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How to Hook
A step-by-step workshop for writing your own first line
The 20 hooks give you templates. This page shows how to turn your own idea into a first line that earns the "Show more" click.
The 7 steps
1Know your one point and audience
Write down, in one sentence, what the post says and who it is for. If you can't, the hook won't fix it. One post, one point.
2Pick the hook type
Match the type to what the post does:
- A result → Number, Proof or Transformation
- An opinion → Contrarian, Prediction or Myth-Busting
- A lesson → Mistake, List or How-To
- A story → Story, Open-Loop or Challenge
- A specific group → Direct Callout or Relatable
3Draft 5–10 versions
Don't stop at the first line. Write it with two or three different hook types and several wordings. The first draft is rarely the best one.
4Cut to the bone
The first line should fit before "Show more". Remove warm-ups ("So...", "I've been thinking"), filler words and anything the reader doesn't need yet.
5Add specificity
Swap vague words for numbers, names and stakes. "Grow faster" becomes "go from 200 to 5,000 followers". Specific lines are easier to believe and picture.
6Check it delivers on the promise
Read the hook, then the post. Does the post pay it off fully? If not, change the hook or improve the post. Never publish a promise you don't keep.
7Test and vary
Rotate hook types across posts and notice which ones get reads and replies from your audience. Keep what works, drop what doesn't.
Worked example
The post: what I learned from sharing drafts with three friends before publishing.
- Start
So I've been thinking a lot lately about writing and feedback and stuff.
- 1. Point and audience
- Point: getting feedback on drafts makes posts better. Audience: people who write on X but rarely get replies.
- 2. Hook type
- It's a small experiment → Challenge Hook, or a lesson → Mistake Hook.
- 3. Drafts
- I shared every draft with friends for a month. Here's what happened.
- My biggest mistake was posting without feedback.
- Nobody talks about this, but your friends are your best editors.
- If you never get replies, read this.
- Feedback changed my writing.
- 4. Cut
I shared every draft with friends for a month. Here's what happened.
- 5. Specificity
I sent every draft to 3 friends for 30 days. Here's what happened.
- 6. Promise check
- The post must say what actually changed, good and bad. It does, so the hook stays.
- 7. Test
- Next time, try the Mistake version for a similar post and compare.
- Result
I sent every draft to 3 friends for 30 days. Here's what happened.
Before and after
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Some thoughts on pricing. | Avoid this pricing mistake at all costs. |
| I've grown my account a bit this year. | I went from 200 to 5,000 followers by doing this. |
| Here are some tips for new freelancers. | If you just started freelancing, this is for you. |
| Posting a lot isn't always good. | Unpopular opinion: posting every day is hurting your growth. |
| I want to share a story about my career. | 2 years ago, I was posting to zero followers. |
| AI is interesting for shopping. | AI agents are going to change how we shop online. |
| Some lessons from my first job. | 7 things I wish I knew before my first job. |
| Consistency is hard, right? | If you're struggling to stay consistent, read this. |
Write & post your hook
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"Post on X" opens X in a new tab with your text filled in. Nothing is posted until you press Post there.
Printable checklist
- I can say the point of this post in one sentence.
- I know who it is for.
- The hook type fits what the post does.
- I wrote at least 5 versions.
- The first line fits before "Show more".
- No warm-up or filler words.
- It has a number, name or clear stakes.
- The post fully delivers on the hook.
- I haven't used this exact template in my last few posts.
Fill-in-the-blank templates
- Nobody talks about this, but ______.
- Unpopular opinion: ______.
- Stop ______ if you want ______.
- I made ______ doing ______. Here's how.
- ______ years ago, I was ______.
- My biggest mistake as a ______ was ______.
- I went from ______ to ______ by doing this.
- ______ things I wish I knew before ______.
- How to ______ without ______.
- Most people ______. Smart people ______.
- I tried ______ for 30 days. Here's what happened.
- If you're a ______, this is for you.
- I almost ______, until this happened.
All 20 templates, with examples, are in Hooks on X.
Your first line is your headline.