78 Ways to Start Your Next Book or Article

By André Bell
Posted Thursday, August 19, 2004

So many people want to write books to generate passive income, gain credibility and recognition, to leave a legacy, and just to be heard.

The biggest challenge they find is not coming up with ideas to write about, the biggest challenge is often figuring out how to begin a book or article.

What can they say to get things started?

After reading some 2,000 books in the past 27 years I think I've cracked the code on writing non-fiction.

Here are my 'quick start' opening lines that anyone can use for any book or article to help get started right now at becoming an author.

How do you use these quick start opening lines?

Easy.

Do you recall when you were a kid you played a game where one person started with a word or phrase and each person around the room had to add another word or phrase until at the end of the chain you had a weird and completely senseless story that made everyone laugh, even though it made little or no sense?

Well, we are building on that childhood experience.

The difference here is that you probably will not have a bunch of others in the room helping you and your article or book will make total sense.

So start at the first opening line and complete the sentence with whatever comes to mind for your subject and your audience.

This exercise will give you the momentum needed to get started.

Of course, these phrases will not give you the "meat" you need for your article or book. That must come from your own knowledge, skills, experiences, and research.

This may sound difficult or even strange but bear/bare with me, you'll see how simple this is once you actually try it.

I suggest starting at the top of this list and working your way to the bottom.

Yes, write a complete sentence for each of these 101 opening phrases. This will give you a huge start at creating your book, plus when all is said and done, you may end up with 101 usable sentences or complete paragraphs for your book or article.

If one phrase prompts you to write your entire book or article then do so. Feel free to write more than one sentence if the thoughts come to mind. There's no reason to stop writing your book or article just to finish these exercises.
The exercises are designed to help prompt your creativity. So if that happens go with it.

Of course if any particular phrase is inappropriate for what you are writing about, skip that phrase. Don't get tied up by perfectionism.

Still seem a little strange?

This might help. Imagine someone you trust and who is very articulate is right here with you, prompting you with the opening phrases found below.

What can you add to these phrases that will make a complete sentence for what you want to write about?

Let's begin:

1. Just imagine...
2. It has long been said...
3. Traditionally...
4. The most successful...
5. [so and so} claims...
6. There is a saying that...
7. How would you like to...
8. Whatever stage your [insert a noun here _____ } is in, ...
9. We have heard many [insert superlative like ?amazing? here _______] stories about ...
10. Finally....
11. If you...
12. There are a variety of less well-known...
13. There are a variety of better known...
14. Even in [subject] it is important to keep in mind...
15. Suppose some one you meet...
16. Suppose...
17. How did a ...
18. As a nation we have...
19. In our society we have...
20. To better understand...
21. Ask a question...
22. It was the best of times it was the worst of times...
23. Companies like...
24. What works for...
25. There comes a time when...
26. Quote someone or a common belief...
27. Take...
28. When the...
29. You can...
30. With the ...
31. What's the...
32. Like (comparison of something)...
33. This...
34. This book ...
35. If [verbalize chapter title]...
36. How do you...
37. How ...
38. Who ...
39. What ...
40. When...
41. Why...
42. Where...
43. Some people...
44. Some companies...
45. Some pets...
46. Some animals...
47. Some...
48. You don't need a...
49. You...
50. You need...
51. You should...
52. You should never...
53. It's...
54. Many...
55. Many people...
56. Many companies...
57. Few realize...
58. Most realize...
59. Often...
60. Never...
61. If there were a way to...
62. They laughed when...
63. Everyone...
64. Everyone laughed when...
65. Few...
66. The greatest fallacy...
67. The greatest myth...
68. The biggest challenge...
69. Here are...
70. Do you...
71. This may sound...
72. You may think...
73. Do you recall...
74. Do you remember...
75. Start with the name of a company you plan to feature or write a commentary on or give an example of.
Example, ?Lorne Greene shocked the world when he decided...?

76. Start with the name of a product you plan to feature or write a commentary on or give an example of.
Example, ?Pillsbury's Hotpockets have cooled since...?

77. Turn the chapter title into a verb.
Example if the book or chapter is about quilts then start the chapter with "Quilting" as the first word of the chapter.

Want another example? Ok let's say you want to write about runners, the opening word will be "Running".

78. And here's one that is a no brainer all by itself, "The..."

Get it? Good!

Now those are the complete secrets to getting started on your book. You should now be ready to complete your book or article, one sentence, paragraph, and chapter at a time.

TIP: Think this won't work? Wrong! Go back through this article and see if you can count how many of these starters were used in this very article you are now reading.

You will see that this really works!

Hey, don't tell me you only read through these ideas. That won't help you one bit.

The greatest good intention is worthless without action.

Grab a pen or pencil or your favorite pc and start at the top of the suggestions and work your way down.

Then you will have taken your first steps towards making your dream of writing a reality, and you will have conquered the greatest challenge you'll ever face, how to get started at writing your own book or articles.

About the Author
André Bell is principal marketing consultant with André Bell Consulting Group. A free copy of his new book "101 Marketing Secrets Revealed" is available through his site at (http://www.economicbooster.com)