Rules list
The rules of your haunted place, numbered on screen.
Example hook: “Rule 1: never answer the third knock.”
Found footage
Grainy visuals plus a narrated diary entry.
Example hook: “Day 4 in the house. The door is open again.”
Read the creepiest line
One unsettling sentence, then silence.
Example hook: “The line my editor asked me to cut.”
Content notes
Be upfront about gore and themes; horror readers value honesty.
Example hook: “Content notes for my book, in 10 seconds.”
Monster reveal (partial)
Show only a shadow or detail of the creature.
Example hook: “You never see it fully. That's the point.”
Setting dread
Slow push-in on the location with ambient sound.
Example hook: “Welcome to Blackwater Lake.”
Real folklore
Share the true folklore that inspired your story.
Example hook: “The folk legend behind my novel.”
Scare scale
Rate scares, gore and dread levels.
Example hook: “Gore: 2/5. Dread: 5/5.”
Night challenge
Dare viewers to read a chapter after midnight.
Example hook: “Read chapter 7 at 3 a.m. I dare you.”
Comps
Honest comparisons to films or books.
Example hook: “For fans of slow-burn folk horror.”
Tips that apply to every idea
- Put the hook on screen in the first second — many people watch with the sound off.
- Keep one idea per video; 15–30 seconds is plenty for most of these formats.
- End with one clear action: 'link in bio', 'comment your pick', or 'follow for part 2'.
- Batch-make a week of clips in one sitting, then post on a schedule you can keep.
For a full posting plan, read How to promote your book on BookTok and Reels.
Don't want to film yourself?
xBookvideo turns your manuscript into narrated, illustrated vertical episodes with subtitles — and the Marketing Pack adds 5 hook clips and a 30-day posting calendar. This sample was made from The Great Gatsby.
More for horror authors
Horror book trailer guide · How to make a book trailer · Classic books as videos