When You Should Write a Book and When You Shouldn’t

Have you considered writing a book? It seems like a daunting task and indeed, it can be. Everybody has a story to tell; how they overcame hardship, faced a challenge, succeeded at something, gained a new perspective, or traveled the world. But should everyone write a book about it? Not necessarily. There’s a time a person should write a book and a time not to.

Do consider writing a book if:

• You own a business
• You’re a coach or consultant
• You’re an expert in your field
• You have experiences that others can learn from

Let’s say you own a small moving company. You offer labor services to load and unload people’s truck rentals when they move from one residence to another. Think of how much that can boost your business to have a paperback guide that helps customers know how to pack efficiently, transition to a new home, and find local resources to get settled in.

Or if you’re an ADHD coach, you can increase your credibility, attract more clients, and provide a great service by having a short guide to organization, prioritizing, and time management for adults who struggle day to day with the challenges of attention deficit disorder.

Maybe you’re an expert at something; an experienced homeschooling parent who has tips and ideas for other families that are considering teaching their own children at home. You could be an expert at food fermentation, canning, gardening, or raising a large family on a shoestring budget. You have valuable knowledge to share.

And last, but not least, you’ve had experiences that others can draw comfort and courage from. For example, you might want to tell about the trials and joys of being a caregiver to a disabled child or spouse and you know that your story will give encouragement and insight to people going through a similar experience. Perhaps you escaped an abusive relationship or you’re a cancer survivor or a parent of octuplets or you won the lottery! There are many, many stories worth telling, and even though there is nothing new under the sun, you have a unique voice that only you can share.

The above is certainly not an exhaustive list, but are all good reasons to consider writing a book.

Don’t consider writing a book if:

• You’re doing it for the money
• You’re doing it for the recognition
• You’re not willing to invest the time and resources to produce a quality product

The sad truth is that you will make more money working at McDonald’s than you will from publishing a book. At least in the beginning. And maybe in the middle and the end as well. According to a Bowker report, 625,327 self-published titles were released in 2015. Bowker is the administrative agency that supplies ISBNs for published works. This is a low estimate. Additionally, when you consider that tens of thousands (and more likely hundreds of thousands) of indie authors are publishing through Amazon’s Kindle program—and don’t need ISBNs—there is very tough competition out there. The average self-published author is lucky to sell a couple hundred books.

This isn’t meant to discourage you from writing a book; it’s meant only to discourage you if you are writing one for the wrong reasons. Getting a book published (self-publishing or getting published by a small press or even a large publishing house) is no guarantee that you will make tons of money or become a celebrity. Yes, having a book can open doors for you. Yes, you can possibly get some recognition on a small scale. And yes, you might be able to make a decent income off writing; however, it takes a lot of work and effort and marketing and pushing yourself on a largely disinterested public to do so.

Knowing what you are up against, if you’re still determined to be an author, then make sure you go the distance. In other words; write, rewrite, and rewrite again. Have your manuscript edited. Find people to read it and give honest feedback. Your mother who loves you dearly will not give you honest feedback. She will tell you it’s wonderful and the best book she’s ever read. Do not believe her. Sorry Mom.

After you get feedback from a dozen or so people, and after you dry your tears and assuage your damaged ego, polish your book up. Make it shine. Invest in hiring a professional interior layout designer and cover designer. It’s well worth the investment. If you’re putting yourself out there, putting your name on the cover, make it something your mother-in-law can be proud of. If you can do that, you are well on your way to being a respectable author!

Part 1: 5 Reasons Business Owners, Coaches, and Entrepreneurs Need a Book
Part 2: When You Should Write a Book and When You Should Not
Part 3: Overcoming Hurdles to Writing a Book for Your Business
Part 4: Book Marketing Made Easy: If You Publicize it, They Will Come
Part 5: Explore Your Book Publishing Options