#9 in "Letters from Winnie" Series

In no particular order – the ninth of several pieces representing (often composite) correspondence-advice I've written to potential book-related clients over the years, with each "article" here representing one particular situation.

This one – some thoughts on doing a self-help/motivational book.

(I have reproduced no clients' emails to?me?– and have removed all identifying factors from my own letters to them; also, some letters are composites.)

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?? 2020 Letter from Winnie

"Hi______________"

?? "...Following up on our convo?– but yes, for a lower book fee I'd expect the author to do or provide a lot of research, much as I love to do it myself!

Here's an example of what I mean by "research material." For one book I did with an author, I was using a lot of the following, which she had given me:

Seven or 8 audio files, ranging in length from 20 min. to 1 hr, of the author interviewing certain people/experts for her book (and one of the tapes as the author herself, telling me her story). I used that material both for general content, and for quotes throughout the book.

?? It was quite a lot of work for me to deal with (but would have been even more work if I'd had to interview and transcribe these people myself!).

As the interview/conversation files had been done, I now had plenty of available material to work with (though it still created a certain amount of work for me as writer and coordinator!).

The author also had given me what amounted to dozens of published studies, articles, a few published books etc., all containing material that could be useful for the book. I went through all that material and used some of it in my writing of the book. I also found some of my own sources and books, and sent those suggestions to the author.

?? So all of that is a kind of example of the "resources" that might be used for a self-help book. They help give a book credibility and "authority." However, an author also should get proper permission to use material from other sources?– and that can take time?– and money! (i.e., there's often a lot of red tape involved, and you might have to pay quite handsomely for the privilege of using the info).

Anything you are using – you properly should have permission to do so, as there are legal ramifications.

Perhaps the first thing to do is decide the type of book you'd like to do?– and if it will need a lot of "throughout" and "backup" research like the above. One thing you might be able to do is interview people?– friends/colleagues?– for experiences that could be an interesting part of the book.

And of course it can be "anonymous." People (readers) like to read about other people's experiences, and compare them to their own.

?? Or?– we could do what I described as a "business fable" or "motivational novel" – it's actually a work of fiction, with a main character, and other characters, going through interesting experiences and challenges to arrive at a "resolution." Most of these novels are set in a biz scenario (office etc.) - and we learn a lot about biz processes, conflicts, solutions etc. – in an interesting way.

Business fables, motivational novels and self-motivational novels are quite popular – just look up those terms to find some examples. And often they do take place in at least partly a work setting (which is part of what life is!), but not necessarily.

?? Anyway, a motivational novel, a fiction self-help book, obviously doesn't depend so heavily on sources, resources, copyright issues, getting permission, etc.?– it's a more "relaxed" and even "fun" way to do it?– though there's still a lot of work?– sometimes more!?– in creating characters and a believable story. But it's a great option, and also could help to lift your book out of an enormous, crowded publishing marketplace genre of "tell-all/self-help/motivational" books.

My suggestion for you is to find and look at some motivational novels (easy to find excerpts on Amazon etc., or download the e-book or get it from the library, etc.) and see how these fiction authors handle a biz challenge and process, advice, etc. in their books.

Also, look at some regular non-fiction self-help books, and see how much (or not) the author has used sources and resources, both within the book, and listed in footnotes/end-notes at the back of the book. Often it's several pages of listed resources! (And that level of complexity is another reason why some authors prefer to do a fictional biz fable :)

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?? In any case, your book has some tough competition out there, with all the kinds of motivational books. You should always think that a reader may be going through your book and think, "Well, what makes ____________ think she's qualified to give me this advice??" And be prepared to answer it (and I'm sure your social-service work gives you some credibility), or do another book that will be more credible, or in some other format, like fiction. And in that case, think of a reader thinking, "Why should I read on?"

Hope this all gives you something to think about. You want to also always be sure that you don't set yourself up as being "liable"?– whether it's in plagiarizing someone else's copyrighted work (which I'm sure you wouldn't do!), or using sources and quotes of other authors or experts without permission?– or a chart, photograph or illustration without getting the go-ahead to do so, etc., etc.

It's one thing to use such materials if you're doing a review of something, or some kind of sample work, or on social media, but for a published book, you may have to spend as much time over the permissions business as with the writing endeavour!

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?? Lots to think about when doing a self-help book?– or any book! But there's no hurry?– just take your time and think over everything I've sent you. The above-mentioned stuff is something I try to guide all authors through (which partly accounts for my fee?– I'm not just writing or editing a book ;)

And again, keep in mind the other options I'd suggested, whether doing a combo memoir-and-motivational book, or a motivational novel in itself, etc. OR maybe a thoughtful, semi-humorous book about the ___________ profession/world! (which a lot of people might not know about). And again, it can be combined with memoir, or not.

We need to decide and plan out how this book will be done, not just start writing and "add to" what is already there. It needs to be a stunner, and a smart and savvy one!

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?? And as we focus on the type of book it will be, we'll then know what resources/ sources we need to gather for it, and how we'll use them (e.g, a motivational novel may use some research sources, but that kind of info can be woven naturally into the story setting, and is not likely to leave you liable for anything ;)

And BTW, I do have a background in writing fiction (though not motivational novels) – I began my career writing motivational, transformational, family and love stories for UK women's and teens' magazines in the 1980s!

I've always "kept up" on fiction, both short fiction in mags, and novels of all kinds...including the relatively-new motivational novel, which I often advise on, and post about. So maybe it's an option!

"Look forward to talking again soon..."

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