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Keep shoppingWriting a Book: Writing a Page-Turner with the Hook
106 students
Writing a Book: Writing a Page-Turner with the Hook
Writing a book: The Hook, Cliffhangers, Foreshadowing, Pacing, Subplots, Plot Twists, Red Herrings and Carrie Endings
Created byBrian Jackson
Last updated 8/2025
English
What you'll learn
- How to get the reader reading your book through the use of the hook, an intriguing opening sentence, paragraph or scene representing the best part of your book.
- How to keep the reader reading your book through the use of cliffhangers, nail biting conclusions to each chapter and your book including foreshadowing.
- How to keep the reader interested in your book through the use of pacing to distribute action, background, comedy, intellect, romance and suspence evenly.
- How to generate enough content to fill an 80,000 word book.
- How to keep the reader intrigued in your book through the use of plot twists and red herrings, intentionally misleading the reader.
- How to get the reader to read the next book in your serries by concluding your book with a Carrie ending.
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Course content
5 sections • 16 lectures • 1h 2m total length
Requirements
- The only course requirement is the desire to learn and implement the techniques outlined in the course.
Description
Hello and welcome to my course, Writing a Book: Writing a Page-Turner with the Hook.
In this course, I provide a systematic approach for getting a potential reader to buy your book, getting them to hungrily devour your book from chapter to chapter and buy the next book in your book series. Though this course focuses on writing fiction books, its techniques can be applied to nonfiction as well.
* * * Includes a downloadable Subplot and Pacing Tracker Excel Worksheet * * *
My name is Brian Jackson. I'm the writer of over one dozen books, publisher of well over 100 books and educator with over 30 Udemy courses to my name.
This course is divided into two halves. The first half deals with getting potential buyers to read your book. It includes information on the following writing techniques.
The Hook: Begin your book with a great opening to hook potential readers into starting to read.
Cliffhangers: A cliffhanger involves starting a perilous scene but delaying the conclusion to keep the reader reading. End every chapter with a cliffhanger to keep the reader reading.
Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing offers a hint of exciting things to come in the story. Foreshadowing makes for a great cliffhanger.
Pacing: Don’t let your story drag. Instead, balance the distribution of plot elements and weave background into your narrative.
The second half of the course focuses on keeping the reader reading to the end of your book and beyond. It includes information on the following writing techniques.
Subplots: Design your plot to include multiple subplots starting and ending at scenes in your story. You'll need lots of subplots to fill an 80,000-word novel.
Plot Twists: Design your plot to appear to go somewhere and suddenly change course.
Red Herrings: Similar to a plot twist, lay false leads to fool the reader into following the wrong lead before thrilling them with what really happened.
Carrie Endings: Right when your reader thinks your story is over, it starts all over again.
Each lecture includes step-by-step instructions and plenty of writing examples. It's only an hour long, so you may actually finish this course ;-). The course includes a downloadable Excel spreadsheet you can use to track your subplots and pacing.
After watching and implementing the writing techniques outlined in this course, you will be able to write page turners to sell more books.
I'll see you in the classroom,
---Brian
Who this course is for:
- This course is directed at those new to writing a fiction book who would like to sell more books.
- This course is also directed at experienced writing looking to hone their skills and sell more books.