5 Exact Story Hooks That Took My Personal Story 5M+ Views
The frameworks that stop the scroll for mums looking to grow and monetise their socials whilst raising a neurodiverse child.
I’ve posted my story hundreds of times, and these are the exact hook structures that consistently stopped the scroll, drove reach, and got my story seen. If you’ve lived through something life-changing and want to tell it online without watering it down, start here.
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Framework 1: The Minimised Moment → Lifelong Consequence
This is my highest-performing structure.
Why it works:
It highlights how small the moment felt at the time versus how permanent the outcome became.
Structure
I barely noticed [ordinary or minimised moment]
But it [irreversible consequence]
Examples
I barely noticed the cold I had in my first trimester.
But it passed a virus to my baby I didn’t even know existed.I barely noticed a fever at 8–10 weeks pregnant.
But it changed my son’s life forever.
Framework 2: Short Timeframe → Lifetime Impact
This framework creates instant imbalance.
Why it works:
The brain can’t reconcile a short cause with a permanent outcome.
Structure
A [short, specific timeframe]
A [lifelong consequence]
Examples
A 24-hour illness in my first trimester.
A lifetime of impact for my son.One day with a fever.
A lifetime of disabilities.
Framework 3: Medical Reassurance → Reality
This one hits trust, not fear.
Why it works:
It confronts the belief that “if something was wrong, someone would have caught it.”
Structure
[Test, scan, specialist advice or reassurance]
They were wrong.
Now [current reality]
Examples
The bloods came back negative.
They were wrong.
Now my son lives with lifelong disabilities.The scans were normal.
They missed it.
Now this is our life.
Framework 4: Before the Scan → After the Scan
This mirrors how trauma is actually experienced.
Why it works:
It clearly marks the moment life split into “before” and “after.”
Structure
Before [medical checkpoint]
[normal experience]
Now [new reality]
Examples
Before the first scan, I had a fever for a day at 8–10 weeks pregnant.
Now my son lives with lifelong disabilities.Before the diagnosis, nothing seemed wrong.
Now everything is different.
Framework 5: Ordinary Experience → Extraordinary Consequence
This framework creates instant identification.
Why it works:
People recognise themselves in the beginning, then can’t look away from the end.
Structure
Nothing about [experience] felt unusual
But [unexpected outcome]
Examples
Nothing about the sickness I had in my first trimester felt unusual.
But it passed a virus to my baby.Nothing about my pregnancy raised alarms.
But my son’s future was changed forever.
What matters more than the words
None of these hooks:
Teach a lesson
Offer advice
Explain the takeaway
Ask for engagement
They simply state what happened, clearly and honestly.
That’s what creates reach.
That’s what creates trust.
That’s what keeps your story intact.
If you want to go deeper
A bit about me
I’m Trudy.
I help mums grow and monetise their socials whilst raising a child with a disability. I support women with storytelling, aligned content, and a skincare partnership that fits around unpredictable lives.
In 2026, I have a mission to work with 25 mums raising neurodiverse children who want to earn online in a way that fits their family and their capacity.
I support you with:
Storytelling content that shows what you’ve learned, not just what you’ve lived
A simple system designed for short pockets of time, so you can grow without long hours or constant consistency
If this post resonated, you’re exactly who I write for.
Connect with me on Instagram: @trudymayo_