When readers are deciding whether or not to buy a book, they usually start by looking at introductions. Introductions answer the pertinent questions that readers ask when buying books. The title, cover, and synopsis might already have potential readers interested. The only thing remaining for them to buy your book is the introduction. You should therefore make sure that your introduction answers all questions potential readers could possibly have and hooks them in the process.

What to include

A nonfiction book introduction should have a concise explanation of what the book is about. It should show the gains that readers should expect to make, what motivated the book, and the background.

Nonfiction books should have new information for readers, inspirational messages, and/or guidance. It is the job of an introduction to get potential readers interested in the promises of the book. You should start by answering the most common question: What do I stand to gain from reading this book? An author can answer questions that readers might have in creative ways as long as he gets them interested in the book.

Many authors make the mistake of writing an introduction which details their motivation for writing the book. Readers usually don’t care about this information unless it has an interesting story behind it. An author should have a connection with the audience in order to answer the questions they might have about his book.

If there is a concrete reason why readers should buy the book, make sure that you clearly include it in the introduction. Readers want to know if your book will help them to get healthier, create stronger relationships, increase their wealth, improve their performance in school, etc. A book that has clearly defined benefits for readers is more likely to arouse their interest. An author should also invite the reader to become part of the journey that he has documented in the book.

Who should write the introduction?

The introduction can be written by any person who has a deep understanding of the book. The author can write it himself or he can ask another author or professional to write it. The latter is more advisable if the professional is an influential person in the field. By using an influential figure, you add credibility to the book.

Can you have multiple introductions?

If the introduction is not enough, an author can write more than one. However, not all books can have more than one introduction. One of the reasons why authors write multiple introductions is when they get an expert to weigh in. The author can write one introduction and the expert can write the other one. Both introductions should be kept short and sweet. It is important to mention in nonfiction book proposals that you have already written one or more introductions.

The author’s own introduction should be the same style as the actual book. For instance it should be humorous if the book is lighthearted and funny. The introduction should always get straight to the point. Long descriptions have no place in the literary world.