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Five Steps to Highlighting Key Ideas

Keep the reader reading by highlighting key ideas:

1. CREATE HEADINGS & SUBHEADINGS
Use headings and subheadings to summarize the key point or subject matter in each section of a chapter.  Headings call attention to a specific idea, help reinforce the information, and provide a visual reference tool for readers to quickly locate what they are looking for. Effective headings entice readers to continue reading by capturing their interest.  A good heading:

  • Describes the content and main idea of that particular section
  • Intrigues the reader or makes a promise

“Seven Killer Strategies to Reaching Critical Mass on Twitter” (Twitter Power, Joel Comm with Ken Burge)

“Don’t Listen to Morons Like This” (The Devil’s Guide to Hollywood, Joe Eszterhas)

2. USE BULLET POINTS
Bullet points are visually arresting, they are like a magnet immediately drawing the reader’s eye and alerting them to the fact that “Hey, this is important stuff”.  Bulleted lists also help readers easily reference the material later.

3. ADD SIDEBARS
Sidebars provide the reader with additional information that’s quick to find and easy to read.  Sidebars may contain quotes, anecdotes, case studies, lists, tips, questions, statistics, instructions, references, quick advice, etc.

4. INCLUDE PULL QUOTES
A pull quote (also known as a lift-out quote or a call-out) is a quotation or an excerpt from the main content that is ‘pulled out’ and placed in a larger typeface on the same page.  A good ‘pull quote’ will lure readers to that specific key point and get them interested in the topic.

5. INSERT AN ICON OR SYMBOL
The For Dummies series is known for their use of icons to quickly highlight important information: a target with an arrow (Tip), a hand with a string tied to a finger (Remember), a bomb with a lit fuse (Warning!).  Think of ways you might include symbols in your book.

Related posts:

  1. Five Steps to Understanding Your Niche (Nonfiction Genres, Part 1)
  2. Three Tips For Finding Book Ideas That Sell
  3. Defining the Elements of Your Book

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Posted on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 1:12 pm.
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    • About Me

        Laura Cross
    • I'm Laura Cross, author, ghostwriter, freelance book editor, writing coach, and owner of Scenario Writing Studio I have researched, edited, and ghostwritten more than 30 nonfiction books on various topics, and developed winning book proposals that helped clients land six-figure book deals. I specialize in helping business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts develop bestselling nonfiction how-to and self-help books. My clients have appeared on "Oprah", and been featured in Publishers Weekly, and The New Your Times book section, and on Amazon's bestseller list.
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