This morning I\u2019d like to talk to authors about the order of things. <\/p>\n
What is your first step when you decide to write a book? Some of you pick up your journal, after many years of pouring your heart into it, and decide to create a book from your writings. Others sit down and write the story that\u2019s been bouncing around in their heads for decades (or months). Still others compile their blog posts into book form. But how many of you stop to consider your audience in all of this? You know, your potential readers?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m talking to both fiction and nonfiction authors this morning. If you\u2019re writing fiction, you should take into consideration what is selling\u2014what are some of the popular genres? If you have a huge desire to write in an obscure or even undefined genre, it is still important to know who reads the type of books you want to write, what elements are vital to include in your book for this particular audience, the style they are most likely to accept, what turns them off in books of this genre, etc.<\/p>\n
In other words, know the genre you are writing in so well that you can\u2019t help but score with your audience. <\/p>\n
I remind new authors to read what they are writing\u2014I\u2019m particularly adamant about this for children\u2019s book authors. Yet, these authors continue to send me manuscripts that do not conform to the age group they are writing for. They claim they\u2019ve been studying books for their age group, but they often miss the points they most need to focus on.<\/p>\n
Nonfiction authors writing how-to, informational, historical, references, self-help books, also need to study books like the one they propose while considering their audience. Honestly determine if there is a need for this book or is the market saturated with books of this nature? If there are many books on your topic, how can you make yours different\u2014more useful, more informative, etc.? Who is the audience for your book? Is there an audience whose needs in this area are not being met by any other book out there? Is there something you can offer readers that isn\u2019t currently being covered? I suggest holding off on your great book idea until you truly know if it is a great idea with an eager audience. If this means that, in order to attract the right audience, you need to change the focus of your book, then by all means do it! <\/p>\n
What\u2019s the alternative? Producing a book that is of no use of value to anyone. Write the book you want to write without regard for your audience and you could fall into this trap.<\/p>\n
As for memoirs\u2014certainly you plan to tell your story. But there are a variety of ways you could approach it. To help you determine your direction, respond to these questions:<\/p>\n
1: Are you so well-known that a large array of people will enthusiastically seek out a book about your life? (For most of us, the answer is NO.)<\/p>\n
2: Are you such a wonderfully creative storyteller and writer that, with the appropriate marketing techniques you will entice thousands of readers? (For the majority of us, the answer is NO.)<\/p>\n
3: Is there a group of people who would be interested in reading your story of success, failure, health challenges, victimization, or\u2026? (Well, that depends. For the most part, memoirs in every topic have saturated the market.)<\/p>\n
Before writing your memoir, read memoirs by other authors. Consider your audience and ask yourself, \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for them?\u201d That\u2019s what they will ask themselves before they decide to read your book, \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
What do they want? Information, to be entertained, encouragement, guidance, support, a quick and easy way to success, wealth, weight-loss or???<\/p>\n
I hope I have caught you before you finished writing that book on \u201cmy road to recovery,\u201d \u201cmy philosophy on life,\u201d \u201chow I lost weight,\u201d \u201cmy struggle with dyslexia\u201d or \u201cmy dog, Rover.\u201d<\/p>\n
For additional information for authors and a serious education related to the publishing industry, read my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author<\/em>. Amazon.com. or http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This morning I\u2019d like to talk to authors about the order of things. What is your first step when you decide to write a book? Some of you pick up your journal, after many years of pouring your heart into it, and decide to create a book from your writings. Others sit down and write […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t