How to write the first chapter of a book

How to make sure every book chapter isn’t boring, too listy, or data-centric

You’ve outlined.

You’ve ideated.

You’ve skipped the introduction because you know you don’t need to write that yet…

You’re sitting down in your local cafe getting ready to write chapter one.

And you’re still wondering what the heck you should write about…

This is how to start chapter one, and how to write every chapter thereafter.

We’ll cover each of these in depth in this post:

1. Shock drop: Start with something shocking, poignant, authoritative, industry-busting, entertaining, etc. 
2. Problem exposed: Talk about the problem the chapter will address. Make the reader care. Share stories from your life/business, quotes from relevant books/movies, quote recent research, and new data. Show the reader how the problem affects them.
3. Provide the solution: This is your time to shine and give the reader the meat they came for! Share your best stuff for overcoming the problem. 
4. Circle back: Come back to the original hook. Put a bow on it by showing how they have gone from A (the problem) to Z (implementing your solution).  

Everything in this post is just a recommended starting point. Not every chapter will need all the above. Not every chapter of my book, Nonfiction Alchemy follows this exact order; it doesn’t have to. And depending on the topic or genre of the nonfiction book, you may need other types of content to add. 

Use the above steps to write your draft (and of course, have your completed outline doc up on screen). Use the bonus questions at the end of this blog post to rewrite as many times as you need. Cut everything that doesn’t serve the purpose of the chapter at hand. 

1: Shock Drop

Fail to hook the reader in the first chapter of your book… And they won’t read any further. Can you blame them? When’s the last time you kept reading a book that became a bore? You must not fail at this critical juncture. 

Every chapter is your chance to either regain the reader’s attention, or lose them to the constant pull of other life distractions. And what hooks better than anything else? Non-boring writing. Spend more time on your hook than any other part of your chapter. 

Drop the reader into your chapter with no preamble. You can do the preamble later. Call it a post-amble if you want, but do it later. Make sure the beginning is strong. 

Write about something YOU would just have to keep reading. 

These are the hooks for each chapter of Nonfiction Alchemy. You can see the variety, but one thing ties them together: They’re all interesting and engaging. 

Shock-drop prompts: 

1. What story would fit perfectly as a hook to draw people in and connect them with me?
2. What is my soapbox about this chapter’s content? 
3. What about X cuts right to my guts? 
4. What about X do I think about differently than anyone else in my industry?
5. What is the most shocking data/research (numbers) that I’ve stumbled across? (and what do I think about these?)

The first chapter of Nonfiction Alchemy shares a story not told anywhere else online. I didn’t love sharing it. I had to be vulnerable. This chapter instantly connects with the reader. It shows them I’m an author who’s faced his own crucibles, but that everything will be okay in the end. 

2) Problem Exposed

Write about the problem behind the chapter title. Expose the behind-the-scenes issues people in your industry face. Show the reader why they should care. 

Chapter 1 of Nonfiction Alchemy covers author fears. Why? Because every author has fears whether they realize it or not. There is some fear that is stopping them from starting (and in many cases, finishing!) their book. 

Expose the problem right out of the gate and don’t hold back. This is your chance to demonstrate your authority in the subject matter and begin to build trust with the reader. You’ve been through this before so they don’t have to go through it alone.

Now is the time to reference your outline and write about whatever comes to mind:

• Add in quotes from books and a movie or two (you’d be surprised at how good these are for forming connections with the reader!).
• Cite data and research and discuss how this research affects the reader and impacts the problem.
• Tell relevant stories from your life and business.
• Add in charts and other relevant images that support your conclusions. 
• Don’t forget to share YOUR opinions on the problem. The reader is reading YOUR book and they care what YOU think. Google and AI can tell them what everyone else thinks. Again, you’d be surprised at how many manuscripts I read without an ounce of voice because the author was afraid to share their thoughts. 

Problem exposed prompts:

1. What is the hidden fear, obstacle, or pain point my audience secretly struggles with but rarely talks about?
2. How does ignoring this problem sabotage progress, even for people who think they’re doing everything “right”?
3. What’s the real cost of leaving this issue unresolved? 
4. What has happened to me and to others in my industry as a result of not tackling this problem?
5. How does this problem show up in sneaky, disguised ways that people don’t immediately recognize?
6. Why is this problem so universal that even the most successful people in my industry face it? (This question speaks to the obvious that you may be missing because you’re an expert. Really ponder this one!)

3) Provide the Solution

They’re hooked and they believe in the problem. Your reader may even feel a bit worried at this stage. Good. Just don’t let them linger there by talking about the problem ad nauseam. Get to the good stuff. Tell them how to solve it. 

Share your best:

• Tips
• Tactics
• Methods
• Secret formulas
• Super soldier serum

Don’t hold back. Tell them exactly what you would tell a friend, coworker, or client who came to you with this problem. Talk to them. Guide them. Support them. 

Don’t write a bulleted list that you wouldn’t also send in a text to a client. Put time and effort into making it interesting AND helpful. Nobody bought your book to read “10 leadership tips.” Don’t bore them with this type of mindless content. You can have it in your book, but make it something you’re proud to share because it’s something that is actually helpful. 

Here are five solution-oriented prompts for this part of the chapter to get your brain-hamster running:

1. What’s the single most effective tip, tactic, or method I’ve seen consistently help people overcome this exact problem?
2. If I only had 10 minutes to teach someone the shortcut or “secret formula” to solve this, what would I tell them? 
3. What counterintuitive advice or uncommon tactic works better than the obvious solutions most people try first? (Good at getting to your unique methods that will build trust in your expertise!)
4. What step-by-step method could my reader follow right now to start fixing this problem immediately? (Be careful with this question: Not everyone will be in the same circumstance and/or place in life. Make sure you REALLY know your target audience before writing this one.)
5. What mindset shift or new perspective do they need before the tactics will actually stick?

Just write here. Don’t hold back out of fear. This is the section that will get ripped up apart in the rewriting and editing because it will be the most boring at first. How-to content usually is until it’s spruced up.  

4) Circle Back

This is just good writing and warms the heart when it’s done right. 

Make the connection between your intro hook, the problem, and the solution. 

Bring the reader full circle from beginning to end. 

For a good example, read chapter 1 of Nonfiction Alchemy. I hooked with a personal story, gave the problem, provided solutions, and then brought it back to my story. 

Draft the chapter. Make it messy. Don’t rely too heavily on AI. Talk about the experience you have that no one else does. Make your writing like no one else. 

Bonus: questions to ask as you rewrite each chapter:

1. What did I learn about this topic in my own lived experience? (And want to share)
2. Why should the reader care?
3. What impedes implementation?
4. How does the reader need to be convinced (and how do I help them believe?)
5. If they follow the advice in the chapter, what will improve in their lives?