Scary Good Tool 10: Grabbers
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Once you get a great story idea, you're going to need something to pull the reader into the story quickly. You're going to need a grabber.
A grabber?
Yep, something that grabs the reader's attention and pulls him into your story. It’s the first thing a reader reads so make it good.
And I suppose you just happen to have a little tale about grabbers.
I do indeed.
I thought you might.
See how this one grabs you.
A grabber?
Yep, something that grabs the reader's attention and pulls him into your story. It’s the first thing a reader reads so make it good.
And I suppose you just happen to have a little tale about grabbers.
I do indeed.
I thought you might.
See how this one grabs you.
Gotcha!
Connor knew he had made a mistake coming to the library. The ancient librarian cast a cold gray eye on the nine-year-old boy. His wispy white hair resembled cobwebs. His skin looked like very old parchment. “You don't like to write, do you, boy?” He asked in a dry whisper.
Connor looked away from that piercing eye. “H-How did you know?"
The ancient librarian smiled and tapped his temple. “You like television and video games. Writing just doesn't grab you, does it?”
“That's right. But my stupid teacher wants us to write a story by tomorrow morning. Can you help me find a book that will show me how to write a good story?"
The ancient librarian rose to his feet, his bones crackling in the process. He crooked a gnarled finger, motioning for Connor to join him. He crept down a long row of books. Connor followed. The ancient librarian stopped and removed an antiquated volume from the shelf. He handed it to the young boy.
“What’s this?” Connor asked.
“This is the book for you.”
“Is it good?”
“Oh yes. It's just the book you need. It will write the stories for you."
“Awesome." Connor opened the book to the first page. He started to read. “Connor knew he had made a mistake coming to the library.”
Connor stopped reading. "This seems awfully familiar."
The ancient librarian chuckled. “The beginning grabs you, doesn't it? It creates a mystery in your mind. Why was it a mistake for Connor to come to the library? You want to keep reading to find out why.”
Connor didn't mention that his name was the same as the boy in the book. It was just a coincidence, he thought.
“Dialogue is a good way to start a story," the ancient librarian said. “Starting with dialogue is like eavesdropping on a conversation.” He pointed at the book.
Connor looked at the first page again. The opening sentence had changed. It now read. “You don't like to write, do you, boy?" The ancient librarian asked Connor in a dry whisper.
A chill rolled up Connor's spine. He set the book down. “How...?"
“Or perhaps a rhetorical question might grab your attention. A rhetorical question makes a point, but doesn’t expect an answer. Like this one.”
Connor opened the book. He watched the letters dissolve on the page and form a new opening sentence. He read it. “What boy wouldn't want a book that writes stories for him?”
He slapped the book shut. “I don't like this book. It scares me."
The ancient librarian ignored him. “Humor is another way to grab the reader's attention. Look again, Connor. Look again and see if humor suits you.”
"I don't want to," the boy said.
The ancient librarian’s eyes glowered. His whispery voice grew strong. “Look!”
Connor opened the book and read the new opening sentence. "The ancient librarian scuttled down the row of books, farting like a motor boat.”
Connor chuckled even though he was scared by the magic book. “That is pretty funny."
The ancient librarian winked. “Humor can be very effective.” He chuckled menacingly. “But my favorite way to grab the reader is to shock him."
“Shock him?” Connor didn't like the sound of that. His stomach jittered with butterflies.
“Surprise the reader. Throw him off balance. It's an excellent way to grab the reader and pull him into your story.” He pointed a gnarled finger at the book in Connor's hands. “Read, my boy. See if a shocking opening sentence doesn't make you want to read more."
Connor opened the book and saw that the opening sentence had changed once more. He hesitated. He was afraid to read what was written there.
“Go on, boy. Read it. See if you want to keep reading."
Connor looked down at the page and started to read. “Connor didn't know it, but he was never going to escape from the library.”
Connor glanced up at the ancient librarian. His cold eyes were gleaming. He had a wicked grin on his face. His serrated teeth were those of a shark. He licked his lips and rubbed his stomach.
Connor kept reading to see how the story ended.
How did that story grab you, Bonefish?
By the throat. Boy, the first sentence of a story sure is important for grabbing the reader’s attention.
It certainly is. An attention-grabbing sentence stirs emotion. Emotion triggers curiosity. Curiosity drives a reader to want to know more, More, MORE! Bingo! You’ve got a grabber.
And I'm going to be writing some grabbers, aren't I?
You know me pretty well, Bonefish.
You know me pretty well, Bonefish. But first let me tell you THE MAGIC SECRET to writing grabbers. Are you ready? The secret is to start your narrative in the middle of action such as "The ancient librarian scuttled down the row of books, farting like a motor boat.”
Yeah, that uses humor and action to pull the reader into the narrative.
That’s right. Another example is: “You don't like to write, do you, boy?" The ancient librarian asked Connor in a dry whisper. It uses dialogue and talking is action. Both examples could be filmed and if you can film your opening sentence then you are using action to grab the reader’s attention.
Sounds like you keep away the boring beginnings that way.
Indeed you do. Now it’s your turn to create a grabber, Bonefish.
By the throat. Boy, the first sentence of a story sure is important for grabbing the reader’s attention.
It certainly is. An attention-grabbing sentence stirs emotion. Emotion triggers curiosity. Curiosity drives a reader to want to know more, More, MORE! Bingo! You’ve got a grabber.
And I'm going to be writing some grabbers, aren't I?
You know me pretty well, Bonefish.
You know me pretty well, Bonefish. But first let me tell you THE MAGIC SECRET to writing grabbers. Are you ready? The secret is to start your narrative in the middle of action such as "The ancient librarian scuttled down the row of books, farting like a motor boat.”
Yeah, that uses humor and action to pull the reader into the narrative.
That’s right. Another example is: “You don't like to write, do you, boy?" The ancient librarian asked Connor in a dry whisper. It uses dialogue and talking is action. Both examples could be filmed and if you can film your opening sentence then you are using action to grab the reader’s attention.
Sounds like you keep away the boring beginnings that way.
Indeed you do. Now it’s your turn to create a grabber, Bonefish.
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Lesson Review
All done, Mr. Butt.
What did you write for your shock grabber?
This course will help you to write well.
Ye Gads! Does that sentence grab your attention by shocking you? Does it stir feelings of surprise? Excite your curiosity? You just used the adverb shockingly to modify the verb to write. That’s boring. Boring beginnings do not make grabbers. Try again, Bonefish.
Let me think. I’ve got a good one:
The writing teacher stepped into the classroom and 40 eyes swiveled to stare at the dead man.
Marvelous! I mean, what kind of teacher is a dead man? I happen to be one, but that’s not the point. The point is that a dead teacher isn’t something you see everyday. It’s shocking. You want to find out more, so you keep reading.
And that’s the goal of Scary Good Writing.
In a nutshell. Let’s hear your example of a mystery grabber.
Mr. Butterfield was the most unusual writing teacher the children had
ever seen.
Good. It makes you wonder what’s so unusual about me and want to read more to find out. Nice job. Now tell me your humorous grabber.
What did you write for your shock grabber?
This course will help you to write well.
Ye Gads! Does that sentence grab your attention by shocking you? Does it stir feelings of surprise? Excite your curiosity? You just used the adverb shockingly to modify the verb to write. That’s boring. Boring beginnings do not make grabbers. Try again, Bonefish.
Let me think. I’ve got a good one:
The writing teacher stepped into the classroom and 40 eyes swiveled to stare at the dead man.
Marvelous! I mean, what kind of teacher is a dead man? I happen to be one, but that’s not the point. The point is that a dead teacher isn’t something you see everyday. It’s shocking. You want to find out more, so you keep reading.
And that’s the goal of Scary Good Writing.
In a nutshell. Let’s hear your example of a mystery grabber.
Mr. Butterfield was the most unusual writing teacher the children had
ever seen.
Good. It makes you wonder what’s so unusual about me and want to read more to find out. Nice job. Now tell me your humorous grabber.
Why did the zombie teacher cross the road?
I have not idea.
Because he was stapled to the chicken.
Bonefish, that joke may be humorous to you but it doesn't really have anything to do with Scary Good Writing.
No, I guess not. How about:
The teacher sneezed and his rotting nose landed on the little girl's desk.
I have not idea.
Because he was stapled to the chicken.
Bonefish, that joke may be humorous to you but it doesn't really have anything to do with Scary Good Writing.
No, I guess not. How about:
The teacher sneezed and his rotting nose landed on the little girl's desk.
That might make a few little blisters chuckle. Let's hear your talkie grabber.
“Are you sure I’m in the right class?” The boy asked, staring at the dead teacher.
First rate. I would keep reading to hear the reply to that question. Now try a rhetorical grabber.
Don’t you think every child deserves to be a better writer?
An excellent example of a grabber that uses a rhetorical question. After all, who wouldn’t want to be a better writer?
Mr. Butt, can you use interjections to grab the readers like: Gulp! What was a coffin doing in the middle of the classroom?
You surely could. Anything goes when you’re creating a grabber to pull a reader into your story. The important thing is to stir emotion, trigger curiosity and make the reader want to know more, more, more.
In other words, you want to keep the reader reading.
“Are you sure I’m in the right class?” The boy asked, staring at the dead teacher.
First rate. I would keep reading to hear the reply to that question. Now try a rhetorical grabber.
Don’t you think every child deserves to be a better writer?
An excellent example of a grabber that uses a rhetorical question. After all, who wouldn’t want to be a better writer?
Mr. Butt, can you use interjections to grab the readers like: Gulp! What was a coffin doing in the middle of the classroom?
You surely could. Anything goes when you’re creating a grabber to pull a reader into your story. The important thing is to stir emotion, trigger curiosity and make the reader want to know more, more, more.
In other words, you want to keep the reader reading.
I decided to use Mr. Butt's tailor,
