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I agree - usually. But it depends on the type of novel you're writing. If you're writing a thriller / something plot-based - of course you're right; if you're writing something character-based I don't think it's always the case. My favourite 'novel' is "The Waves" by Virginia Woolf and there is no hook at any point. However I doubt very much that a work like that would be published in this day and age.
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A lot of famous authors write this way, it is whatever suits you best. The beauty about writing is that it doesn't matter how you get there as long as when you arrive it has worked for you.
Regards.
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True, Rowland. And that's a good point Carl. Those writing a twist-in-the-tail also couldn't write the beginning last.
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I think that the first time you start the piece you should think about the hook the reason someone is going to want to continue on and then once you finish check that it still makes sense to what you are saying throughout the book. Although I agree a good hook is not always necessary, as some of my favourite books have really slow starts but I perserved through recommendations or a really good blurb.
At the end of the day it is your own preference and what works best for you.
G
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I agree quite a lot on that, actually because the hook is indeed what draws people in. With some ppl, when they are standing around book stores, searching around for a book to buy, they usually dont stand there reading chapters upon chapters, so saying your novel "actually really gets going at page 30" is not going to work, more often than not.
Sometimes it is the first 3 pages, with some the first 3 paragraphs, with some (like me) only the first 3 lines and some people only look at the title, when deciding what book they want to buy, therefore I believe its of utmost importance to have a strong, grabbing first page and title.
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