Roadmap for a Book - 1:1 for Emma Mclean
Write your opening chapter
Writing chapter 1
Hi Emma
I think you have a good idea of where you are heading with your first chapter - so this exercise is optional for you, if you want some guidance with mapping that out
Here's a link to my notes from our session - the chapter outline work is at the bottom.
Hi Emma
I think you have a good idea of where you are heading with your first chapter - so this exercise is optional for you, if you want some guidance with mapping that out
Here's a link to my notes from our session - the chapter outline work is at the bottom.
I have sent you an invite for our next meeting 2pm Monday 11 August. Feel free to suggest a different time if that doesn't work for you.
Looking forward to meeting you on Wednesday!
Christine
💡 Chapter 1 is all about drawing your reader into the book.
Think of your reader, picking up your book in the shop, reading the back cover and then turning to the first chapter. Your goal is to draw her in and make her want to read more! You want to get her nodding her head, thinking “Yes, this is the book I need,“ and “I can’t wait to get home and read more”.
Use this chapter to build the reader’s trust in you, your voice and your authority as a writer. Show that you understand where they are at, that you have something to say that will be helpful, and that you have the knowledge or experience to back it up. This will help you find and establish the voice that will carry through the next chapters.
For a teaching memoir or educational book, consider the following ideas:
- Start with a story or an anecdote that introduces the idea or theme at the heart of this book. Why does this matter?
- Paint an inspiring vision of what life or work might be like, once they have read the stories and the learnings you are about to share.
- Show your authority - Give a short summary of your story, or your experience, to explain why they should trust you.
- Let them know what to expect. Discuss what this book is going to cover, describe how it is organised, and how they should tackle it (Read it front to back? Cherry pick exercises? Don’t miss section A? Skip section B if XYZ? ) You may want to explain what the book is and what it is not if that’s appropriate.
- Invite the reader to join you on the journey. Share your hopes for them.
📌 If you don’t know where to start, that’s okay! Here’s how I suggest you get started.
- Choose a story or a starting point for the first chapter.
- Set a timer for 45 minutes and write as much as you can. You won’t be able to complete the chapter in that time but that’s okay - just get as much as you can down on the page.
- Get up, have a drink of water, and take a five-minute break.
- Set the timer again for 45 minutes, and write the first chapter again from a totally different perspective. Use a different story, or a different angle, or start from a different place.
- Consider repeating this exercise for the third time.
This will be hard and that’s okay! The goal is to start to see some options and figure out what kind of voice you’d like to use and what stories you’d like to tell. You might want to try this with a personal anecdote and without, and see what feels right. Again, we are not looking for perfection, but to see the shape of the book.
