What if your life is NOT interesting? What if you’re kind of a bore? You want to write a book because you have something interesting to share about your work, a technique or methodology, or whatever, but it’s THE THING that’s interesting, not you. So how do you write a book without talking about you?
Because everyone keeps blabbering on, insisting you have to tell stories about yourself when you write.
But you’re not interesting. Or maybe you just don’t want to air all your dirty laundry with the world.
What do you do?
I got ya, friend.
There’s a spectrum
In my last few posts, I talked about there being a spectrum between memoir and self-help.
Memoir is all about a person—a time or a subject in their life. Self-help is exactly what it says on the can—it helps the reader help themselves.
If memoir is alllllllllll the stories, then self-help is allllllll the advice. The tips. The how-to. It’s the “do this, then do that!”
The best self-help books DO include stories about the author or other people, and how they use (or don’t use) the advice. This is because us silly humans like little stories. They help us remember stuff.
But hear me when I say: Self-help is not ALL story.
It’s gotta be HELPFUL first and foremost.
Slide towards self-help
So if you:
Are shy of telling stories about yourself,
Think you’re boring, or
Simply don’t like the idea of airing your dirty laundry
Try sharing your idea in a self-help-y way.
Slide it down the spectrum from memoir (all about the stories) to self-help (all about the advice).
You get to choose how far down the spectrum you go. You can be super prescriptive (the term we writing biz folks use for something that gives very clear directions), or not. You get to choose.
Figure out your place
If you want to learn more about the spectrum of self-help to memoir and how to choose where your book will sit on that sliding scale, come to the writing class I’m teaching this month.
Memoir or Self-Help?
Clear guidance on how to choose your book category, improve your writing, and ensure you help others
Understanding the memoir and self-help categories can help you write with confidence, connect with readers, and create a powerful, meaningful book you’re proud of. The key is to understand the expectations, so you can make an empowered choice about if and how you’ll meet them.
This 90-minute class is just $25, and you’ll receive a worksheet to help you apply the teaching to your book idea. By the end of our time together, you’ll be clear about which type of book you’re writing, how you’ll meet the category’s expectations—or not, and how much of your story to include.
We’ll end with a Q&A session, so you can get answers about your specific book idea and confidently move forward writing your memoir or self-help book.
BUT YOU MUST REGISTER HERE TO GET YOUR SEAT (and the recording, if you can’t make it live).
Can’t wait to speak to you.
Thanks,
Liz “I’ll Show You the S-S-Slide” Green
Editor, Book Coach, and Ghostwriter
Green Goose Writing
P.S. Still not sure if you should be there?
This writing class is FOR YOU if:
You’re a new writer who wants to share your experience and help others.
You’re an established writer struggling with a book idea or work-in-progress that includes elements of your own experience.
You’ve been through a big life experience, and now want to pay it forward by sharing what you’ve learned with others.
You’re a business owner, executive, coach, or leader who wants to share your work with a larger audience.
You want to leave a legacy through a book.
Register here.
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