Editors talk a lot lately about the almighty hook, that central idea that defines your story, makes it stand out from the competition, and can be described in a couple of sentences that are ready-made for the book jacket. But according to Traci Borum, a college-level creative writing instructor, some hooks quickly disintegrate into flimsy gimmicks, leaving the reader feeling cheated. In her article Does Your Story Have a Hook or Merely a Gimmick? she explains the difference, and uses popular movies as examples. Get more of Traci's valuable tips on her blog, Writer's Corner.