Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and writing a book is no exception!
The biggest reason healthcare practitioners, coaches, or any entrepreneur often avoids writing the book they’ve been dreaming about isn’t down to lack of time or knowledge, but the fear of not being a good enough writer.
Well, I’m here to tell you that to be a successful author, you don’t need to be the greatest writer; you just need an idea and to follow these 5 proven tips.
#1 Start With a Plan
Outlines are essential in the writing process; a vague idea of what to write about is not enough. Outlines provide focus and a clear vision of what it is you want to tell, inspire, teach, or show your reader.
Start by putting yourself in your readers’ shoes. Make a note of the top 10 things you think you would need to know about that topic if you were the reader.
Then break those top 10 topics down into key outcomes and stories, metaphors or case studies, which highlight the key outcome for the reader on that topic. Keep the structure to bullet points at this stage. Don’t overwhelm yourself by ‘writing’ the book here. Just create the ‘map.’
Your outline doesn’t need to be overly comprehensive but having one will provide you with the structure and motivation you need to keep on track and to the point.
#2 Understand Your Reader, Then Speak to Them
Understanding your audience puts you in a better position to create content that is completely tailored to their needs.
Who is your reader? What life or health-related problems do they face? How can you use your expertise to help them overcome these problems? What are their greatest fears, hopes and dreams? What are the 10 ‘must know’ answers they need to achieve their desired outcome? Asking yourself these questions can give you some much-needed clarity about what your reader needs to know.
People connect with people, so think of your book as a conversation between you and your reader and remember that they and you are human, you’re not robots, so use stories to relate to them, not just facts and research!
#3 Keep it Simple
Have you ever started reading a book for enjoyment only to find that it felt more like a school textbook? If you’re anything like me, I bet you didn’t read it for long!
Nobody wants to feel like they’ve been transported back to their school days, where reading often felt like a chore. You want your audience to enjoy your book. As tempting as it may be, try not to get caught up in jargon, hard to understand words; you’ll isolate your reader, and instead of helping them, leave them more confused than when they started!
Instead, use simple terms and phrases that anyone can understand to get your point and teachings across in the clearest way possible.
#4 Back up Anecdotes with Fact-Based Evidence
As a healthcare practitioner or coach, chances are you have many case studies, be it through self-reflection or helping your clients or patients.
There’s no doubt that anecdotal evidence is invaluable when it comes to creating engagement and rapport with your reader, stories are imperative to relate to the reader, but remember to cater to all kinds of learners. Some readers need the facts. Backing-up these success-stories of how your teachings and solutions have transformed a client’s life with hard-hitting, proven facts and statistics can give the more scientific or analytical reader (and you) the credibility needed to turn you into an industry leader.
#5 Set Goals & Stick to Them
Who here hasn’t fallen prey to the mesmerizing, yet detrimental, effects of procrastination?
Procrastination, the avoidance of doing something that needs to be done, is part of being human. Often, the reason people procrastinate isn’t down to laziness, but instead, an underlying fear of failure and lack of knowing what the next step should be.
As an unpublished or soon-to-be self-published author, you may feel that your work isn’t up to standard, or perhaps have an internal battle going on about ‘who are you to write a book.’
It’s important to remember that every health practitioner or coach has their own unique way of helping others. If everyone were the same, life would get a little boring! You will have your unique spin on sharing your message.
So how do we avoid walking right into this trap of procrastination? We can start by setting goals and asking for help when you feel stumped about the next best move.
Breaking down a large task (like writing your book) into smaller, more achievable sub-tasks makes the process a whole lot easier. Try sticking to a certain word-count per day, or completing the draft of one chapter a week, whatever it is, make sure it works for you and your schedule.
Are you an established coach or practitioner who wants to take their reputation, credibility, and success to the next level?
Take a look at my UNLEASHED Mentoring Program, where I provide you with the first steps and personalised support, skills, and strategies required to shift both you and your business to the level of success you have been dreaming of!
Connect with other like-minded practitioners and coaches who also want to step up, start growing your social media profile and email list, and prepare for the exciting next stage of your career!
Can’t stop thinking about finally writing that book? Drop me a message to find out all about my exclusive Get Published Online Event – you don’t want to miss it!
To Your Potential
Maggie Wilde – The Potentialist
CEO and Editor-in-chief – Mind Potential Publishing
support@mindpotentialpublishing.com
+61 405 138 567