Posts Tagged ‘writing self-help books’
LIST OF CONTENTS IN A TRANSFORMATIVE NONFICTION BOOK
As you structure your transformative nonfiction book, whether it’s a self-help book, business book, life lessons book, or something else, here’s a tip: Don’t forget to keep a list of contents at the beginning of the manuscript in all drafts.
The list of contents (no longer called a “table of contents” but just “contents”) belongs at the beginning of your manuscript even before you begin writing chapter one. Why? Because you want to offer a roadmap to where you’re going.
Read MoreSTRUCTURING CHAPTERS IN A SELF-HELP OR HOW-TO BOOK
Are you feeling lost as you’re structuring chapters in a self-help or how-to book you’re writing? Did you get lost as one section of chapter one started to grow like creeping Charlie on your lawn, taking over the grass?
Read MoreSELF-HELP BOOK CONTENTS AND STRUCTURE: A HANDY GUIDE
YouTube video on structuring a self-help book, I described the parts of a self-help book. Each of these parts helps you, the author, to take the reader on a journey, keeping them engaged and oriented as they go through a process of transformation (which is why self-help books are often called transformational nonfiction books). When you divide those parts of the self-help book into chapters, you are likely to end up with more than one chapter per part.
Read MoreHOW TO STRUCTURE A SELF-HELP BOOK: PARTS AND CHAPTERS
Writing a self-help book? Start with this structure: Define the problem. Give the history of the problem.
Explain what the reader needs to know before tackling the problem.
Offer an action plan. Expand outward with advice on how to apply the new knowledge and skills in the future, during especially challenging times, and when dealing with others (family, coworkers, community members) who are stuck in old patterns
BOOK TITLES THAT ARE MINDBLOWING: THREE TIPS FOR TITLING YOUR NONFICTION BOOK
“Don’t judge a book by its title”—but that’s what we do when we’re looking at books and considering whether to buy them. A title can make or break your book. Here are three utterly mindblowing tips for titling a nonfiction book. 1. Think holistically. Your title, subtitle, and jacket work together to sell your book. I…
Read More11 LESSONS ON WRITING A BESTSELLER FROM JOHN GRAY’S BLOCKBUSTER HIT MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS
Twenty years ago, I had the honor of being involved in a cultural phenomenon called Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Remember that catchphrase? It came from a mega-best-selling book by relationship counselor John Gray, PhD.
Read MoreWRITE A MEMOIR, NOVELIZATION, OR SELF-HELP BOOK BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCES
Many aspiring authors contact me about help with writing a book based on what they’ve learned as a result of their experiences. They want to help others by sharing their story, wisdom, and advice in a book but don’t know how to start to write a memoir, novelization, or self-help book based on their experiences. I…
Read MoreHOW TO WRITE A SELF-HELP BOOK: STRUCTURING
Many people have enjoyed reading self-help books but when it comes to writing one, they don’t know where to begin. How do you organize the material? What’s the secret to self-help book structuring? It’s taking your reader on a journey from a problem …
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