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Q&A How do you connect a non sequitur hook to a novel?

You can't really insert a hook afterwards. It will feel inserted. The hook needs to be there organically. You've presented a bizarre but intriguing image. In order to use it, you have to build a re...

posted 13y ago by Lauren Ipsum‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-13T12:00:04Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/4727
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T02:07:34Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/4727
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T02:07:34Z (almost 5 years ago)
You can't really insert a hook afterwards. It will feel inserted. The hook needs to be there organically. You've presented a bizarre but intriguing image. In order to use it, you have to build a reason for it.

- Is it a literal pineapple, like you can buy at the store, which has through some magical or technological means become animated? 
- Is it a person dressed as a pineapple, with bare legs visible?
- Is it a person dressed as a pineapple mascot (think Mr. Peanut), and the character is supposed to have clothes of some kind which have been lost?
- Is it an advertising exec pitching a quirky commercial to a client who sells pineapples?
- Is it a dream?
- Is it a videogame?

If there is no logical or natural reason for the naked pineapple to stroll into the book, send him strolling out again.

As Kate advises, keep a notebook. Write down your fabulous hooks. You can reread them later at your leisure and make yourself happy with your own writing all over again. But _don't_ clutter up your novel with them if they don't belong there.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2011-12-31T13:59:04Z (almost 13 years ago)
Original score: 2