Creating strong 'hook' continued...

Let's start with Jeff Kinney's bestseller, 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid.' What strategies does he use to draw you in?


1. He starts in the middle of the action. It's Tuesday in his opening JOURNAL entry; a random day, and that's the point--spontaneity says what? Natural. Real. Young readers want stories they can identify with, and right away this kid sounds real, like they are.
   Also, there is no backstory, no history right off the bat. That's a very good thing with young readers who want to get to the 'meat' right away--Patience is a virtue. Yeah, right! When was the last time a nine year-old in your family was patient? Backstory can come in snippets, distributed cautiously.


2. His main character has a bone to pick. In fact, several bones to pick: With his mom for buying him a journal that says 'diary' on it. With people who write in 'diaries.' With the school bully (by inference and a page illustration) who's looking for any reason to slug him. With his teacher too, again by connecting the dots. The Kid: 'How many times do I have to tell you? This is a JOURNAL, not a diary.' And along with this formal complaint is a vow to fight it. Tension. Nothing very serious to an adult, but this book is not for adults, although they might enjoy reading it too, if they can still remember what it was like to be a kid. A middle school kid's day is ruined because of a locker that won't open? Please...
   So, tension. And you can tell from the opening to this book that his troubles aren't going away soon. A great formula for a tough-to-put-down book.


3. Does Kinney inject personality into his character? Right away, on the first page. Kids who moan, groan, and otherwise complain all the time regularly draw the ire of parents...and classmates. No one likes a whiner. Suck it up! But again, this is more about what is lovable, funny, quirky, immature, insightful, etc., etc. in the main character.


One final thought about Kinney's 'hook:' This story is all about 'show, don't tell'--a successful writer's dictum. There isn't a boring word in it. And he makes you laugh at every turn. Now, how can that not be a winning combination?


What other devices did you identify in Kinney's opening? In the first chapter?

Please feel free to share your thoughts.



DesertDogWriter