The best writing comes to life, and then is refined just enough to make it crystal clear. First, give it life.
— Audrey Owen, author of ‘Writer’s Helper’
If you show passion for your subject matter, show real interest in your readers, draw them into your book, and show them how to achieve something important to them, you are off to a great start.
However, if you appear detached and write academically and dispassionately, you run a very real risk of losing your readers. You want to write books that people interact with, write notes in, get a buzz from, recommend on social media, and pass on to friends. To write this kind of book, your interest and passion have to show – not just your interest in your topic, but also your interest in and excitement at seeing others succeed.
LANGUAGE
Take the pressure off by accepting that you don’t need to use impressive-sounding words with three or four syllables. Simple, down-to-earth language is fine. Use strong nouns and action verbs whenever possible.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your book requires corporate-speak. For example, ‘utilise’ is really just ‘use’; ‘conceptualise’ just means ‘imagine’; ‘volition’ means ‘free will’. As for ‘ideation’ and ‘moving the needle’ … just don’t.
Write an interactive book; speak directly to that one preferred reader and say to them, ’Do this, do that, think about this, act on that,’ using clear language. Ask questions to give them time and space to reflect.
DON’T PATRONISE
Make certain that you know who you are writing for and give your audience credit for their current knowledge. Make a decision about the level of competency and understanding your preferred readers already have on your subject and use that as a starting point. Are you writing for a layperson or beginner, rather than an intermediate or elite performer in your space?
COMMON STRUCTURE
It’s important to keep a common structure throughout the chapters in your book, and it’s helpful to break up the text for the reader: title, sub-title, section titles throughout each chapter, breakout quotes, and other features break up large blocks of text and pull your reader in.
VISUALS
If you’re struggling to find a way to get a particular message across, perhaps a simple visual representation will work best. People process information in different ways, so find ways to add these elements if you feel they work for your audience. Your graphic designer will take your amateurish sketches and make them look smart when your pages are done.
STORIES
In The Story Factor, Annette Simmons extols the value of stories in presentations (and books): adding stories or case studies to exemplify key points or inspire others to achieve will draw your audience around you and engage with them directly. The author Lisa Cron has written three books on storytelling, and her most recent one is probably most relevant to non-fiction authors who are writing books to enhance their business and brand: Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade, and Change Minds in Business and in Life (2021)
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This is the tenth of a series of articles taken from the book, ‘Smart Women Publish – Write the book that expands your world’ by Bev Ryan. Each article in this series will present the key ideas in its 15 chapters, from what a book can do for you, through planning, writing, publishing and leveraging your published book.
Bev is a certified non-fiction book coach (including memoir with a message) and book production manager, working with accomplished and interesting people as they write and self-publish their best non-fiction books.
Are you procrastinating or stuck in the planning or writing stages? Contact Bev to find out how she can help you with your book, and your publishing choices.