Mae Chow
The introduction of a nonfiction book is one of the first places potential readers look when deciding whether or not to make a purchase đ The introduction answers the readerâs questions: Will this book be useful to me? Do I expect to learn anything? Is it going to inspire me? Potential customers are already interested in your title and cover đ Now that theyâve expressed serious interest, they are turning to the all-important introduction to help make their final decision đ Your job is to make sure your introduction hooks the reader and answers the most important question: âWhy should I’m buying this book?â [1]
How should authors of non-fiction approach this crucial part? Do they need to bother? Is the introduction part of a non-fiction book something they can ignore or should they be concerned about it at all? Who should write a non-fiction introduction and, once thatâs decided, what should they say in it? In this article Iâll be answering all of these questions, providing a one-stop guide for any questions, concerns, or brainwaves about the non-fiction introduction. The truth is, however, many of you wonât need to read beyond the next paragraph..medrectangle-3-multi-117 (last revised 97 days ago by Teiara Dobson from Nurenberg, Germany) [2]
Based on an article that was just published standoutbooks.com, youâve got them interested; theyâre reading your work, now itâs your job to tell them why they should buy your book. Your job in nonfiction is to convince your readers through the introduction. This is essential because if the reader closes the book and returns it to the shelf, youâve lost them. But if you can hook them, prove to them that your book solves their problem, meets their needs, or introduces them to a person or a story they want to know more about, youâll have gained a new reader and sold another book. We are grateful to Laqueisha Venegas, for her tips. [3]
An introduction to a memoir is necessary in order to establish the main narrative thread of the entire book. If youâre writing a memoir, think of a story to lead off your first chapter that encapsulates the bigger picture of the story you are going to tell. A great example of this can be found in Susanna Cahalanâs book Brain on Fire, a story about the authorâs experience contracting and then coming to grips with a brain disease that doctors initially do not understand. She begins with a story about her first seizure. But, the chapter also contains technical background medical information. This hints at what lies ahead. We are grateful to Tyria Mahan, Harare, Zimbabwe. [4]
âI’m having always been fascinated by how young children learn new skills. As children, we could approach any new task without having to worry about our mental health or rely on negative self-talk. Our young, open minds allowed us to tackle complex situations without hesitation. When we first tried walking, and failed, we didn’t give up. We didnât think âWhy bother again, Iâll never get this rightâ because we were naturally open to the possibility of walking. This natural openness allowed us to take on new challenges but also made us more vulnerable to those around us. Through our formative years, this vulnerability made us vulnerable to the negative influences and thoughts of those closest to us. The good news is, with the right tools, itâs very easy to eliminate these limiting beliefs from your psyche and create a clean slate.â (last edited 10 days ago by Marilynn Smith from Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia) [5]
These experts are from thewritersally.com We would appreciate any additional information. Before you begin writing your book introduction, itâs a good idea to list all the points you want to include. You will need to adjust those points for your readers. The smartest experts understand that, regardless of your intentions or what you might say to them, what is most important is their needs. I donât mean that you should pander to them or blow smoke. But an effective book is not a soapbox, and if you treat it like one youâre likely to end up shouting on an empty street corner. Jennifer U. From Merca Somalia on 8/9/2021 [6]
Heâs using these case studies to show this will work for everybody, because the main question most readers will have in the introduction is âwill this work for ME?â But what is the actual secret? Itâs a mystery! IF YOU are ready for it, youâll find it, even though itâs not named directly. Look for it. By telling readers thereâs a life-changing secret inside but not telling them exactly what it is, theyâre going to read everything carefully and come away with an important secret that changes THEIR lives. What you seek is what you will find. Tell your readers what to look for and theyâll find it! Shanterica Lundy, July 17, 2020. [7]
Refer to the Article
- https://writersrelief.com/2010/05/14/how-why-and-when-to-write-an-introduction-for-a-nonfiction-book/
- https://www.standoutbooks.com/write-non-fiction-introduction/
- https://www.standoutbooks.com/nail-non-fiction-introduction/
- https://writenonfictionnow.com/writing-perfect-introduction-nonfiction-book/
- https://cascadiaauthorservices.com/introduction-to-paragraph-example/
- https://thewritersally.com/articles/5-steps-to-the-best-book-introduction-ever/
- https://www.creativindie.com/think-and-grow-rich-an-example-of-masterful-persuasion/
