To Write or Not To Write That is the question…

Should I Write This Book? What type of book are you writing? Why are you writing it? What are your expectations from it? Who is your target audience? Do you have the time to dedicate to it?

3 Reasons to Write Your Book

To share your expertise There are hundreds of self-help or informative books on hundreds of topics so why should you add to it? Well that’s simple enough – none of those books are written by you with your unique perspective on that issue/situation. Whatever you’re writing about comes directly from you with your style, your personality and your angle. The key is not to be swayed by what’s out there and to make yours the same - write who you are not who you think you should be.

To raise your profile As a business person having written a book on your area of expertise can only increase your standing in your industry or field – providing it’s good! It serves as evidence that you know your what you’re talking about and it sets you apart from all others because you can demonstrate your knowledge in a very public way. Not only that, for those of you in a “Help” industry it gives you another marketing tool to work with.

To Tell A Story Whether it’s a novel, autobiography or non-fiction factual account - if you have a story inside of you then that is reason enough to get it out. Everyone has a story to tell, whether is beating an illness, surviving against the odds or learning a life lesson. Perhaps you have an interesting family history or unusual hobby. Or do you have an amazing hidden imagination – is there a fictional world in your head that no one knows about? If you lie awake at night with words and ideas rushing through your mind then perhaps it’s time to put them on paper…

Tips For Writing Time Time Time! Unless you are wring a 5 page e-book you’re not going to do this without setting a realistic amount of time where you can write un- interrupted. Set targets – give yourself manageable goals - 1 chapter per month for instance. Write a skeleton. If you’re writing a large book then you need a very basic framework on which to build or you may find yourself going off on tangents and losing the plot – literally! Read aloud. If you can read your work out loud then chances are it makes sense structurally. If you stumble and trip up over the words then so will your reader. Don’t be too hard on yourself. There are enough critics out there waiting to do that for you! Self-belief is the key to finishing.

1 Reason Not To Write Yes, it can be a source of secondary income and if you write a series of books you could find that income becomes quite substantial, but unless you have something equivalent to the Harry Potter series and you can find a publishers willing to take that risk on you it’s unlikely to happen overnight, if at all! Look on any income as a bonus and focus on the benefits above – and you will be well on your way to being a successful author! Don’t write a book to make money!!

Tips for Publishing Is it readable – once written have someone else read it, whether a business colleague/trusted friend/professional proof reader make sure what you’ve written can easily be read by someone else. Have a clear goal in mind – who is your audience/how many copies will you need/how will it be marketed? Be realistic – expect rejections/no answer/no sales. Review publishers, their reputation and consider self-publishing. Have a budget in mind. Don’t give up.