Generates high-retention hooks using the full Kallaway desire-based framework. Every hook is scored against the Four Commandments and delivered as a Three Hook Alignment (visual + spoken + text).
Triggers: "write a hook for…", "hook ideas for my video", "help me with the intro", "write the opening for…".
Input: a video concept, an idea brief (from /ideation), an outline, or key talking points. With only a topic it asks one question: "What's the most surprising thing in this video that your audience probably doesn't know?"
Phase 1 — Identify the desire
Map to a Horseman (Money / Time / Health / Status) and apply One Standard Deviation (proxy desire):
| Core desire | Direct (BS detector) | Proxy (one std dev) |
|---|---|---|
| Money | "Make more money with AI" | "Automate your entire content pipeline" |
| Time | "Save 10 hours a week" | "Never start a Claude Code session from scratch" |
| Status | "Become an AI expert" | "Build what your team thinks requires a dev shop" |
| Health | "Reduce work stress" | "Stop manually doing what AI handles in seconds" |
Phase 2 — Five desire-based variations (≥1 hook in each)
- About Me (looking backward) — "I just [accomplished X] using [Y]"
- If I (looking forward) — "If I wanted to [achieve X], I would [Y]"
- To You (viewer as character) — "If you're trying to [X], use [Y]"
- Can You (viewer as question) — "Is it possible to [X] under [Y]?"
- He/She Just Did (third-party proof) — "[Z] just accomplished [X] under [Y]"
Phase 3 — Hook formats (pick the 2–3 that fit)
Secret Reveal · Case Study · Comparison · Question · Education · List · Contrarian · Personal Experience · Problem.
Phase 4 — Six Hook Power Words
Subject (who) · Action (verb) · Objective (result) · Contrast (before vs. after) · Proof (optional) · Time (optional).
Phase 5 — Three Hook Alignment (top 3 hooks)
- Visual hook — what's on screen in the first 1–3 seconds (triggers ~200 ms bottoms-up processing).
- Spoken hook — first 5–15 seconds, fifth-grade reading level, 1–3 sentences, opens a curiosity loop the video closes.
- Text hook — overlay that complements (doesn't duplicate) the spoken hook.
All three must point at the same idea simultaneously.
Phase 6 — Four Commandments checklist (must pass all four)
Alignment · Speed to Value · Clarity · Curiosity. If one fails, the fix is noted.
Output format
## Desire Mapping
- **Core Desire:** [Horseman]
- **Proxy Desire:** [One standard deviation]
## Top Hooks
### Hook 1 — [Format] + [Variation]
**Spoken:** "[The hook line]"
**Visual:** [What's on screen]
**Text overlay:** "[The text]"
**Power Words:** Subject ✓ Action ✓ Objective ✓ Contrast ✓ Time ✓ (5/6)
**Commandments:** Alignment ✓ Speed ✓ Clarity ✓ Curiosity ✓ (4/4)
## All Five Variations (for reference)
## Recommendation [direct and opinionated]Key principles
- The hook is the most important 15 seconds.
- Curiosity without clickbait — promise only what the video delivers.
- Contrarian hooks need immediate authority; negative framing pulls harder (loss aversion).
- One hook per video — pick one and commit.