In the previous post, we took a look at how curiosity can make your book's cover and back cover be more magnetic for readers. This time the question is:
A good table of contents should reveal what’s in the book but still keep some secrets. For example, let’s say I’m interested in a book about how to conduct better meetings. A traditional table of contents might include these chapters:
- The
importance of having an agenda
- How to
make sure everybody participates
- Keeping to a schedule
These are all valid topics, but frankly they sound boring. I get the feeling I’ve heard all this before. Compare that to these chapter titles:
- SATNAV
power for meetings
- Even
the guy under the table has an opinion
- How to finish meetings before you die
The core content may be the same in both cases but the second version sounds more interesting. If you think these titles are a little too flamboyant or obscure, you could combine the two:
- SATNAV
power for meetings: the importance of having an agenda
With that version it’s more clear what the chapter is about, but it still suggests that it will be an entertaining read.
YOUR FIRST SENTENCE
The final thing people tend to look at before making a decision about buying is the first sentence. Lots of novels take advantage of this, with anything from “Call me Ishmael,” to “The first time I tried to kill my husband was on a Tuesday—or maybe Wednesday, because it was after midnight.” The same can work in non-fiction. In my marketing book, “Do Something Different,” my first sentence starts, “I hope you’re feeling frustrated…” My point was that if the readers were frustrated about getting out the word about their product or service and wanted to find out how to do so cheaply and quickly, this book was about to give them exactly what they wanted.
And now I’m curious how you are going to use this principle to make your writing more appealing.
P.S.: In case you read the previous post and are still wondering, the men who accidentally shot themselves were trying to trace a loaded .357 Magnum as a pattern for a tattoo. The gun went off and the bullet hit both of them, but neither had life-threatening injuries.
(Your complete guide to writing, from idea to publication, is called "Your Writing Coach" and it's published by Nicholas Brealey and written by...er, me. A great gift for yourself or a friend or relative who wants to write. Find it at your favorite online seller or in bookshops.)
