How should I begin my self-development book?

You will often have an established coaching or therapeutic business when writing about self-development. You will know your niche inside out and have a wealth of information to share. But how do we organise all the information that crowds our brain into a structure for the reader? And how do we ensure that the key ideas aren’t lost in the minutiae?

In the first chapter, it’s so easy to dive straight into the ‘big idea’, but this can often be overwhelming for a reader. Instead, we should think of the opening chapter as meeting someone new for the first time. We want to build rapport and establish trust. This isn’t as necessary if you are already well-known, but if your reader isn’t already aware of your work, this is vital.

The first page should establish an immediate connection with a reader, or there is the risk that they will put the book down and move to the next one. This connection can be achieved in various ways depending on the subject matter and style of writing. For example, you could use humour, reveal something about your past, or use a case study. These are just three ways of connecting with your readers. 

Trust is just as important. The reader needs to know why you are the one to help them. Again, how we achieve this depends on the style of the book. It can be as subtle as a single line about the number of people you have already helped. Or it can be as bold as stating that you have coached the highest fliers in the international business world, have a waiting list you’ll never get through, and if Mariah Carey’s PA calls you one more time, you’re going to have to block them*. Both work depending on who your ideal reader is.

So, what else should we include in the first chapter? We should still focus on the ‘big idea’, but it’s usually best to build up to it throughout the chapter. Rapport should come first. If you’re a coach or therapist, think about how you work with a client. How do you facilitate their journey from A to Z? This could be the outline for your book. Consider the structure of a client intake session and decide how much of this you must incorporate into your first chapter. Generally, this should be done subtlety. The opening chapter also isn’t the place for a ‘how to use this book’ or ‘I aim to…’ spiel. This can be covered in the introduction. Instead, it is about prioritising what the reader needs to know to move them on to the next chapter. We can then strip out everything that meanders, is too detailed or doesn’t have a clear purpose so that our first chapter is a stepping stone that draws the reader towards the next one. 

* This is a fictional example. I’m sure all Mariah Carey’s PAs are lovely and don’t excessively call anyone. I’m also certain that no coach would turn the chance to work with Ms Carey either.

If you’d like to know more about how coaching can help structure your book, contact me for a free 30 minute call.