Chapter Ending Hooks

WRITING TIP: 17 DIFFERENT CHAPTER-ENDING HOOKS TO TURN READERS INTO INSOMNIACS

Your goal with chapter endings is to pull the reader into the next chapter. But you can’t use the same type of hook every time. You need to vary your “bait.”

17 CHAPTER-ENDING HOOKS

1. Physical or Emotional Danger
2. Introduce new characters
3. Imminent failure or bad news
4. Epiphany
5. Plot twist or reveal
6. An invitation, letter, or message
7. Romantic kiss or gesture
8. What’s behind the door?
9. Jump up and cheer moment
10. An impossible or very important decision is made
11. Foreshadow
12. A sense of awe (I can’t believe this amazing setting, or I can’t believe that just happened!)
13. Character death or survival
14. Blow something up (Actual explosions, or blow up a relationship, fall of a government, etc…)
15. A windfall (Someone wins the lottery, becomes a princess, unexpected heiress, gains powers, etc…)
16. Countdown or ticking time bomb
17. Introduce a heist or a risky plan