/viral-hooks

name: viral-hooks
description: A curated library of 100 proven viral hook frameworks across 13 categories (Receipts, Contrarian, Negative Frame, Stolen Lessons, Curiosity Gap, and more). Picks the strongest hook pattern for a given topic and platform, fills it in, generates 3 variations, and runs the first-3-words test. Triggers on "give me a hook for X," "write hook options," "my intro is boring," or any request for an opening line. Auto-invoked by post-writer and repurpose to open every draft with a tested hook instead of a generic AI intro.
argument-hint: "[topic] [platform]"
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Glob, AskUserQuestion

Viral Hooks

The hook is the first 5 seconds of any post or video. It decides whether the reader stops or scrolls. If you can hold 50% retention through the first 6 seconds of a short-form video, it has a real shot at going viral. The hook carries that weight, so it gets written first and rewritten until it earns the read.

You hold a library of 100 proven hook frameworks. When asked for a hook, or when another skill calls you, you pick the pattern that fits the topic, fill in the placeholders with specifics, generate 3 variations, and return the strongest one.

When to Activate

• "Give me a hook for [topic]"
• "Write hook options for my [platform] post"
• "My opening line is weak — fix it"
• "What should the first line of this video be?"
• Any time [post-writer](post-writer.md) or [repurpose](repurpose.md) needs to open a post, thread, or video script.

Workflow

Step 1: Get the topic and the angle

You need two things before picking a hook:

1. **The topic** — what the post is about. 2. **The angle** — is there a strong opinion, a specific number, a customer story, a mistake people make, or a result the creator earned? This decides the category. If you have a `brand-brief.md` in the working folder, read the **Strong Opinion / Wedge** section — that fuels the highest-virality categories (Contrarian, Negative Frame).

If the topic is missing, ask. Do not invent a topic.

Step 2: Pick a category

Match the angle to a category. When in doubt, prefer **The Receipt**, **Contrarian**, or **Stolen Lessons** — these have the highest virality ceiling.

| Angle | Best category | |---|---| | A result, number, or experiment you ran | The Receipt | | A strong opinion or wedge | Contrarian / Myth-Buster | | A mistake people make | Negative Frame | | A tactic you copied from someone | Stolen Lessons | | An unanswered question or open loop | Curiosity Gap | | A how-to with multiple points | Listicle / Number | | Insider knowledge | Secret / Insider | | Speaking to one specific group | Audience Callout | | A question that makes them stop | Question Hook | | A change over time, a story | Transformation / Story | | A fast, low-effort win | Speed / Effortless | | A reason to act now | Urgency / Stop-Scroll | | A raw, personal admission | Confession / Vulnerable |

Step 3: Fill in 3 variations

Pick 3 templates (from one category or across two), and fill the placeholders with real specifics from the topic. Replace `[N]` with a real number, `[famous person]` with a real name, `[outcome]` with a concrete result. Generic fills kill the hook.

Step 4: Run the first-3-words test

Read the first 3 words of each variation alone. Do they create curiosity, surprise, or emotional pull?

• "Here's what I" → fail (no pull)
• "I tested 47" → pass (number + open loop)
• "Most people think" → pass (sets up a fight)
• "98% of marketers" → pass (statistic + callout)

Cut filler from the front. The strongest word goes first.

Step 5: Return the best one

Return the strongest variation, name the category, and offer the other 2 as alternates. If you were called by another skill, hand back all 3 so it can choose.

The 100 Hook Library

Templates use `[brackets]` for the parts you fill in. The categories are ordered by virality ceiling, highest first.

1. The Receipt (proof, numbers, results) — highest ceiling

Earned credibility plus a specific number plus an open loop. The reader wants to know what happened.

1. I tested [N] [things]. Only [smaller N] worked. 2. I [did specific thing] for [time period]. Here's what happened. 3. [Big accomplishment] — here are [N] lessons. 4. I audited [N] [things]. Here are [N] tips to [outcome]. 5. I asked [N] experts about [topic]. Here's what they said. 6. How I went from [past situation] to [result] in [time]. 7. Here's how I [achieved result] in [time frame]. 8. Here's proof that [claim everyone doubts]. 9. I built [result] in [time]. Here's how I reach the next goal.

> Example: "I tested 47 candle scents. Only 3 sold."

2. Contrarian / Myth-Buster — highest ceiling, polarizing

Forces the reader to pick a side. Polarity drives comments, and comments drive reach. Pull the wedge from `brand-brief.md`.

10. Most people think [common belief]. Here's why they're wrong. 11. [Common practice] is dead. Stop doing it for [outcome]. 12. Everything you know about [subject] is wrong. 13. Here's why [common advice] doesn't work. 14. [Topic] is overrated. 15. Unpopular opinion: [contrarian take]. 16. Here's why I disagree with [common belief]. 17. Forget everything you've heard about [topic]. 18. Here's why [popular product] isn't worth the hype.

> Example: "Most candle makers think scent is the product. The product is calm."

3. Negative Frame / Mistake Callout

Loss aversion. People click faster to avoid a mistake than to gain a win.

19. [N] mistakes you're making with [task]. 20. Stop doing [common action] right now. 21. Do not [common action] unless you know these [N] secrets. 22. Here's why you're failing at [task]. 23. Avoid these common errors when [task]. 24. Don't buy [product] before watching this. 25. As a [niche], please stop making this mistake. 26. Here's why you've been doing [task] wrong all along. 27. Don't make the same mistake I did with [thing].

> Example: "Stop putting candles in the bedroom. He