Hooking A Sale

Editors and readers alike will buy your book based on the first paragraph, the first page, the first scene. Satisfy them in this small bite, and they will request and read more. Fail, and you've lost your shot at success. Learning to develop the most intriguing opening may be the best and only shot a new writer has at breaking out of the slush pile and into the hands of an editor. Following the hook with plot and climax that fulfill the initial expectations will seal a contract. That same well-written hook will take the book from the store shelf to the cash register -- the ultimate goal.

Facilitator: Michelle Buckman
Email: [email protected]

Week One: Defining Your Book In One Sentence

In order to write an intriguing hook relevant to your story, you must first be clear in your mind as to what, exactly, your story is about. Sounds easy, but it's an important first step that can keep your plot from wavering.

Week Two:  The Hook - practice
First you will practice rewriting some openings. Seeing mistakes in others makes it easier to find the same mistakes in our own work.

Week Three: The Hook - creation
Using your in-process novel manuscript, or creating a hook solely for the assignment, you will fine tune the opening with all the ingredients to grab a reader's attention. Beware! Many students create hooks just for the assignment and end up wanting to write the entire manuscript!

Week Four: Following Through
To ensure the expectations of the opening hook are met, you will write a climatic scene. While this scene may change in later writings, its creation will keep your eye on the opening promises of your manuscript to see if you are delivering.

Objective:  To focus on the goal of your manuscript and to develop an intriguing opening that build expectations toward the goal.

Prerequisites: None

Required Materials:  None

About the Facilitator, Michelle Buckman:

Michelle Buckman has been writing professionally for ten years, beginning with something no one ever bothers to actually read -- computer manuals. Nevertheless, she made enough money at it to stay home with her first baby and follow her true dream -- to write novels. Since then, Michelle has written five more novels and had three more babies.

Michelle has belonged to several Internet critique groups and taught writing classes both on and off line. Several of her short stories and excerpts from a few of her novels can be found online at www.darkstormy.com

In her daytime hours, Michelle schools her four children and runs them all over town to soccer, ballet, horseback riding and swimming. She writes during the only quiet part of the day -- after they're all in bed.

You're sure to learn a great deal in Michelle's workshop and to develop a Net camaraderie that will last long past the end of your lessons.

Praise for Michelle Buckman and "Hooking A Sale"

"Michelle has worked on every book I've done in the past few years. She has a keen eye, good writing instincts, and I trust her judgment implicitly. If you're looking for some help with your writing, I would not hesitate to recommend Michelle. She's been a Godsend to me."

    -- Terry, professional writer and author of 6 non-fiction books

"Michelle has been a wonderful workshop instructor. I would recommend this course to any aspiring writer." 

    -- Paul, workshop attendee