Worried you’re not enough of an expert to write your book? That’s okay. You don’t need to be the annoying expert who knows it all. There’s another—far more effective—approach you can take when talking to readers. So, let’s talk about why being an expert doesn't (always) matter when writing a book.

Start with this: What do you think I want from you? What do any of us want from any interaction with another human being?

Entertainment. Information. Compassion. Right?

Seriously, think about it.

What are you looking for when you have a chit-chat with your partner in the kitchen, or get talking to a new acquaintance at one of those awkward networking sessions, or sit down next to Auntie Edna at your cousin’s daughter’s wedding?

I bet you do NOT want to hear Auntie Edna brag about how her kids are sooooooo great, so accomplished, and so much better than your kids.

Shut up, Auntie Edna.

 

In your book, no one wants to hear how you’re the be-all, bestest-ever, super-dooper, way-better-than-them savior of humankind. It’s as annoying as Auntie Edna after a glass-and-a-half of chardonnay.

Readers DO want some assurance you know what you’re talking about, and they wanna sense they can trust you. But you don’t have to brag about being the best for that.

A much more effective route is to entertain, inform, and show compassion.

Imagine Auntie Edna polishing off her second glass of wine at the wedding reception, and leaning in to share some juicy stories about your cousin’s escapades at his new job, then quietly informing you of her daughter’s impending divorce (so you don’t put your foot in it by asking how the hubby is). Picture her gently asking how you’re feeling after those rough few months you’ve had, while she tops up your own wine glass.

How do you feel about Auntie Edna now? We like her better, right?

Bucketloads of humanity

If you don’t feel like you’re “expert enough” to write your book, that’s okay. You don’t need to be the annoying expert who knows it all.

You need to be human.

Entertaining.

Informative.

Compassionate.

I assume that even without being “an expert,” you still have something to say—something you suspect others will benefit from. So share that with bucket-loads of humanity, and you’ll be just fine.

Shifting the spectrum

This approach will shift your book from:

“Do this! Then do that! Listen to the expert!”

to

“Let’s have a chat. I want to share something with you.”

It shifts it down the spectrum from strict self-help to being a little (or a lot) more memoir-y. Conversational. Story sharing.

The brilliant thing is… you get to choose how far down the spectrum you go. You can choose to position yourself:

  • As the authority standing on stage, giving an epic, powerful Ted Talk.

  • As the admired teacher in a small classroom setting, guiding students by the hand.

  • As the trusted friend sitting at the dining table, chatting over a cup of tea and whispering heartfelt advice.

Or anywhere in between.

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.

In this 90-minute class, you’ll discover:

  • The real reason publishers—and readers—want you to choose a category.

  • How choosing one definitive category can actually improve your book.

  • A reliable technique for ensuring writing about yourself doesn’t come across as self-indulgent.

  • The one key question to ask yourself, so you can determine how much of your story to include.

  • The sneaky way to write exactly what you want, so you can choose a category without having to compromise.

Click here to learn more and register. We’ll be doing a Q&A session at the end, and I can’t wait to hear your questions.

Thanks,

Liz “Let’s Do This” Green
Editor, Book Coach, and Ghostwriter
Green Goose Writing


P.S. Click here to register now for the Memoir or Self-Help? writing class. It’s just $25, and it’s on May 31, 2023 at 1pm Eastern. There’ll be a recording if you can’t make it live (but only if you register in advance).

 
 

You might also like…

My top tip to stop your book being whiny and self-indulgent

I know you. You are NOT the next star of Desperate Housewives. Or a Kardashian in the making. You ain’t sitting around thinking, Meeeeeeee! Everyone look at me! Listen to me! I’m so great! Yet… you DO want to share a bit of your story. You have something to say that you think might help others. So, how do you write a book that talks about your experiences without sounding whiny, self-indulgent, or braggy? Read more…

The secret to deciding what type of book to write

What if you don’t know what you want to write? I mean, you have an idea. But should it be a self-help guide? A memoir? A practical how-to book? A thought-provoking mindset discussion? There are a thousand ways to present your idea. What type of book should YOU write? Read more…