How to Write a Book Chapter that Guides Your Readers Like a Yellow Brick Road
Is your book organized? The best non-fiction books are organized like a paved road guiding readers through their chapters. That paved road of organization includes mile markers, exit signs and other road markers for each chapter. Think about it; we easily get lost unless the path is clear. It’s stressful to take a journey without a clear road to travel.
Most people enjoy a journey (even a book journey) on a paved clearly marked road. Instead of leaving your readers to follow a mucky path of disorganization through your book, use repeating elements to create a can’t-miss-it road like the yellow brick road in the ‘Wizard of Oz’ movie (1939).
In John Maxwell’s “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You” book, he skillfully uses repeating elements. These repeating elements form a paved road that leads you clearly through each chapter. Each chapter has the same basic form (road). To create chapters that guide your readers like a yellow brick road include these 10 elements:
1. Sizzle your chapter title: Create grab you by the collar chapter titles. You can immediately follow up with a subtitle that emphasizes and explains the title’s meaning. Or you may consider a brief quotes.
2. Insert brief quotes: You may follow each title one or two quotes from your speeches or other authorities in your field which support the title.
3. Write an Introduction: Begin each chapter with 6-8 paragraphs of introduction. The introduction may include a short story presenting the chapter’s main principle or underlying thesis. For short books 3 to 4 paragraphs work best. You don’t want your introduction to over power your chapter.
4. Create an opening statement: For example, you could open each chapter with a thought provoking question or a startling statistic that show where your audience is now (before reading your book.) Many authors begin with a short analogy or story. Whatever you decide to open with, create an attention getter to hook your reader.
5. Prepare a thesis statement: After your short introduction including your hook (opening statement), write your thesis. Keep it simple; let your readers know what benefits await them if they keep reading. For example, one author friend uses sizzling bullet points to entice the reader into the chapter. You may place them right below quote or directly below introduction.
6. Write 7 to 10 points: Next, you may be write lessons or present tools used to achieve the goal presented in the introduction. Condense your material as you develop each point. Some lessons may require one paragraph and others may need several.
7. Include case studies: Incorporate one or more story form case studies that support the chapter’s central idea.
8. Add self-evaluation tools: Add brief questions that permit readers to measure their progress with each of the principles described inside the chapters.
9. Summarize your chapter. Each chapter may end with four to eight paragraphs that summarize the central idea and supporting points. Don’t forget to hold the carrot out at the end: insert 1-2 sentences at the end of your summary to entice your readers with benefits waiting in the next chapter.
10. Use engagement tools. Create active participants of your book readers using engagement tools like worksheets and note sheets. Make lists, questions to ponder or boxed tips to actively engage your readers instead of allowing them to be observers.
Step out of your comfort zone and create a yellow brick road for each chapter. Use the simple template above and before you know it you’ll speed write your book to completion. Enjoy the journey. Life is made easier.
About the Author
Earma Brown, 13 year author and book writing coachGet a free Book Writing Course when you sign-up for iScribe newsletter on book writing, publishing and marketing. Send any email to iscribe@bookwritinghelp.com or visit her at How to Write a Book for more book writing resources and tips.
Vaccination: The Hidden Truth – Chapter 12 Summary & Addendums
|
|
Entrepreneurs Always Drive On Empty – Chapter 1 $9.98 The Ultimate Business Bible – For many years I have looked down at my petrol gauge wondering how long it would be before I next had to refill. Not because I didn’t have the money to fill the tank but because I focused more on making my money work for me rather than stagnating in my tank.Have you ever wondered why some small businesses seem to propel from nothing to something faster than others. Wh… |
|
|
Entrepreneurs Always Drive On Empty – Chapter 5 $9.98 Chapter 5 – For many years I have looked down at my petrol gauge wondering how long it would be before I next had to refill. Not because I didn’t have the money to fill the tank but because I focused more on making my money work for me rather than stagnating in my tank.Have you ever wondered why some small businesses seem to propel from nothing to something faster than others. Why some business ow… |
|
|
Entrepreneurs Always Drive On Empty – Chapter 4 $9.98 The Ultimate Business Bible – For many years I have looked down at my petrol gauge wondering how long it would be before I next had to refill. Not because I didn’t have the money to fill the tank but because I focused more on making my money work for me rather than stagnating in my tank.Have you ever wondered why some small businesses seem to propel from nothing to something faster than others. Wh… |
|
|
28 Classic Chronicles of Narnia Old Time Radio Broadcasts on DVD (over 14 hours 35 minutes running time) This unique old time radio DVD collectible features 28 digitized reels of classic Chronicles of Narnia radio broadcasts and over 14 hours 35 minutes of total running time on 1 DVD. Take a journey back through radio broadcasting history with this large audio library of OTR memorabilia. The golden age of old time radio has been rescued, digitized, and packaged into a gift set that any classic radio … |
|
|
84 Classic The Hobbit Old Time Radio Broadcasts on DVD (over 15 hours 51 minutes running time) This unique old time radio DVD collectible features 84 digitized reels of classic The Hobbit radio broadcasts and over 15 hours 51 minutes of total running time on 0 DVD. Take a journey back through radio broadcasting history with this large audio library of OTR memorabilia. The golden age of old time radio has been rescued, digitized, and packaged into a gift set that any classic radio lover can … |
|
|
The Innovator’s Dilemma (Book Summary) (10 minutes) $3.95 This summary is based on Professor Clayton M. Christensen-s book–a classic of strategy literature. The innovator’s dilemma is that doing the right things can lead to failure. Sometimes it is wrong to listen to customers, invest in the highest return opportunities, and to continue doing all of the things that made a successful company succeed. He differentiates between sustaining innovation that m… |
|
|
My Brother Sam is Dead Chapter by Chapter Summary (Reading & Getting More Out of Historical Fiction Novels) $2.00 Chapter by Chapters Summary and Analysis of the novel My Brother Sam is Dead. Includes quotes, background information, key topics covered in each chapter and analysis of why these topics are included by the novel’s authors.This guide is perfect for parents and teachers that want to give their students a better understanding of the novel. It can also be used by students who wish to explore the topi… |
|
|
The Kite Runner(Summary of All Chapters) $2.00 ‘The Kite Runner’ is one of the best novels written by Khaled Hosseini.Amir is the main character in the novel.He witnesses the racially motivated sexual assault of his friend/servant Hassan, perpetrated by a gang of neighborhood bullies.Hassan is a Hazara, a minority ethnic group of Shi’a Muslims.He is attacked by a group of Pashtu boys, led by Assef, a young boy who heavily identifies with Hitle… |
|
|
Chapter Audio Summaries (MiddleSchool Math Course 3) $19.43 This book is in Used condition |
|
|
American Journey: Building a Nation, by Glencoe, Chapter Summaries $2.35 This book is in New – Excellent condition |
|
|
The Chapter Book $4.64 The Chapter Book |
|
|
Managerial Accounting Concepts And Empirical Evidence Plus Supplement Executive Chapter Summaries And Solutions to Chapter Problem $145.26 ISBN-13: 9780073270685 ISBN-10: 0073270687 Title: Managerial Accounting Concepts And Empirical Evidence Plus Supplement Executive Chapter Summaries And Solutions to Chapter Problems. Author: Lawrence A. Gordon. Edition: 6th. |
|
|
Crime and Punishment: Including Introduction, Chapter Summaries and Commentaries, Character Sketches, Critical Notes (Notes) $2.5 This book is in Like New condition |
|
|
The Discourse Summaries $6.71 This book is in New – Excellent condition |
|
|
One Chapter in the Book [LP] $13.98 One Chapter in the Book [LP] |
|
|
Naruto Chapter Book 4 $3.99 Naruto Chapter Book 4 |
|
|
Johto Chapter Book $4.49 Johto Chapter Book |
|
|
Naruto Chapter Book 6 $3.99 Naruto Chapter Book 6 |
|
|
Naruto Chapter Book 13 $3.99 Naruto Chapter Book 13 |
|
|
Chapter Book #3 $4.49 Chapter Book #3 |
|
|
Naruto: Chapter Book 14 $3.99 Naruto: Chapter Book 14 |
|
|
Naruto Chapter Book 7 $3.99 Naruto Chapter Book 7 |
|
|
Naruto Chapter Book 12 $3.99 Naruto Chapter Book 12 |
|
|
The Good Book, Chapter 1 $14.97 The Good Book, Chapter 1 |
|
|
The Arthur of Albion Chapter Book $12.08 The Arthur of Albion Chapter Book |
|
|
Naruto Chapter Book 5 $3.99 Naruto Chapter Book 5 |
|
|
Naruto Chapter Book 1 $3.99 Naruto Chapter Book 1 |
|
|
$99 New – Book by book, idea by idea, verse by verse — Baker’s New Testament Commentary series is written for the serious Bible student who wants high-quality evangelical scholarship communicated with clarity. Each volume offers outlines, fresh translation, exposition and application, critical notes on the Greek text, and chapter summaries. |
