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Books are organized by an interesting introduction, a clear and understandable core (or middle), and a conclusion (or end) that leaves the reader fulfilled. Click on the links to read more about each part of a book.

The Introduction
The Middle
The Conclusion

The Introduction
There are several ways to write an introduction. You might want to start by asking a question that will make your reader wonder what is coming next. Sometimes, it may be best to begin with a quote from an expert to set the stage. In any case, your introduction needs to grab the attention of the reader right away, so they will read on. A great way to start is by examining some of your favorite authors. Why do you keep reading books by your favorite author? Is the story told from an interesting point of view? How can you put your special imprint on your book? What makes it yours?

The Middle
The Middle is the core section of your book. In the middle, you will want to put your thoughts in a logical sequence, use transitional words and phrases to move from one idea to the next, and spend different amounts of time examining certain points, so the reader can feel the sensation of either speeding up or slowing down with you.

Putting your story in a logical sequence is very important. Think about an event that happened to you recently. What happened first? Then what happened? How did the event end? Be specific, but you don’t need to capture every little detail. If you include too many details, your reader may get distracted, and stop reading your work!

If you are writing a non-fiction, or informational book, you may want to start by writing down all the important things you know about the topic. If you have several things in your list, you can group items together by categories. Then, start writing chapters about each category.

Transitional words and phrases helps your reader move from one thought to the next. Here is a list of transitional words and phrases that might be helpful:

Showing time:

Later

Earlier

Meanwhile

Just at that moment

No sooner had…

Three weeks later

After a while

Adding more information:

Additionally

Furthermore

Besides

For example

Comparing or contrasting:

On the other hand

However

Even though

Both can

Instead of

Showing location:

Amid

Behind

Just beyond

In front of

Underneath

Concluding or summarizing:

In conclusion

Finally

As a result

In short

In the end

Pacing your story will help the reader feel as if the narrative is moving quickly or slowly. Changing the pace helps add interest to your writing. For instance, short sentences speed up the pace and can add excitement. On the other hand, long sentences with phrases within the sentence, set off by commas, will tend to slow the story down.

The Conclusion
The conclusion, or ending is what brings all the elements of your story together, and leaves the reader feeling satisfied. This can be the hardest part of writing any story. Professional writers often re-work the ending of their books several times before they are happy with the final product. Once again, looking at ways that your favorite books end is a good way to come up with ideas for the way you want your story to conclude. Does it end with a surprise twist? Do the main characters learn a lesson? Does the book challenge the reader to accomplish something? Try writing three or more different endings, and ask your friends or relatives which one they like the best.