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Updated January 19, 2023
Subtitle
It takes two people to create a powerful foreword
Synopsis
Here is a list of 37 tips to help write the foreword for a book. This list will help the author of the foreword and the author of the book understand the essential elements of a helpful and insightful foreword.
What You Will Learn
1. You will learn 37 things to help you understand the essential elements of a well-written foreword.
2. You will learn the specific items in a foreword.
3. You will learn about the foreword’s fundamental roles in a book’s success.
Introduction
Here are 37 tips for writing the foreword for a book. This list will help the author of the foreword and the author of the book understand the essential elements of a helpful and insightful foreword.
It does not matter if the foreword’s author is a celebrity, big-shot, or whatever. They are obligated to their readers and followers, to the readers of this new book they are writing the foreword for, and to the book’s author, to write a helpful and honest foreword.
Tip #1. Read the book. Understand the message.
Tip #2. Reading the Table of Contents and one chapter alone is insufficient.
Tip #3. Take detailed notes throughout the book.
Tip #4. Write to the book’s audience.
Tip #5. Write in a familiar voice.
Tip #6. Be very careful not to talk down to the readers.
Tip #7. You should probably write between 750 and 1,500 words.
Tip #8. The foreword’s primary role is to help give the book’s author credibility.
Tip #9. With increased credibility comes more sales.
Tip #10. Explain how you know the author of the book.
Tip #11. If you don’t know the author personally, devote more space to the book’s message.
Tip #12. You are trying to connect emotionally with the reader. Never forget this.
Tip #13. You want the reader to like you and your story.
Tip #14. Your job is to help get the reader to believe and trust what you say about the book’s author and the book itself.
Tip #15. Keep the tone simple and personal but, keep your writing tight.
Tip #16. Include short anecdotes and real-world examples illustrating the book’s theme.
Tip #17. Anecdotes help the reader be attracted to you and your story.
Tip #18. Discuss why this book is significant or timely.
Tip #19. Show why the book’s author is a credible person to have written this book.
Tip #20. Tell readers why this book is worth reading.
Tip #21. Show how the reader will benefit by reading it.
Tip #22. Refer to specific things in the book.
Tip #23. Explain why you chose those things to discuss.
Tip #24. Connect the book to experiences a reader might face daily.
Tip #25. Mention the good points about the book and what the readers will get out of it.
Tip #26. Be sure to give a brief synopsis of the book.
Tip #27. Talk to the reader as if you were talking to a friend.
Tip #28. Keep it engaging and tell an exciting story.
Tip #29. Make sure your foreword has a beginning, middle, and end.
Tip #30. Tell readers why you are qualified to write the foreword.
Tip #31. Don’t be afraid to name-drop.
Tip #32. You will gain credibility and likeability if readers can recognize any of the names.
Tip #33. Put your name, title, and location at the end.
Tip #34. Make sure you mention if you have a fancy title or prestigious award.
Tip #35. These things help establish your credibility and celebrity.
Tip #36. You are not simply writing this foreword to help the author sell more books – but also to help your career.
Tip #37. Authoring a book’s foreword is a great way to remind the public who you are and what you have accomplished.
Conclusion
There you have it. This list should help get both authors onto the same page or mindset. Nevertheless, the responsibility of getting an excellent book foreword falls onto the shoulders of the book’s author.
The book’s author needs to pick the appropriate foreword author in the first place. Then, one must ensure that this person understands a foreword and its role in the book’s success. Hopefully, this list will help you accomplish this.
Question to Think About
1. Do you have any additional tips to add to this list?
2. If you have written a book foreword, what was your biggest stumbling block to completing it?
