Purpose
Generate 3 hook options from the Hook Arsenal, tailored to the content at hand.
Read ../../references/context-contract.md and resolve available audience context, including optional AUDIENCE.md or a named shared guide. The explicit assignment audience takes precedence; missing audience context does not block the task.
Invocation
/cw-hook [context]— Generate hooks for the specified topic/piece/cw-hook— System asks "What's the piece about?" then generates options
The Hook Arsenal
| Hook Type | What It Does | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| The Already-Happened | Past-tense revelation of surprising outcome | The result proves your point |
| The Paradigm Flip | Challenges assumed truth | Presenting contrarian takes |
| The Visceral Moment | Sensory detail + emotion | Personal discovery pieces |
| The Time Stamp | Specific date/time that changed everything | Career pivots, revelations |
| The Failed Expert | Smart person + spectacular failure | Teaching through mistakes |
| The Future Glimpse | Present tense description of coming reality | Trend pieces, predictions |
| The Contradiction | Two true things that shouldn't both be true | Complex, nuanced topics |
| The Vulnerability Drop | Admission of struggle/weakness | Building trust and connection |
| The Stats Shock | Number that reframes everything | Data-driven arguments |
| The Definitional Challenge | Redefining familiar concept | Thought leadership pieces |
How to Generate
-
Analyze the content — What's the piece about? What's the core tension or insight?
-
Select 3 hook types that fit the content best. Consider:
- What material does the writer have? (personal story? data? contrarian take?)
- What's the emotional register of the piece?
- What will resonate with the target audience?
-
Generate one hook per type — Each should be 1-3 sentences that could open the piece.
-
Present all three with the hook type labeled.
Output Format
## Hook Options
### Option 1: The [Hook Type]
[1-3 sentence hook]
### Option 2: The [Hook Type]
[1-3 sentence hook]
### Option 3: The [Hook Type]
[1-3 sentence hook]
---
Which resonates? Or want me to try a different approach?
Principles
- Concrete over abstract — Start with a specific moment, fact, or detail
- Tension is magnetic — Create a question or contradiction
- Earn the right to their time — The hook must justify why they should keep reading
- No throat-clearing — Get to the interesting part immediately
Lessons
[Skill-specific lessons will be added here as they're captured]