What makes a good book? It’s a question many authors ask themselves. There are many factors which influence the overall quality of a book, but today let’s focus on the content of your book. Change the question to what stories/experiences/ideas make a good book.
Become CLEAR on your message
Over the years Colleen and I have shared the importance of having a CLEAR message. In order for your message to be CLEAR, it’s important for you to:
- Be Concise
- Use the proper Language
- Edit your writing
- Understand your Audience
- Read, Read, Read
But let’s look a little more closely at your message. In order for your book’s message to be CLEAR, knowing the what behind your message is important.
What? Exactly.
One of the most fundamental points all writers need to understand is the what behind their book. There are three big, “What’s,” to ask ourselves when we are writing our book:
- What do I want?
- What do I do?
- What am I tolerating:
What do I want?
This seems like a simple question but when we take the time to really dig deep answering, “What do I want?” can be difficult. First off, there are some superficial answers like I want more money or I want a nicer house. While not technically incorrect, if we take some time to dig deeper we come up with answers to “what.” For example, we might answer with: I want to help other people share their story, or I want to empower others who have gone through situations similar to me. When we know what we want to do, we can make our story better.
What do I do?
If you are a business owner, you know what you do. If you’re a new author this question can take longer to answer. We take a holistic approach to assist people writing a book, and we work with authors making sure they not only have a story but they can also work their story into their business. No matter what genre or topic your book covers, it’s important to remember your book is a business. Are you a children’s author? Maybe you can create a reading advocacy group for students. If your story is about healing, you might be able to offer a coaching program. Every well-told story has a reader who is looking for and helps them find the answers.
What am I tolerating?
What are you tolerating in life, in work, and in writing? Every toleration you face takes you away from your productivity as a writer and a business person. If you tolerate a messy desk, clean it up! Maybe you tolerate a crazy schedule; if so, find a way to be more organized. We suggest sitting down and creating a list of everything you tolerate. You don’t have to tackle all of what you tolerate right now, but you find the time to make changes. When you rid yourself of what you tolerate you will be more free to focus on what matters, your book.
What is what makes a book good!
After taking the time to understand what you want, what you do, and what you tolerate you will be more free to focus on writing the best book you can. Having a clear mind and clear goals helps you create a CLEAR message. When you have a CLEAR message you can feel confident to know what makes a book good.
If you would like to learn more about how we can work with you to make your book the best it can be, you can sign up for a complimentary strategy session with Colleen and Peter.
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