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85 Open Loop Methods To Hook Your Reader And Keep Their Attention

Nicolas Cole
6 min readJan 8, 2025

The best writing creates a slippery slope.

The headline grabs attention and intrigues the reader. Then they read the first sentence. And then it jumps straight into the action. The reader keeps going.

They build momentum all the way down the page, line after line.

Readers Are Finicky Little Devils, But You Can Charm Them With This Tiny Writer’s Secret.

Ready?

Here it is:

Open Loops.

I will tell you what they are in a minute.

First, let’s talk about Closed Loops. A Closed Loop feels complete. It’s neat. It’s fully packaged. Do you know how many bones there are in the human foot? Here’s your answer: 26 (and 33 joints). Loop closed. You’re satisfied.

An Open Loop, on the other hand, raises a question, it holds a mystery, or provokes curiosity without immediately giving you the answer.

The “revelation” is delayed to pull the reader along. Writers dangle words, scenarios, implications or conclusions without instantly satisfying your curiosity. Feels like a sneaky trick, right? It’s not.

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Nicolas Cole
Nicolas Cole

Written by Nicolas Cole

100M+ Views | 5x Author | Co-founder of Ship 30 for 30 | Want to start writing online? Get the Ultimate Guide: https://startwritingonline.com

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