Photoshop Insider

I’ve got to admit I rarely read the intro first. I usually read it later. If you have important info then I would include it in a Chapter 1. I think most people see a intro as a thanks to the people that helped you with the book and why you wrote the book. I’d vote for Chapter 1 !

mike meyer

I read your intro’s but skim them. I personally like the humor but wouldn’t overdue it because then people may dismiss it. I would put the link info right on the first line or two. I remember going back and having to skim it again to find that information and having a hard time locating it. Good luck and please pick me for a free PS ticket!

I usually read the first paragraph or 2 of an intro to see if it’s worthwhile to continue. My suggestion would be to make it chapter 1, or perhaps use a bold headline on the page. Something like “How to get more out of this book”.

A couple thoughts come to mind…

1) An intro to various sections or chapters which include the critical information. This would require a little strategic planning so you would include intro information as it is needed and as it applies to lessons/chapters readers are about to come to.

2) One of the things I’ve seen in many other text-heavy books but which isn’t used by you in your books is pull-quotes or call-outs. This might be especially effective if you don’t have call-outs elsewhere in the book. Maybe if your intro was laced with call-outs for each of the major topics covered (like the list you made above, ie: software versions, workarounds, etc.) it would be more obvious what people are skimming past as they turn pages to reach the “beginning.”

3) Actually I really liked the structure of the fake intro used in Vol 1. Coincidentally I just reread it this week and I was thinking how it got me to read things I would have otherwise skipped. Especially when I read a book just to refresh myself.

Then again, these are the things I look for and I may not be a ‘typical’ reader. I’m looking forward (no pun intended) to see what other ideas people come up with here.

I have to admit - I don’t read the introductions. Until Yours - I really like the FAQ and sense of humor of your intros. However, I have read on Amazon that many people don’t, and I’m guessing that’s the issue. Also, something more specific than Introduction would be What You Need To Know Before Getting Started with subheadings. I think that most people tend to scan rather than read the intro and at least using subheadings would guide people to the right place. The use of subheadings would also be useful since you are writing the Intro for two different audiences.

A suggestion for future books is to remind readers throughout the book about the introduction. Maybe when you mention a specific piece of information, remind the user that you touched on this more in the Introduction. I wouldn’t do it too much since it could be overkill, but a gentle reminder wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Put in a pop-up page / figure , like the ones you find in some childrens books, of you with a warning to those how skip the introduction

There is the option to copy the intro, and place it at the begining of every chapter. Whether they want to or not, once they see it everytime they get to a new chapter, they will see a little more of it each time.

Here’s the thing-oversimplified. There are two types of readers of anyone’s How To book: those that want to learn and those that want to go right to the chapter on “Turning Your Child’s Soccer Pictures Into Watercolors”. You write what you think is important in the Intro. It’s there to read. Your work is done. Searchers for Truth will read it. Scanners will skip. Not your problem.

My suggestion is to embed the critical items into the text where appropriate. Along the lines of ‘just-in-time’ manufacturing. Right before the section on topic A, embed the 3-5 sentences you would have included in the intro on topic A (how it’s different from previous versions, workarounds, etc.). As most people say, they read a paragraph or two and then skim. If the paragraphs were embedded (1 small paragraph at a time), they’d have read it before they realize ‘this is intro material, i can skip it.’ problem is, this isn’t achieved by rewriting the intro, it’s achieved by cutting and pasting the intro sections throughout the entire text. the other suggestion is to accept the fact that some people aren’t going to do what you want them to do. it’s a reflection on them, not necessarily on your writing. good luck.

How about this:
1) An insert attached at the second page into chapter one ( about a postcard thickness) that would cause you to have to read it, or detach it to make the pages lay smoother, Just like in the NAPP/Rangefinder/PPA mag- magazines that advertise offset printing…
2) Sneak the intro to the very last chapter- if they don’t read it at first; maybe they’ll read it last?
3) Announce on Photoshop TV that in an unprecedented move; there will be no “intro” and that they will have to come to your blog to get it ( ok, THAT was REALLY lame!)
4) A big graphic page that has an eye catching subject( ok- some model holding a sign) that says “Go back and read the intro!”

BTW: I get your humor ( unlike my wife- but she still let’s me buy your books, bless her heart ) and I’ll read your intros if I have to….

Goodmorning Scott! NOBODY skips Chapter 1…many people would skip Chapter 0…and of course everybody skips the intro, no matter how attractive it may be designed. So it seems that the solution would be to make the intro ALONE Chapter 1. The challenge is how to name it so that people don’t skip to Chapter 2. I think a good name would be “The Most Important Chapter” with a subhead of “This chapter contains information that will is vital to getting the most out of this book.” You might want to add a little meat, but no fluff. I am certain that nobody will have a problem with Chapter 1 being short. Good luck!

Joel

Rename “Introduction” to “The Secrets To Using This Book”

I like the chapter 1 idea everyone is suggesting. What about adding a headline like “Important things you will need for each tutorial.” Then this them in steps. I look forward to seeing what you decide!

Take a “page” from Letterman…Tile it: “The ten thnigs you must know about this book”. Write 10 short, very short, paragraphs. Hopfully it will be limited to one page. Finally, repeat this “introduction” on the back cover. I bet that is where they will read it. Keep up the good work and desire to serve your consumer as best you can.

Bob

I’ve never written a book, but I do design websites for my day job, and after a while you realise there’s something fundamental about how people interact with things… You CAN’T change typical user behaviour… No way, no how. These things are programmed deep into people’s brains. People don’t read instructions, they don’t see adverts on a website, and they don’t read introductions. And you can try and disguise it as something else, but they’ll always spot what it really is and behave accordingly. They’re buggers, I swear. One of the reasons I much prefer taking photos!

You’ve got to change what YOU do instead. Sorry…

Obviously you’ve got to put all that info in there somewhere, as it is important, so find something that people do read. I’m not sure where that would be in a book…

The back cover maybe? although that’s valuable marketing space… At the start of each chapter? It doesn’t all have to go there… tell people which software it works with in short, and tell them to go read the intro, or appendix, or wherever the details end up, for the rest…

I reckon anywhere in the book you think people will need that info, you tell ‘em where to find it…

Also, I suspect that when people do realise they need to know things, they’ll look at the back of the book first. That’s where technical stuff goes isn’t it? never at the front. It doesn’t go there, so Its not in the book. Better email the author… In fact wherever in your book you publish your email address might be the place to put this stuff!

A further thought … make the Introduction Chapter 2 or Chapter 3 and head it something like ‘Any problems so far?’. Having started to read the book people will be unlikely to skip an entire chapter (without reading at least some of it). Throughout the book (or at the end of each chapter) you can add comments to the effect ‘Remember .. if something doesn’t make sense go back to Chapter 3 and see if the answers are there’.

Hey dude, here’s my suggestion. When every I read the newspaper or a magazine, no matter how far into it or how important the part I’m about to read is, if there is one of those gray boxes with bold letters, a quote or a colored graph, I can’t help but loose my place and read what’s in it immediately! In fact, I’ve almost trained myself to look for them and read them first before I dig into the article. Why not sprinkle your intro throughout the book?

I do read your introductions, a habit that comes with truly receiving good information there, book after book. However, for those who haven’t had such reinforcement, a direct approach with a graphic (your picture, or an attractive member of our species) with the exhortation, “Read this first, dang it!” and a short explanation of your motive. Good luck.

I think some people are confusing your book introduction (chock full of useful information) with your chapter intros (fun stuff you actually tell people NOT to read).

I vote for making it chapter one (though you have tried that in the past). For goodness sakes, please don’t put big boxes everywhere. Yuck.

-Dana

What about putting the intro between chapter 1 and 2? Or reprinting it there with a comment like…now that you skipped the intro and missed the important info…I’m giving you another chance to understand this book.

Kevin

So I got out Book 1…and hey no introduction, just a table of contents!
So what’s the problem? The introduction needs only to be a guide to let the reader know the journey they’re about to be taken on. Surely the real and important messages lie further on in the chapters? Yes,visual helps, and too much detail gets in the way, but why change a winning formula…loved the first book…can’t wait to see the new one!
And anyway, introduction or not, you will still get people asking the same questions that everyone has asked before!

Hi Scott!

I must be different, I READ all of your pages in your books, including the dedication page. I know, I need help. (I just find it interesting.)

Some ideas could be:

“Things You Need to Know”

“Do This First”

“Answers You Need to Know, But Were Afraid To Ask”

“Shutter This!”

Hope that might spark a few ideas for you. I can’t wait to get the new book.

Larry

Since it is a photography book, perhaps add some interesting photographs in Polaroid style to the introduction section. Small puppies and kittens are always an eye grabber and will keep the reader going back to that page to look at the ‘cute’ animals. A 10 year old cat may not get the same attention.

I read your intros because I am serious about learning, but I would usually go straight to the Table of Contents and then skip straight to Chapter 1. But I’m much more likely to *notice* and read the intro if I am flipping the pages and see pictures there.

Scott;

Drop the word “introduction” use something like

“Vital Information”

The following information will CLARIFY the relationship of the previous book and give you insight as to what you can expect to gain from this new edition.

This is very worthwhile for you and will give you a better understanding into some special tips that ARE ONLY IN THIS SECTION, so take a couple minutes and get a foot up on the latest, GREAT TIPS.

Scott,

Many if these ideas are great. The first thing that came to mind for me is obviously not naming it intro. But the other thing is that since we are visual people and we love photography, then maybe put one of your best photos right in the front with the “intro”, even though we are not going to call it that, and that will draw in the attention and make someone wonder how a shot as good as that was taken. When I see a stunning photo I always wonder how it was taken and your intro can incorporate how it was and how this book can show you this.

just a thought

thanks

Padlock your book and have the combination in the Introduction. I sell padlocks and can get you a good deal. I’m only kidding… I would still charge you full price. Actually, before Chapter One have a whole page devoted to a photo of a padlock with a caption such as: to unlock the rest of the book you have to find the combination in the Introduction. Every reader would see this and, in most cases, generate curiosity resulting in them reading the introduction.

Hi Scott:

Thanks for all of the wisdom and timely insight. Sharing with others is cool.
I would put it in the first paragraph of page one or really close , like the second paragraph. I read the intros because I’ve discovered your style and where you put certain things. I think as a reading society we just don’t know how to thoroughly read a publication properly.

Gary

Scott,

This probably won’t work for this book (so close to print), but perhaps in future books, you could reference the intro throughout the book, so that the reader has to go back to it a few times as he/she is reading chapters in the meat of the book. While this might irritate them at first, probably after the second or third time you send them to the intro, they will take the time to read it thoroughly. Example: in a chapter where you are explaining a step for CS3 and you want to also tell people with previous versions or Elements how to do it, you might want to do it this way “for those of you who are using other versions of Photoshop or are using Elements, the alternate methods are provided in the intro on pages …..

Make it a gate fold!

People will always check out something that is novel and folds out. It will get their attention, and then put big graphic numbers or checkmarks for those important points you want people to read.

Now convince your publisher about the added cost!

Scott…
I like the “secrets…” idea above. Have several of your books and, oddly, though I get a kick out of your humor, I find myself skipping sections of the intro because it seems you aren’t taking the content seriously. I’m reading your book because I want to be able to share in your knowledge, not to be entertained. Ah, the paradox.
Similar example: I attended a Presbyterian Church for awhile near here and the minister always spent about ten minutes at the beginning of the service “warming up” the crowd with humor and folksy stuff. It was his style. I grew increasingly impatient with this as weeks went by. It was pretty well done, but it wasn’t what I was looking for when I went to church. I’m a Lutheran now.
You are one of my favorites and this is just gentle and I hope constructive commentary.

A possible way to start your introduction:

“First Step for Better Digital Photography: Remove the lens cap.

You can take photos with the lens cap on your camera, but you get better photos if you take the cap off. I know, it sounds obvious. But sometimes the obvious is overlooked. You can jump into this book and skip the intro, but you will get better photos if you read this section first. (Kind of the whole point of getting this book - to take better photos). ”

Also, maybe include a troubleshooting section with some of the solutions referring to the info in the introduction.

Hope you figure out a good solution. I am looking forward to reading the new book.

Scott

Good Luck with this. I’ve read through the comments above and one thing rings true. We have to change our behavior (as writers) to change the readers behavior. Now that’s obvious, that’s what you’re trying to do. What to change …. that is the million dollar question. Not just in your book, but in education. I’m a high school biology teacher. I write labs and projects for students with the exact same problem. Students don’t want to read the instructions or tips - they just want to know what they have to ‘turn in’. So for many years I’ve had students repeatedly asking questions throughout a lab in which there were already detailed instructions for in the handout. I tried 2 solutions, both of which have had some limited success for me. One is that I would have embedded toward the end of the text false instructions (like where to hand in the artifact or something they should write on the front page of the artifact that really shouldn’t be there). Now I would (at the beginning) tell the students that they may run into something like this on the project and that they may want to ‘read the instructions (intro)” to avoid it. Typically, not everyone would take advantage of this and their grade would suffer. Second, somewhere toward the middle of the project I would tell them that they could receive bonus points if they would make up a song about their project and spontaneously sing it in class. In the instructions it would tell them to ignore this suggestion and that there would be no bonus points (other than a couple of atta-boys) for it.

Now I suppose with your sense of humor, you might be able to incorporate one of these ideas. But to tell you the truth, I like the suggestions above where you make the intro more appealing by using photos and call outs. If you make it more rewarding they will be more likely to read it. BTW, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences. I have benefited from them greatly!!

Scott:

First, I like your existing intros. However if you are worried about people stopping to read them. Why not make the intro and the first chapeter like a software release. For example the intro could be called ” Getting started 1.0″ and the first chapter “Getting Started release 1.5″.

Watcha think?

Good Luck,
Larry

(whoops, sorry)

I believe the quote is “write what you know.”

And you know that no one is going to read them no matter what you do.

…So go the other way.

Let the intro (and I’m sure your editors will hate me for saying this) read two simple sentences:

“You’re not going to read this anyway.”

“But if you’re looking for all the most important resources that will help you fully understand, retain, and utilize all of the knowledge in this book….turn to page 96 for the chapter titled ‘Resources’.

It worked for me in your 7 points book. I’ll be honest…..I kinda skimmed the intro….but then boom. There was a refresher course at the end. Well, use the same philosophy with this. After your refresher course for the book….just a have a resources chapter with not only the files to work on…but any other links, books, suggestions people can use.

Scott,

Sure its gimmicky, but title it, “Conclusions”. Everybody jumps to conclusions anyway, so they will be naturally drawn to it. Then, use your wit and humor to back people away from the edge once they realize its intro material.

Chris

Scott,

As of this posting there are 62 previous posts. As much as I would love to have you pay for my day in Orlando, I think it is time to vote. Hopefully, others will do the same.

I vote for #27 (I like the top 10 lists)

Scott,
This is so simple…..put intro in the back of book……The back of book is what I read 1st.
Cause if you don’t know where a book is going…. why would you want to read it all…if you like the ending…you most likely will like the beginning
Good luck
Thanks for all you do for our great profession
David

I would edge the page(s) with a bold color so they stand out for the reader of the book. I’d then make the first page of the intro a table with two columns - one for readers of your first book and one for readers who haven’t read the first book. Each column could contain bullet points of the information they absolutely, positively have to have….say with references to which page of the book/intro has further explanation of the point.

Another idea struck me, in the same vain as the “Step One: Remove the Lens Cap” idea. Mackie Audio Mixers, at least they used to, always had on page one of their users manuals a step one that had an image of the back of the mixer and a caption that said something like, “This is the power button. If it needs any further explanation, go no further. Put the mixer back in the box and ship it back to us.”

Someone mentioned calling it a quick start guide but why not actually have a separate quick start guide bundled with it. It could be a two sided card that could be laminated with the book or otherwise attached with some of that sticky putty like stuff.

-Jason

Scott,
I started this as a simple reply, but went back and checked out the introductions in some of your past books along with other books I have.

Just to clarify, I do read the introduction in your books. I read the introduction in all books.

So my question to you would be, is the information in the introduction important? If so, why is it not listed in the Table of Contents?

Then, if the information is important, why does it need to be hidden in the “humor”? I must say that some of the past books I have felt like you are insulting me for actually taking time to read your book. The keep it simple rule applies here.

Also, I agree with others who have said that the reference material should be in the back. That is where I always look for it.

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing the new book.

I say put a really cool boarder around the “Why you should read this into” and draw the reader to it so much they have to read it and understand why it is so important. Start off with making fun of the big deal it is to read your intro, and why your intro is different than any other intro. You have such a way with words anyway, so that should be the easy part for you. The idea is suck me into it in such a way I can not read the book, without first reading the intro. Make me laugh with it……

Hi Scott,

Make the intro short and sweet. Add your usual whimsical humor, all of your fans like it, those who don’t, who cares? Put extremely short references throughout the book refering to something important in the introduction. Don’t say you’ll give away anything. To me, that adds nothing but cheapness to your fine work.

Quite frankly, I would not read one of your books without reading the intro. The first book of your that I bought was Photoshop CS2 for Digital Photographers. You had me in stitches on the first page of the intro. A quite refreshing approach to a “HOW TO” book. Most books of this genre are boring, especially computer books.

Of course those of us that are the technical nerds and geeks will flock to your book regardless (Hence that is why my copy has already been pre-ordered) of what is in the content.

Can’t wait for the book,

Mike

Scott,
Maybe someone already suggested this (I did not have time to read all of the responses) Here is my thought….
In your last book the 7 Piont System you provided an online video that your readers were instructed to view AFTER reading the book. I know that most of your readers probably went to this video and watched it before reading the book. Do you see where I am giong with this? Why don’t you provide the introduction in the same format!!!!

I have all but two of your books, took my first workshop from you years ago (remember the Digital Iguana), promote NAPP and your books to my private students and in presentations to user groups, write reviews of your books for local publications, and provide links to your enterprises on my website.

As a Scott Kelby fanboy, I wish you would pare the pattern “silliness” in your writing and presentations, the signal to noise is becoming unbalanced. I fast forward photoshopusertv to edit the silliness from the content. I appreciate humor, but my time is valuable too.

Present the Introduction as a comic strip. I always read the cartoons in the New Yorker…first. best

As a photographer and a computer guy, I tend not to read the manuals or books in the “correct order” I usually just use the index to find the piece of information that I need.

I have found that the humor and variety of tricks you have used use to get people like me to read the intro have actually worked. I look forward to the humor and the information in the intro.

I am reading the 7 point system right now and I thought the intro was very well done. The Q & A worked well as a way to break up the info into sections and kept the flow moving in the right direction.

Oh, and using this blog to tell people to read the introduction works well too. Everybody who reads this entry will read the intro to the book now just to see which way you went.

Honestly I have no idea how you get so much done in a week.
Keep it up.

We live in a sound bite world and have learned to ignore things we have found to be of little value in the past, i.e. introductions to books. While I like the FAQ format of your most recent books, they are still a bit long and wordy. My recommendation is to distill the message to eliminate as much non-essential information as possible and, if possible, place the essential items into a bullet format on the first page, possibly in a call out box. This is essentially what the commenter suggesting the Letterman Top 10 format and those suggesting a title other than Introduction are getting at. Hit them between the eyes on the first page of the Introduction, whatever you call it, then tell them in Chapter 1, at the point that they first need the information you have provided in the introduction, that they should read/reread the introduction before proceeding further if they don’t know how to do what you just told them to do.

Let’s blame the reader’s behavior on video games why don’t we. Video game players expect to barge ahead until they find they need some critical piece of information or tool to overcome the first obstacle, then go back to where they need to find it. Just a thought…….

I like the photo idea. Maybe add your head shot to various famous photos or add some really insane/humorous/etc. photos that would peek my interest.

I am one who usually skips the intros but have read all of your intros because of your humor and writing style.

Don’t try to hide, disguise or camouflage your attempt to get folks to read the intro.

At the very beginning of the intro, start by saying something like “Here’s why you should read this introduction.”; then, bulletize each reason. Be brief, concise and sincere. Start your bullets in descending order of merit, starting (obviously) with the main reason.

About the humor; I like the incorporation of your humor in every book of yours that I have read, Scott. Really. But you and every other author know that you’re not going to appeal to everyone.

So, particularly in the introduction, you may want to consider limiting the amount of humor or dispensing with it altogether.

There you have my $0.04 worth, which has been adjusted for inflation.

Feel free to email me for details on where to send my PSW pass. LOL.

Mike

Read your first Digital Photography Book and it did not have an introduction like most of your other books. However, if this one needs an introduction I would name it “Chapter 12″ to start where the first book stopped. Then just keep counting up from there.

Hey Scott, here’s my two cents. I think your could start like every Photoshop file starts out… “Background Layer”. Throw in some graphics and you’ll have people like me, who are more visual, all over it. Just a wild thought! Or… I like the Chapter 0 approach. It’s different enough that it will catch their attention and they will feel like there missing something if they skip it. Good luck! - Steve

Ive got your winner right here!

To be quite honest, if you got this far I’d be both amazed and impressed. But you skipped some too right? Its ok, we all did.

Now the winner is…..

A Book Marker.

Either as an included item or as a perforated card page that can be torn out.
Purists wont tear it out but they will read it just so they know why they are keeping it in. Everyone else will tear it out and use it, at the same time they will read it cos its the shortest chapter.

Since your deadline is so tight, that great bookmark idea may be too much setup to put in to motion so here’s the runner up.

ICONS!

Similar to the pictures then words idea but simpler for a graphics team to put together.

ICON -words, blah, read, blah why blah.

Who doesn’t read the tagline under photos when looking at a book or newspaper. Rush rush, hurry, got things to do. Did you really get this far with all these comments or did you stop at twenty x and thinks, oops, what have I done.

Hi Scott,

Well as someone who did exactly what you said when I got your lightroom book some time ago I 100% agree with you about reading the intro. Had I not done so, there’s bucket loads I would have missed out on by not doing as you said in the intro, and read from cover to cover.

As someone who has previous history of diving straight into a book and not reading the intro, the kind of intro that I would be more inclined to read would be a ‘bullet point’ style. By this I mean the following:

At the top of the page have the heading “READ THIS” (or similar) and then underneath, maybe a maximum of 10 very brief, to the point notes such as:

1. Tutorials in this book are suitable for all camera makes (Nikon, Canon etc…)

2. Visit www.webaddresshere.com for downloads

3. etc…etc…etc…

… continuing down to the last bullet point (max of 10 maybe)

10. ENJOY!

Everyone who buys your books is desperate for knowledge and to ‘get on’ with learning and speaking for myself, an intro can feel like it’s keeping me away from the ‘meaty stuff’, Therefore a short sharp intro can do the trick and can really give the feel of ‘Let’s get down to business’.

Hope that makes sense,
Can’t wait for the new book and believe me, however long the intro I WILL read it as experience has taught me that with your books, it’s a MUST :o)

All the best to you and yours,
Glyn

Hi Scott,

I like your introductions and the humor they make the reading lightier.

Another approach to your intro’s could be to make them an executive summary of what the chapter covers. This way people could use them as a guide, and they