The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Double Hooks & Power Imbalances
9 snips
Feb 26, 2026 They workshop two submissions: a YA dystopian about societal “modification” and a risky twin-swap, and an adult thriller about a returned sister, a found diary, and a linked disappearance. Conversation focuses on hooks, openings, interiority, pacing, power imbalances, and how to tighten queries and opening pages to grab readers fast.
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Show External Stakes In The Query
- In a query, show external plot beats rather than internal questioning to hook agents quickly.
- CeCe asks for a line tying the ending revelation to the inciting failure so the story feels full circle.
Make The Twin Hook The Lead
- Lean into the twin double hook and make it central and early so the manuscript stands out in a crowded YA dystopian market.
- Carly recommends trimming over-explaining the ending and foregrounding twin dynamics instead.
Filter Worldbuilding Through Character Immediately
- Start at the right place and execute with strong interiority so readers emotionally connect during the inciting incident.
- CeCe urges compressing worldbuilding and character thoughts so each sentence does double duty.
