# Lead magnet ideas for authors An author’s lead magnet should give a reader more of what they came for: a workbook of the book’s method, a reading-group guide, the chapter that didn’t fit. Here are ten briefs that open in Chapbook as starting points. Chapbook writes nonfiction, so a novelist’s best fit here is the research behind the story. Updated 30 October 2026. Web page: https://chapbook.ink/ideas/lead-magnets-for-authors/ ## A brief to start from > A short extra chapter cut from my book on walking the length of a river: the section on the people who live on the flood plain, edited to stand alone, with a short note on why it was cut and how it fits the book. Use only the draft I upload. Reader: someone who has just finished the book and wants more. Voice: my own reflective first person, taken from the voice samples I give you. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=lead_magnet&topic=A+short+extra+chapter+cut+from+my+book+on+walking+the+length+of+a+river%3A+the+section+on+the+people+who+live+on+the+flood+plain%2C+edited+to+stand+alone%2C+with+a+short+note+on+why+it+was+cut+and+how+it+fits+the+book.+Use+only+the+draft+I+upload.+Reader%3A+someone+who+has+just+finished+the+book+and+wants+more.+Voice%3A+my+own+reflective+first+person%2C+taken+from+the+voice+samples+I+give+you.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors ## 10 ideas 1. **The chapter that didn’t fit** (Lead magnet). Every book leaves good material on the floor. Readers who liked the book want more, and a cut chapter costs you nothing extra to write since most of the thinking is already done. Brief: A short extra chapter cut from my book on walking the length of a river: the section on the people who live on the flood plain, edited to stand alone, with a short note on why it was cut and how it fits the book. Use only the draft I upload. Reader: someone who has just finished the book and wants more. Voice: my own reflective first person, taken from the voice samples I give you. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=lead_magnet&topic=A+short+extra+chapter+cut+from+my+book+on+walking+the+length+of+a+river%3A+the+section+on+the+people+who+live+on+the+flood+plain%2C+edited+to+stand+alone%2C+with+a+short+note+on+why+it+was+cut+and+how+it+fits+the+book.+Use+only+the+draft+I+upload.+Reader%3A+someone+who+has+just+finished+the+book+and+wants+more.+Voice%3A+my+own+reflective+first+person%2C+taken+from+the+voice+samples+I+give+you.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-1 2. **A reading-group guide** (Lead magnet). Book clubs choose what’s easy to discuss, and a good guide makes yours the easy choice. It’s a natural thing for a club organizer to sign up for, and they’re a reader who brings others with them. Brief: A reading-group guide to my nonfiction book on the history of a mill town: a short introduction, discussion questions chapter by chapter, a timeline, further reading, and how to invite the author. Use only my manuscript as a source. Reader: the organizer of a monthly book club who has to run the evening. Voice: warm and curious, no spoilers beyond what a reader has reached. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=lead_magnet&topic=A+reading-group+guide+to+my+nonfiction+book+on+the+history+of+a+mill+town%3A+a+short+introduction%2C+discussion+questions+chapter+by+chapter%2C+a+timeline%2C+further+reading%2C+and+how+to+invite+the+author.+Use+only+my+manuscript+as+a+source.+Reader%3A+the+organizer+of+a+monthly+book+club+who+has+to+run+the+evening.+Voice%3A+warm+and+curious%2C+no+spoilers+beyond+what+a+reader+has+reached.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-2 3. **A companion workbook to your method** (Workbook). If your book teaches something, readers want to do it, and a page to write on helps. A workbook gives past readers a reason to sign up, and gives people browsing a free way to try your method. Brief: A companion workbook to my book on running a family budget without an app: the main idea from each chapter, a short exercise, and a page to fill in by hand each month. Use only my manuscript as a source. Reader: someone who read the book and has not yet started. Voice: second person, my own plain tone, no invented statistics, and no promise about savings. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=workbook&topic=A+companion+workbook+to+my+book+on+running+a+family+budget+without+an+app%3A+the+main+idea+from+each+chapter%2C+a+short+exercise%2C+and+a+page+to+fill+in+by+hand+each+month.+Use+only+my+manuscript+as+a+source.+Reader%3A+someone+who+read+the+book+and+has+not+yet+started.+Voice%3A+second+person%2C+my+own+plain+tone%2C+no+invented+statistics%2C+and+no+promise+about+savings.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-3 4. **The one-page tools from your book** (Lead magnet). The checklist on page 87 is what a reader photographs and shares. Pulling those tools into one document makes them easy to find, and it’s a fine first taste for someone who hasn’t bought the book. Brief: A short collection of the checklists and worksheets from my book on planning a home renovation, each with one line on when to use it and which chapter explains it. Use only my manuscript as a source. Reader: someone in the middle of a renovation who wants the tools and not the story, and may not have read the book. Voice: terse and useful, with no invented figures. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=lead_magnet&topic=A+short+collection+of+the+checklists+and+worksheets+from+my+book+on+planning+a+home+renovation%2C+each+with+one+line+on+when+to+use+it+and+which+chapter+explains+it.+Use+only+my+manuscript+as+a+source.+Reader%3A+someone+in+the+middle+of+a+renovation+who+wants+the+tools+and+not+the+story%2C+and+may+not+have+read+the+book.+Voice%3A+terse+and+useful%2C+with+no+invented+figures.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-4 5. **The people and places behind the book** (Collection). Readers of history and memoir often want to know what became of a person or where a place is. A reference from your research rewards their curiosity, and it’s all material you already have. Brief: A collection of sixteen places from my book on the old canal, grouped by region. Each entry has a fact list (where it is, what happened there, what to see today, the chapter it appears in), then a short paragraph. Use only my research notes and manuscript, and invent no dates. Reader: a reader planning a trip along the route. Voice: warm and exact, my own first person. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=collection&topic=A+collection+of+sixteen+places+from+my+book+on+the+old+canal%2C+grouped+by+region.+Each+entry+has+a+fact+list+%28where+it+is%2C+what+happened+there%2C+what+to+see+today%2C+the+chapter+it+appears+in%29%2C+then+a+short+paragraph.+Use+only+my+research+notes+and+manuscript%2C+and+invent+no+dates.+Reader%3A+a+reader+planning+a+trip+along+the+route.+Voice%3A+warm+and+exact%2C+my+own+first+person.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-5 6. **An explainer on the idea at the center of your book** (Illustrated guide). A difficult idea is easier to meet in pictures first. An illustrated explainer lets someone try your argument in a short sitting, and decide whether they want the long version. Brief: An illustrated guide to the main idea of my book on how household debt works: what compound interest does, how minimum payments are set, how to read a statement, what changes when you pay more, and what to ask a lender, one picture per idea, with something to try at the end of each section. Use only my manuscript as a source. Reader: someone who saw my talk and is not ready for a whole book. Voice: friendly and exact. General information only: not financial advice. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=guide&topic=An+illustrated+guide+to+the+main+idea+of+my+book+on+how+household+debt+works%3A+what+compound+interest+does%2C+how+minimum+payments+are+set%2C+how+to+read+a+statement%2C+what+changes+when+you+pay+more%2C+and+what+to+ask+a+lender%2C+one+picture+per+idea%2C+with+something+to+try+at+the+end+of+each+section.+Use+only+my+manuscript+as+a+source.+Reader%3A+someone+who+saw+my+talk+and+is+not+ready+for+a+whole+book.+Voice%3A+friendly+and+exact.+General+information+only%3A+not+financial+advice.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-6 7. **A one-sheet for bookstores and event hosts** (Brochure). A bookseller or festival programmer decides quickly and needs the details in one place. A short booklet about you and your talk is easy to forward, and it saves them asking you for each detail. Brief: A short booklet for bookstores, libraries and festivals about my nonfiction book and the talk that goes with it: what the book is about, what the talk covers and who it suits, how long it runs, what I need on the day, and how to book me. Use only the details I supply. Reader: an events coordinator at an independent bookstore. Voice: warm and professional, no invented review quotes or sales figures. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=brochure&topic=A+short+booklet+for+bookstores%2C+libraries+and+festivals+about+my+nonfiction+book+and+the+talk+that+goes+with+it%3A+what+the+book+is+about%2C+what+the+talk+covers+and+who+it+suits%2C+how+long+it+runs%2C+what+I+need+on+the+day%2C+and+how+to+book+me.+Use+only+the+details+I+supply.+Reader%3A+an+events+coordinator+at+an+independent+bookstore.+Voice%3A+warm+and+professional%2C+no+invented+review+quotes+or+sales+figures.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-7 8. **A launch issue for your list** (Newsletter). The people who’ve followed your work want to hear first. A designed issue with an excerpt and how to help gives them something to read and forward, and it’s a good first send for a new list. Brief: A newsletter issue for the launch of my nonfiction book: a short excerpt, the story of why I wrote it, a behind-the-scenes note, how to help (reviews, telling a friend, asking a library to stock it) and where to buy it. Use only the facts I supply. Reader: someone who signed up for my list a year ago. Voice: personal and grateful, first person, no promised rank or sales figures. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=newsletter&topic=A+newsletter+issue+for+the+launch+of+my+nonfiction+book%3A+a+short+excerpt%2C+the+story+of+why+I+wrote+it%2C+a+behind-the-scenes+note%2C+how+to+help+%28reviews%2C+telling+a+friend%2C+asking+a+library+to+stock+it%29+and+where+to+buy+it.+Use+only+the+facts+I+supply.+Reader%3A+someone+who+signed+up+for+my+list+a+year+ago.+Voice%3A+personal+and+grateful%2C+first+person%2C+no+promised+rank+or+sales+figures.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-8 9. **A short book before your big one** (Nonfiction book). A short book on one part of your subject lets readers find you while the main book is still a long way off. It gives you something to offer now, and tells you which ideas people care about. Brief: A short nonfiction book on one part of what will become a longer book about caring for aging parents: how to start the first hard conversation with a parent, with composite fictional families labeled as such. Reader: a fifty-year-old who has noticed their father is struggling and has said nothing. Voice: humane first person, plain and honest, no invented statistics. General information only: not medical or legal advice. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=nonfiction&topic=A+short+nonfiction+book+on+one+part+of+what+will+become+a+longer+book+about+caring+for+aging+parents%3A+how+to+start+the+first+hard+conversation+with+a+parent%2C+with+composite+fictional+families+labeled+as+such.+Reader%3A+a+fifty-year-old+who+has+noticed+their+father+is+struggling+and+has+said+nothing.+Voice%3A+humane+first+person%2C+plain+and+honest%2C+no+invented+statistics.+General+information+only%3A+not+medical+or+legal+advice.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-9 10. **A guide for your advance readers** (Lead magnet). People who agree to read early often don’t know what you’d like from them. A short guide makes it easy to help, and it’s a good thing to send your first readers once they have signed up. Brief: A short guide for the advance readers of my nonfiction book: what the early copy is, when the book comes out, how to tell me about mistakes, how to post an honest review wherever they choose and tell a friend, with no payment or pressure for a good review. Use only the dates and details I supply. Reader: a longtime reader who said yes to an early copy and has never done this. Voice: warm and grateful, first person, no promised rank or sales. Open it in Chapbook: https://chapbook.ink/start/?type=lead_magnet&topic=A+short+guide+for+the+advance+readers+of+my+nonfiction+book%3A+what+the+early+copy+is%2C+when+the+book+comes+out%2C+how+to+tell+me+about+mistakes%2C+how+to+post+an+honest+review+wherever+they+choose+and+tell+a+friend%2C+with+no+payment+or+pressure+for+a+good+review.+Use+only+the+dates+and+details+I+supply.+Reader%3A+a+longtime+reader+who+said+yes+to+an+early+copy+and+has+never+done+this.+Voice%3A+warm+and+grateful%2C+first+person%2C+no+promised+rank+or+sales.&ref=ideas-lead-magnets-for-authors-10 ## How to choose one Ask what your readers do when they finish. If they write to you with questions about how to do it, make the workbook. If they’re in book clubs, write the reading-group guide. If you’re still writing the book, make a short book on one part of it and see which ideas people care about. Keep your own voice. Add your manuscript as a source and your best pages as voice samples, and treat each draft as a draft: every change the assistant proposes later is a suggestion to accept or reject. If you’ll publish on Kindle as well, the [disclosure guide](/guides/kdp-ai-disclosure/) quotes Amazon’s definitions of AI-generated and AI-assisted content. ## A sample worth looking at For the shape a companion workbook can take, [Find Your First 100 Readers](/examples/workbook/) is a sample workbook for nonfiction authors, generated from one brief and exported without editing. It isn’t a customer’s book, and its method is one way to look for readers, with no promise about how many you will find. ## Every brief here opens in Chapbook Each idea comes with the paragraph Chapbook needs to start: the topic, the reader and the voice. The brief at the top of this page is a starting point, not a book we have already made from it. Open it, put in your own book and your own reader, and add your manuscript as a source. Chapbook then proposes titles and an outline for you to approve before anything is drafted. ## Questions ### What is a good lead magnet for a nonfiction author? One that comes out of the book: a workbook for its method, a guide for reading groups, or the chapter you cut. It reaches people who like your subject, and much of the thinking is already done, so you’re mostly choosing and editing. ### Can Chapbook write a lead magnet for a novelist? Only a nonfiction one. Chapbook has no fiction mode, so it can’t write you a prequel. It can help with the research behind a novel, a reading-group guide or an account of the real places in it. ### Can I use my own manuscript as the source? Yes. Add up to 10 sources, including your manuscript as a document, and add up to 5 writing samples for your voice. To keep your text exactly, “I have a draft” makes it into chapters word for word, free.