For instance, weight loss is super broad, and the right advice depends on factors like age, sex, activity level, and history of medical conditions. More focused topics could be losing weight after childbirth, eating healthy as a teen, managing weight while coping with a medical condition, or sticking to a specific diet.
Suppose you’re writing about supporting your partner while they were sick. Break up a big step like practicing self-care into sections on eating well, resting whenever possible, seeking help from loved ones, and joining a caregivers support group. If you’re listing habits or skills you developed to achieve something, break down the actions you took to hone those abilities. For instance, write about how you became more productive by making lists, setting priorities, and rewarding yourself for finishing tasks.
Gauge reactions when you tell people about your ideas. If possible, try to reach out to people who are in the audience you want to reach. Their reactions can help you figure out which ideas will work best. For instance, suppose you want to write a book about the lessons you learned from being a single parent. Talking to other single parents can help you refine your ideas and narrow your book’s focus.
Additionally, put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Think about their age, where they live, and what’s motivating them to read a self-help book. While they’re not credible research sources, Q&A sites like Quora can help you identify your target audience and their specific questions. [5] X Research source Say you’re writing about projecting confidence, and find that lots of people want advice about projecting confidence at their jobs. You can still include tips about confidence and personal relationships, but it’s wise to prioritize advice on projecting confidence at work.
If you’re writing about self-love while being a caregiver, back up your advice by citing authorities such as the NIH (National Institutes of Health), Caregiver. org, and illness-specific organizations. Write, for instance, “Meeting your own needs is crucial to the caregiving process. According to the National Center on Caregiving, 1 in 4 long-term caregivers report that their physical health has deteriorated, and about 3 in 4 report signs of depression. ”
Read, or at least skim, existing self-help books related to your topic. Ask yourself what worked and what didn’t work, what improvements you could make, and how you could make your message unique. Learn more about the authors’ backgrounds, too. Find out what training, education, or life experiences qualifies them to cover the topic. Think about how your own experiences have given you a distinct perspective.
Try not to think about having to write hundreds of pages. Instead of seeing the book as a big overwhelming project, break it up into smaller pieces. Just focus on writing for 30 or 60 minutes at a time.
Put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Think about where you were before you gained the experience that inspired you to write a self-help book. Ask yourself, “What questions did I have, and which answers did I need to hear?” To empower your readers, break down solutions into clear, achievable steps. Remember how thinking about writing 500 pages is overwhelming, but writing an hour a day is doable? Use the same “break-it-into-chunks” approach to explain your self-help solutions.
Try to imagine that you’re giving advice to a friend or relative. That way, your writing will be more relatable and your readers will connect with you. Plus, a self-help book needs to motivate readers, and an upbeat, conversational tone is more encouraging than a dry, boring one. If you can’t avoid using a technical term, break it down into simple terms for your readers. For example, if you’re discussing how exercise affects mood, don’t talk about neurotransmitters as you would in a scientific journal.
Suppose you’re giving advice about cultivating mindfulness and you’ve included a section about limiting screen time. To lend your advice credibility, write, “As the American Medical Association points out, too much screen time can lower attention spans, interferes with sleep, and contributes to physical inactivity. ”
A copy editor can help you refine your book’s structure and ensure your manuscript is free of errors. Costs depend on an editor’s experience level and the scope of the project. Basic proofreading might cost $500 to $1000 (U. S. ), while substantive editing could run anywhere from $1000 to $4000. [13] X Research source
After that, discuss your professional and social networks and other ways you can market the book. Then provide your book’s specifications, including your manuscript’s word count and information about any charts, pictures, or other graphics. Finally, include outlines of your book chapters; each outline should be a few pages long. If you’ve never published a book before, it’s also wise to attach a sample chapter so publishers and agents can get a feel for your writing style.
Start with a greeting, like “I hope this finds you well!” Then introduce yourself in a sentence or 2. Describe your book’s main idea, explain why people need your advice, and mention that there aren’t any other books out there that fit your niche. Ask if they’d be willing to look at your book proposal, but don’t attach it to the introductory email. Then thank them for their time, and write that you look forward to hearing from them. Many publishers only work with literary agents, and most manuscripts sent to publishers by authors without an agent ultimately go unread.
As far as basic rights go, the publisher reserves the exclusive right to publish and distribute your book. You reserve the rights to the book’s ideas and concepts. The contract will also specify your duties, such as delivering the manuscript by a set date. The contract lays out payment and royalties, too. In a typical royalty scheme, you’d receive around 10% for the first sales tier, and an increased percentage for each benchmark you meet. If you’re getting an advance, be sure to find out if you’d have to pay it back if the book doesn’t meet its sales goals.
That said, if you feel like your book is losing its message, discuss the issue with the publisher or your literary agent. Explain your concerns and work with them to come up with a compromise.
You’ll need to design your own cover and handle all aspects of copy editing and layout. In addition to your publishing service’s fees, you’ll also need to purchase an ISBN for $125 (U. S. ).
Be sure to make quality daily posts on all of your social media channels. For instance, stream videos of yourself discussing the topics in your book, post quick self-help tips, and share photos with a countdown to your book’s release date. [19] X Research source
If you partner with a bookstore or other retailer, see if they can offer a small discount to people who attend the launch party. Discounts, raffles, and giveaways are great ways to get people in the door. Post the event on social media, invite your friends and family, and encourage them to spread the word. In addition, send press releases to local newspapers and other media outlets.
The exposure could lend momentum to your book, and you might see your sales spike further.
