Hooks & Openings

How to write a hook and a strong opening line: in medias res, open loops, negative hooks, and breakdowns of great openings from Steve Jobs, MrBeast, Pachinko and more.

Business Storytelling

Mar 12, 2025

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6 min read

Steve Jobs' 3-Part Hook

The first 90 seconds from Steve Jobs' 2007 iPhone launch showcases three brilliant story-hook techniques

Nathan Baugh

Hooks & Openings

Oct 7, 2024

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9 min read

Pachinko

A 3-part analysis of hooks & promises

Nathan Baugh

The Science of Story

Nov 15, 2023

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6 min read

The Psychology Powering a Mr Beast Hook

3 psychology-backed strategies to write attention-earning hooks

Nathan Baugh

Hooks & Openings

Jul 1, 2023

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4 min read

Story Hooks

3 techniques to create killer hooks for your stories

Nathan Baugh

Suspense & Tension

Jun 24, 2023

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3 min read

Open Loops

The 2 levels of open loops (and how to use them in your story)

Nathan Baugh

Story Structure

Jun 2, 2023

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3 min read

In Medias Res

Starting your story "in the midst of things"

Nathan Baugh

Hooks & Openings

May 27, 2023

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6 min read

No wise people

If you want to grab attention, use the negative

Nathan Baugh

Hooks & Openings

May 20, 2023

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6 min read

Little Fires Everywhere

'Shock the system' as a tactic for great hooks

Nathan Baugh

Hooks & Openings

Sep 4, 2022

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6 min read

Hidden in plain sight

Capturing stories in everyday life

Nathan Baugh

Hooks & Openings

Aug 28, 2022

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4 min read

Hart Attack

Tactics from one of the world's top comedians

Nathan Baugh

Hooks & Openings

Steve Jobs' 3-Part Hook

Pachinko

The Psychology Powering a Mr Beast Hook

Story Hooks

Open Loops

In Medias Res

No wise people

Little Fires Everywhere

Hidden in plain sight

Hart Attack

World Builders

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