When your readers start reading the first chapter, their minds are filled with hope and anticipation.

They think:

  • What will I learn?
  • How will I benefit from reading this book?
  • What problem will this book help me solve?

Your first chapter must answer those questions.

It sets the tone for the book and hooks readers.

If your first chapter is a winner, readers will be more likely to finish the book.

If your first chapter is a dud, they might put it back on the shelf and never look at it again.

As you can see, the first chapter is vitally important.

Readers like to see the following elements in the first chapter.

The Big Promise

The first chapter makes a big promise to the reader.

It shows them how their lives will improve by reading this book.

Readers buy your book for one purpose: to solve a problem.

If you can show you understand who they are, what motivates them, and what keeps them up at night, you will earn a reader.

Who You Are And Why This Is Important To You

People want to read a book from someone they know, like, and trust.

The first chapter helps you introduce yourself to them.

Tell them your story.

  • Why did you decide to write the book?
  • Why are you the best person to write this book?

The answers will help build a bond between you and readers.

Here’s a surprise alert: People like to see you are vulnerable and have made mistakes.

People don’t want to sit at the feet of infallible experts.

They want to relate to people like them who have battle scars, who have tasted defeat, and who learned from their mistakes.

Readers pay you to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes.

Roadmap For The Book

The first chapter can present an overview of the remaining chapters.

That way, they can see your blueprint.

There’s a comfort in knowing where you will take them.

Now You Have A Good Idea Of How To Start The Book

It contains your big promise, a bit about you, and your passion for this topic, enough information to get the reader started, and a roadmap for the rest of the book.

There’s an exercise that walks you through this inside Write Your Book in a Flash.

If you’re stumped, I’m here to help.

Let’s get together and figure out what that looks like for us.