Quick Summary
We spend so much time looking for answers, we rarely stop to think if we’re asking the right questions.And sometimes we don’t know which questions to ask at all…
Which makes sitting down to write a book almost impossible.
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Knowing what questions to ask when you start to write your book is the hardest part…
We spend so much time looking for answers, we rarely stop to think if we’re asking the right questions.
And sometimes we don’t know which questions to ask at all…
Which makes sitting down to write a book almost impossible.
I hear lots of reasons for not writing a book, but one common one is that people don’t know what to focus on. What story to tell.
These would-be authors would love to get on with it, but they’re not ready yet because they don’t know quite what to write about. And they don’t ask for help writing their book because they believe they need to have their Big Idea all worked out first — but that’s not the way these things work.
Figuring out what to write about is often the hardest part — and it’s the part you should ask for help with.
When business owners come to me for help writing a book, I don’t expect them to have perfect clarity about the book they want to write; not yet.
Coming up with the right Big Idea alone is tricky — we’re too close to what we do, and we have lots of good ideas we want to write about. Knowing which is the best one to start with, and why, is easier if you have help.
Ask The Tough Questions
What most people need help with, right at the start, is the questions they need to ask. We start in bewilderment and move on from there.
The world receives sub-par books when a writer has only a vague idea of what they want to write about, and just dives in, without enough thought and definitely without asking enough questions. They ramble, they waffle, and you never really know what the point of the book is. I don’t want that to happen to you.
If you’re thinking of writing a book, and you’re struggling to get started because you’re unsure of exactly what to write, start with these three questions.
1. Why do you want to write a book at all?
What’s your goal? How will this book link into what you and your business do? How does it fit into your longer-term plans?
If you want to write a book only to tick off another chore on your marketing list, or solely as a glorified business card, I’d argue that you shouldn’t bother. The world has enough naff books; it doesn’t need another.
But if you have a deeper purpose in mind, and you genuinely believe your book will help people as well as grow your business, have at it.
Think carefully about this. It’s important. When you understand why you want to write a book, it’ll be much easier to get started.
2. What can you do better or more easily than anyone else?
Think beyond your core skill or service — what is it about what you offer that makes you different? How do you do what you do? Why do you do it that way? What problem does it solve for people, and why is it better?
If you can distil this message into paper and ink, in such a way that you’ll be able to help many more people than just your in-person clients, you’ll be off to a great start.
3. What do you want people to be able to do be, do, have when they’ve finished reading your book?
This is the most important question of all because it gives your Big Idea a clear purpose. Everything you write will lead to the action you want your reader to take after they’ve finished your book. How do you envision your reader changing as they make their way through your story?
Why is this important to you?
If you can answer these three questions, you’ll get some clarity on what your book will be about.
These questions will lead you to more specific questions — and that’s good. Don’t get disheartened if answering them throws up more queries; answer those, too, and narrow your Big Idea down into something worth writing about.
The more questions you ask and answer about your book, your business, and how you help your clients, the closer you’ll get to your Big Idea and the closer you’ll get to writing a book that matters.
Want to start writing your book? Start here…⬇⬇
Start Writing Your Book Today
If you want to learn more about how to write, self-publish, and market a book for your business, snaffle yourself a copy of How The Hell Do You Write A Book? Then check out the blog and podcast for more articles and guides. If you want a little (or a lot) more help, find out how you can work with me.
About Vicky…
Vicky Fraser is the founder of Moxie Books and author of How The Hell Do You Write A Book and Business For Superheroes. She helps business owners write life-changing books, connect with readers and new customers, and grow their businesses. When she’s not doing that, she’s hanging from a trapeze by her feet.
