HookForge

HookForge is a web app (with a lightweight mobile companion) that helps writers validate story openings, loglines, and chapter-one drafts by running structured “hook tests” with real readers. Instead of generic feedback, it collects fast, comparable signals: curiosity score, clarity score, character interest, and “would you keep reading?” plus one required comment explaining why. Writers can A/B test multiple openings, see where readers drop off, and identify confusing sentences via highlighted excerpts readers flagged. It also includes an AI-assisted rewrite mode that proposes 3 alternative hooks based on the top failure reason (e.g., stakes unclear, voice flat), but the core value is the reader panel workflow and analytics—not the AI. Realistically, this won’t replace critique groups; it’s a quicker, more measurable way to iterate on the most important page of a story.