The Goal Hook creates forward momentum by giving the protagonist something they want, need, or must accomplish.
A. Keep the story moving — Even when reacting to something that has already happened, give the protagonist a goal that moves the story toward the next scene.
“There was no time to mourn. I had to find my missing daughter.”
B. Wanting beats waiting — Characters who are seeking, pursuing, or doing are more engaging than characters who are simply sitting and thinking.
“Instead of waiting for him to call, she grabbed her coat and went looking for him.”
C. Overcome self-doubt / find love
“If I could overcome my fear of failure, I might finally have the courage to tell her I loved her.”
D. Solve a crime / defeat evil
“I had one night to find the killer before he struck again.”
E. Defeat evil / gain freedom
“To win her freedom, she first had to bring down the man who controlled her life.”
F. Get revenge
“He destroyed my family. Now I was going to make him pay.”
G. Survive / find belonging
“Surviving the winter was only the beginning. I still had to find a place where I belonged.”
H. Gain power / wealth / status
“If I wanted my family to respect me, I had to prove I could succeed without them.”
I. Save a marriage / leave a toxic relationship
“I had one last chance to save my marriage—or walk away for good.”
J. Escape a physical threat — Prison, torture, fire, flood, captivity, etc.
“The fire was spreading. I had three minutes to escape.”
K. Escape a mental threat — Worry, suspicion, fear, obsession, etc.
“I couldn't keep living with the suspicion that my husband was lying to me.”
L. Escape an emotional burden — Grief, depression, guilt, heartbreak, etc.
“I had spent two years grieving. Now I needed to find a reason to live again.”
A useful rule of thumb:
A goal gives the character somewhere to go—and gives the reader a reason to follow.