One of the things we talk about a lot at My Book Therapy is coming up with a good book hook.

It’s how we nab an editor or agent’s attention.

But it’s a lot harder than we’d like it to be.

In genre novels, we tend to be a bit cliche.

We read a lot of romance or historicals, or sci fi or whatever our preferred genre is and when crafting a story idea, we tend just rewrite what we’ve read.

Or, we get a nub of an idea. A spark we think is funny or poignant, even dashingly romantic and we develop a story around that one small spark.

And a lot of times, there’s just not enough to develop the idea into a story a-flame with tension and conflict.

When I come across cool ideas, funny anecdotes, crazy ideas, I put them in the idea hopper and pray they come to my aid when I need them.

Maybe I even pull one out to develop a story.

But always I go back to basics.

What’s this story about?
What’s unique about it?
What’s the dramatic irony?
What is the ping and pong.
What makes this story unique.

Let’s say I come up with the idea about a doctor.
Female doctor.
Divorced or widowed. Not sure yet.
Lives in a small town because it’s where her now absent husband insisted they live and she lost her chance for a major medical career.
She’s childless.
There’s a big bruhaha of some kind in town.
People are hurt — physically and/or metaphorically.
She’s called up on to help with emergency medicine.

Okay, great, nothing unusual yet. Nothing that hooks the editor or agent.

Here’s where I start twisting and turning things around.

She’s a doctor who can heal others but can’t heal herself.
She can’t move on from losing her husband and being barren.
Maybe I weave in a supernatural element. She literally has healing hands.

Ooo, maybe she refuses to practice medicine because of some supernatural events that occurred with her and her patients but when the big explosion and all hands are on deck. Including hers.

Maybe the explosion relates back to the lose of her husband.

Maybe she has to help heal the man who wounded her.

Okay… now we’re talking.

See, that’s the fist ping. Healing the man who wounded her.

Then I might ask the story question: Can a doctor who can’t heal herself bring restoration to her small hometown?

Or, “What happens when a broken, small town doctor is faced with disaster and is called up to heal the person who wounded her the most?”

So, there’s a bit of dramatic irony.

You weave this dramatic irony into your story pitch.

With the questions above (which I’m making up as I type) we get a feel for the external and the internal.

Now, let’s say the editor or agent goes, “Hmm, interesting but hasn’t that been done?”

You can quote similar works and how well they faired with readers. Thus making your case for the popularity of books like yours.

Or you make a case that their aren’t many small town female doctor stories. 🙂

But why is yours unique?

Besides dramatic irony, you can weave in the importance of your setting.

Or the spiritual theme of the book. Jesus died on a Cross for those who wounded Him so your heroine’s journey becomes a spiritual picture.

You might talk about why you wanted to write this book.

Let your passion come out.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what will nab their attention.

If you’re just cranking out a story idea because you think it’s what they want to hear, your posture, your voice, your story will have no punch.

But if you take an every day, run of the mill story — romance, sci fi, Amish — and add your unique perspective, add your passion, you’ll get someone’s attention.

Listen up though, I’m not talking agenda fiction. I’m not talking language like, “No one else is writing this,” because for sure, someone else is or will.

I’m talking your passion for the character, for the story, for the journey the characters will take toward truth.

In the Royal Wedding Series, I came across the notion of how love changes people, even nations.

So when asked about Once Upon A Prince, I’d say, “It’s about the power of love to change a nation.”

I came up with a tag for the whole Royal Wedding Series, “For the princess in all of us.”

That line came from work, dialog, talking out the stories with Susie and others.

So be patient. Work your story. Talk to your characters. Talk to others. Get their perspective.

Sometimes even if you have a bumpy pitch and a not-so-smooth idea, your passion will speak for you.

Why this story? Why now?

Go on, nab the attention of those editors and agents!

Happy Writing

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Best-selling, award-winning author Rachel Hauck loves a great story. She excels in seeing the deeper layers of a story.

With a love for teaching and mentoring, Rachel comes alongside writers to help them craft their novel. A worship leader, board member of ACFW and popular writing teacher, Rachel is the author of over 17 novels. She lives in Florida with her husband and  dog.

Contact her at: Rachel@mybooktherapy.com. Her latest release is Once Upon A Prince. Go forth and write!

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