May 28, 2024
Your audience decides if they want to listen to you in the first few seconds of your story.
Make it count!
You only have one chance to make a first impression!
Whether you’re sharing a personal anecdote, delivering a presentation or writing a novel, the way you begin your story sets the tone for everything that follows.
Here are five powerful storytelling hooks you can use to captivate your audience.
Start your story right in the middle of the action (with forward momentum). Make your character do something, whether it’s stepping, walking, shouting, or biking.
Example 1:
“I stood in front of the manager’s door, took a big breath, knocked three times, and slowly opened the door. As I peeked in, I saw my manager and the head of HR. I immediately knew this wasn’t good.”
Example 2:
“The tires screeched as I rounded the corner, heart pounding in my chest. I had only seconds to escape before they caught up with me.”
Share the exact words that were used in a crucial moment of your story.
Example 1:
“‘Mom, I have something to tell you.’ And with those words, I began the conversation that would change everything.”
Example 2:
“‘This is it,’ he said, handing me the envelope. ‘Your entire future is inside.’”
Start your story with a relatable question that makes your listeners think about their own experiences.
Example 1:
“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk away from everything you’ve ever known and start over? That’s exactly what I did when I packed my bags and moved halfway across the country.”
Example 2:
“Do you remember the first time you felt truly alive? For me, it was the moment I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my dream career.”
Describe the unique traits of the character—traits that are relatable and paint a vivid picture in your audience’s heads.
Example 1:
“October 2014. I was 16 years old. Trucker cap. Long hair. Baggy pants. And covered in pimples.”
Example 2:
“She was a whirlwind of color, with mismatched socks, a crown of wild curls, and eyes that sparkled with mischief.”
Start your story as close as possible to the most crucial moment of the story. Show your listeners that this moment is going to be huge, but don’t share everything yet.
Example 1:
“I was standing in my room with a letter in my hand. I knew this was it. I knew this letter would change my life forever.
But let’s wind back to when it started.”
Example 2:
“The phone rang at 2 AM. I knew nothing good ever came from calls at that hour. As I reached for the receiver, my mind raced with possibilities. But first, let’s go back a few hours.”
Give these five storytelling hooks a try. They will help you grab your listener’s attention.
But to really sustain their interest, you also want to understand how to tell the most interesting stories possible. For that, you may want to check out this next article in which I share my favorite ways to spice up your stories.
Enjoy!
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
