Three Basic Stages to Writing a Self-help Book

Three Basic Stages to Writing a Self-help Book

Writing a self-help book really can be as simple as A-B-C. By following this simple process you can avoid creating a rambling, confusing tome:

A – Organising and Structuring Your Book

• This part of the process is often rushed and even overlooked all together. But it is actually crucial step that should be given the due consideration it deserves. Thankfully, it is a simple process.
• Give your book a working title – even if you change it later it is important to give it an identity.
• Decide on a topic for your book.
• Write an overview – in other words, state the overall subject you are covering and why you are writing it. Simply write a brief overview of about 300–500 words. This will form your Forward and Introduction.
• Next, define/establish what issues the reader has that are you aiming to solve.
• Then identify the ten main questions your reader will need answered in order to improve their lives.
• Most books have ten chapters and each of these questions will become the format for your book chapters, but you can add more if you like.
• Now, for each question write down as many answers to the questions as you can think of. List these answers as bullet points under each question. Move through each of your chapters/questions in this way until you have outlined all of them.

B – Writing Your Book

• To write a book, all you have to do is expound on each answer to your ten questions. By using various examples, stories, resources and information you will be able to validate your views and make the topic easier for the reader to relate to. Aim to write between 5,000 and 7,000 words for each chapter question. If this feels daunting, simply break it down into a number of words for each answer to the question or bullet point.
• At this stage don’t worry about editing anything – that will come later.

C – Polishing Your Book’s Structure

• With the main element of your book written you are ready to polish and refine the content. Here, you can consider things like changing the chapter titles (questions) into statements. Be creative with your chapter headings but ensure they are clear and concise and support your book title.
• It is at this stage you can choose a more apt title if required. Again, be imaginative. By all means create a catchy title, but don’t make it too ambiguous – it should say on the tin what it is!
• The rest of the process is editing and you’ll have to develop your own strategy for that. Better still, employ the services of a professional editor. At The Writers’ House UK we have an experienced team who can help you ensure your book is of a publishing standard.

If you are determined to write your self-help book and would like to write a quality manuscript in just 90 days, our one-to-one book coaching programme will be ideal. As authors of several self-help books we know what is needed and our coach is ideally qualified to give you skillful guidance.