6 Ideas on How to Write a Book Introduction That Will Pique Your Reader’s Interest

One thing that remains irretrievable is your first impression. Whether you are an academic or nonfiction author, the introduction of your book will be the first impression you leave readers with so don’t let anyone else write it for you. Use your introduction as an opportunity to prove to readers that your book is worth reading.  

It doesn’t need to be the first thing you write. In fact, it might be better to write this after you’ve written the rest of your book, which will give you a clearer and more detailed idea of what you’ve written. So, if you want to craft an introduction that will motivate your readers to buy your book, this article is for you.

Do you need an introduction in your book?

You can always publish a book without it, but the introduction is what grabs the reader’s attention and compels them to continue reading. Typically, introductions can be viewed for free on the websites of online bookstores.  In fact, many readers will go over the introduction to help them decide if the book is worth buying.

4 Stylistic Variations for Your Book Introduction

There are several ways to approach a book introduction. Let's take a closer look at 4 of the most common:

1. Highlight key points. In this approach, you’re giving the reader a glimpse into what awaits them in each chapter. Discuss what your book is about; cover its theme and what they can learn.
2. Get a recognized expert. Here, the author has someone with a known expertise in what the book covers write the introduction. This expert could provide credibility for the author, introduce them and their book, and tell readers what they could get from reading the book.
3. Show Results. Many books are built on the author’s findings and insights. Sharing what impact writing the book had on you will allow your readers to get to know you better and get them interested in what you have to say.
4. Be on trend.  Show how your book relates to current trends and add what your thoughts and recommendations will be useful for.

Of course, these are just a few of the styles you could use. And, you can always make a version that combines multiple styles too!

6 Tips on How to Write a Good Book Introduction

When writing a book introduction, every author will have their own arsenal of techniques and tricks. But if you want interesting ideas, here are 6 tips that will help you grab attention:

1. Start with a bold statement that will elicit an emotion from the reader. Getting them to react will make them want to read more.
2. Show readers what value they would get from reading your book and highlight what makes it different. Use phrases like, "This book will help..." or "This book will teach...” You could also make a list of what your reader will learn or find useful from it.
3. Let your readers know why you decided to write this book. You could explain why the topics covered are important, and provide some useful facts and research data that support the importance of your findings.
4. Address who you think will find the book most useful. Alternatively, you can also mention who it won’t be useful for. Ultimately, if a person can resonate with this, they will feel more engaged with what they’re reading.
5. Explain why your reader should believe you. Prove your degree of competence in the covered issue.
6. Using a catchphrase that is easily recognizable will get readers interested on how it relates to your writing.

Conclusion

The introduction plays a big role in convincing readers if they should read a book. So, when writing your introduction, make sure to use these tips to reel your reader in. You can decide which tips or which combination of tips will work best for your book. 

With LiveCarta, publishing your book takes little to no downtime. You can use our online editor, or if you already have a written manuscript, email us at edu@livecarta.com to learn how our team can help you get your book e-ready.

You can also sign up for our publishing webinar to learn how to publish your book.