What are Fascinations?

ENGAGE:
A fascination is a single compelling statement that creates instant curiosity. Think of it as a "mental itch" that the reader must scratch. The best ones make you think "Wait... what?" and keep reading.
EXPLORE:
The key elements that make fascinations work:

A counterintuitive hook ("The drunk uncle mistake...")
Concrete imagery ("grumpy lunch lady")
A hint of danger or opportunity
A promise of revelation
A slight touch of irreverence or humor

EXPLAIN:
Each fascination has two parts:

The hook: A provocative statement that challenges what you think you know
The proof: Evidence in brackets that validates the claim and explains the mechanism

Like this:
"The 'sleepy goldfish' secret that hypnotically keeps visitors glued to your website" [Hook]
"[When site owners studied visitor patterns, they discovered that people navigate exactly like drowsy fish - they follow predictable currents of information. Sites that created these 'content streams' saw engagement time double.]" [Proof]
ELABORATE:
The most effective fascinations tap into:

Everyday characters we all know
Slightly irreverent situations
Visual, concrete imagery
Unexpected connections
Hidden dangers or opportunities

EVALUATE:
You can test if your fascination works by asking:

Does it create immediate curiosity?
Is the imagery concrete and visual?
Does it hint at valuable information?
Would you want to know more?
Does the proof feel credible?

Would you like me to demonstrate with some specific examples?