How to write a book introduction
A roughly 400-word introduction that makes readers want to keep going.
A hooking introduction is just the start. Makebook writes the rest of the book with you, in your voice.
Write my book with MakebookThe guide
The introduction is the moment the reader decides to keep going or close the book. It has one job: to show that you understand their situation and that this book helps them get out of it.
A simple structure almost always works: a hook (a scene, a question or an observation), the problem your reader lives with, the book's promise, then a short reason to trust you. End by inviting them to turn the page.
Don't try to say everything. Save your best explanations for the chapters, and keep the introduction for creating the desire to read.
Frequently asked questions
How do you start a book introduction?
Open with a situation your reader recognizes, a question or a short story. Avoid starting with your biography: they first want to know what the book can change for them.
How long should an introduction be?
Between 300 and 600 words is enough. It should make people want more and announce what's coming, not explain everything.
What should the introduction contain?
The reader's problem, the book's promise, your credibility in a sentence or two and a preview of how to read the book.