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hooks

Setting Writing Exercises

March 20, 2026 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

The writing journey can throw up plenty of surprises. I remember going to my first writing event, many moons ago, and feeling terrified at being set my first writing prompt by someone else. I was sure I wouldn’t be able to do it. I did by the way. You do just get on with it. But there was no way on this earth I was sharing that first effort with anyone! I also had no idea what a variety of writing exercises there are. I have found out since!

[Read more…] about Setting Writing Exercises

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Tags: am writing, creative writing, fiction, hooks, non-fiction, setting writing exercises, writing challenge, writing exercises, writing tips

Getting The Hooks In

March 13, 2026 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Hooks are crucial for holding a reader’s interest, regardless of whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction.

They can also be placed in varying places within a piece to give maximum effect. The idea here is an opening hook draws readers in, one somewhere in the middle will keep their interest going, and then another one at the end brings in a satisfying conclusion to the piece.

This mirrors the Three Act structure though the hook in itself isn’t enough to keep things going. The golden rule, if there could be said to be one, is there should be no boring bits, nothing readers might be tempted to skip.

[Read more…] about Getting The Hooks In

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Tags: am writing, creative writing, fiction, holding reader interest, hooks, non-fiction, writing advice

The Task of the Opening Lines

March 8, 2024 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Every part of a story or article, of whatever length, has its role to play but the most important is the opening line. Unless readers get past that, the rest won’t be read. So what does any opening line need to do to encourage people to keep reading?

[Read more…] about The Task of the Opening Lines

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Tags: am writing, changing opening lines, creative writing, fiction, hooks, impact of opening lines, intriguing the reader, non-fiction, opening lines, opening lines as writing exercises, questions, writing advice, writing exercises

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