SWRT 272 | Chapter End-hooks

January 5, 2023

person typing on MacBook Pro on brown wooden table during daytime photo

This week, Alida and Kathryn talk about ending chapters so that readers can’t wait to “jump the gap” and get on with the next one. What kind of end-hooks work and how? Do we instinctively know where to place our chapter breaks? Is there a formula to follow? Or maybe the story guides us? How to handle end-hooks when you change POV characters at the chapter break? When not to use an epigraph before your chapters, and more!

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

What we talked about:

What should we be thinking about when we look at our chapter end-hooks? (0:40)

When should you end a chapter? (1:49)

Don’t write past your hook. (5:32)

All hooks are not the same, switch it up! (7:45)

Chapter breaks can come in the middle of the movement. (9:44)

What about when you are switching points of view, timeline, or location? (12:15)

What about when there is very little continuity? (16:55)

Remember what the hook is! (18:35)

When do we plan our chapter hooks? (19:28)

When a chapter breaks with the pattern. (28:00)

LINKS

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

Things we mentioned:

Outlander
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.

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About Your Hosts

Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.

Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.

Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com