How Books Work: Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men, by Lundy Bancroft
Lundy Bancroft's Why Does He Do That? is a self-help book which has literally saved lives. Here's how he did it--and how you can do it too.
When Self-Help Books Don’t Actually Help
A 2008 study found that many popular self-help books contain these four fatal flaws. Don't let your book be one of them!
Why Did You Cut That?
What's the difference between amateur self-help and spirituality authors and professional ones? Their mastery of one core skill.
What, Why, How: The Three Pillars of Self-Help Writing
Don't submit your self-help book to agents or publishers until you've answered these three questions!
Thinking Beyond the Book
If you’re a self-help author, your book is just one piece of a larger relationship with your audience—a relationship that may also include live or online classes, social media, one-on-one coaching, and in-person workshops and events.
The Elements of Self-Help and Spirituality Writing
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel! Most self-help and spirituality books are made from a small handful of familiar elements, expressed in artful ways.
A Blueprint for Your Self-Help Book’s Introduction
Want to start your self-help or spirituality book off on the right foot? Use my free blueprint to write a powerful and compelling introduction.
A Day in the Life of a Self-Help and Spirituality Ghostwriter
Whether it’s interviewing a shaman or researching Buddhist philosophy, a day in the life of a self-help and spirituality ghostwriter is filled with variety.
How Books Work: Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay
Mira Kirschenbaum’s Too Good to Leave, Too Bad To Stay is a beautiful example of laying out a compelling pain point and promise. If you’re writing a self-help book, you can do the same!
How Books Work: The Shaman’s Path to Freedom, by don Jose Ruiz
You can use personal stories effectively in your self-help or spirituality book by linking them to key concepts. don Jose Ruiz does this beautifully in The Shaman’s Path to Freedom.
The Pain Point and the Promise #3: Raising the Stakes
What does your reader stand to lose if they don’t solve the problem your self-help book addresses? What do they stand to gain if they do? Identifying the stakes supercharges your reader’s motivation.
The Pain Point and the Promise, #2
How broad or narrow should your self-help book’s pain point be? The answer to this question depends on your target audience and your unique qualifications as an author.
The Pain Point and the Promise
Identifying a compelling pain point and promise is the number one secret to writing a great self-help or spirituality book.
The Ethical Self-Help Author, #3
Readers turn to self-help and spirituality books because they want to believe in something. As a highly ethical self-help author, it’s essential to put care into how you shape those beliefs.
The Ethical Self-Help Author, #2
Want to write a great self-help or spirituality book? Back up your advice with quality research, and carefully consider the implications of the guidance you give your readers.
The Ethical Self-Help Author, #1
Self-help and spirituality authors wield tremendous influence over their readers—and should consider these guidelines for wielding that influence responsibly.
Self-Help Stumbling Blocks and How to Overcome Them #5: Too Generic
If your self-help or spirituality book feels too generic, chances are you need to tap more deeply into your personal connection to the topic.
Self-Help Stumbling Blocks and How to Overcome Them #4: Insufficient Materials
If you find yourself running out of material for your self-help, psychology, or spirituality book, you may need to expand your book’s scope.
Self-Help Stumbling Blocks and How to Overcome Them #3: Missing Pain Point
If your self-help, psychology, or spirituality book doesn’t have a clear pain point, readers will look elsewhere for help with their problems.
Self-Help Stumbling Blocks and How to Overcome Them #2: Overgeneralizing From Your Own Experience
Overgeneralizing from your own experience can make your self-help or psychology book feel too limited in its applicability. Broadening your scope can help.