to fit a parenting or a children’s magazine. It is a matter of knowing who would be the likely readers. The more you know about the people to whom you are writing, the better your chances of having someone read the document.

Read through what you have written and evaluate it based on how interested it makes you feel. If you don’t feel the hook and are unwilling to invest your time on the subject, you cannot honestly expect someone else to do so. Have a friend, relative, or co-worker read the piece, and carefully consider the feedback you get. If they are bored by your opening or admit that they would not keep reading, it’s time to rework the article.

Some people might argue the fact that once you write your paper, it is not your problem whether or not someone actually reads the whole thing. That’s true up to a point. However, if you want to submit a document to a publication and receive a check in the mail, you have to realize that those publications are only going to print what people want to read. The publication has to keep readers interested in order for them to stay in business. That is exactly why they try to hook the reader on the first page of the supermarket tabloids. They want people to buy them so that the publication can pay their writers. Hopefully, you will be one of those.

It is very difficult in today’s electronic society to hold a person’s attention for more than the time it takes them to read a headline. It is equally difficult to persuade them to read what you have to say. The responsibility of taking the time to develop solid headlines and opening paragraphs rests on the writer. To meet this challenge takes determination and practice.