I’ve written 15 books.
Here’s what nobody tells you about writing one.
People think the hard part is writing the book.
It’s not.
The hard part is deciding what the book is actually for.
Most aspiring authors start with a topic.
A vague idea.
Something like:
“I want to write about leadership.”
“I want to write about personal growth.”
“I want to share my experiences.”
Then they start writing.
Six months later, they are still stuck somewhere between Chapter 3 and Chapter 7.
Not because they can’t write.
But because the book has no job to do.
Every book needs a job.
Books are meant to:
• build authority
• attract clients
• clarify your ideas
• open doors to speaking
• create a business
But when a book tries to do everything, it ends up doing nothing.
When I wrote my early books, I didn’t know this either.
I thought writing the manuscript was the finish line.
Now I know something different.
The manuscript is only the beginning.
The real power of a book is not the pages.
It’s the clarity it forces you to create.
Clarity about:
• who you serve
• what problem you solve
• what transformation you offer
Once that becomes clear, the book almost writes itself.
After writing 15 books, this is the one lesson I wish every aspiring author understood:
Don’t start by asking,
“What book should I write?”
Start by asking,
“What should this book do for my reader — and for my life?”
Everything becomes easier after that.
