In this article we go through a list of 9 common writing myths and debunk them – once and for all. Have you been thinking about writing a book for your small business, but… something… keeps getting in the way? Maybe when the kids finish school. Maybe when business slows down a little. Maybe when business picks up a little. Maybe… maybe… maybe…
I’ve been around books, writing and publishing my whole life, so I’ve heard more than my share of people telling me about the book they are going to write… one day. If this is you, I’ve got my debunking hat on and it’s time to listen up.
‘I’d love to write a business book … but what if nobody reads it?’
Work out who your target readers are. Write a good book that will appeal to them. Promote it to them when it’s published. You’ll have readers. I promise.
‘I don’t know enough.’
If you’ve been working in your industry for more than a few years and you’re even halfway competent at what you do, you know enough to write a book about it. When you’re doing something every day it becomes second nature and it’s easy to forget how skilled and knowledgeable you really are. Most authors I talk to who have this concern, after a bit of encouragement, come back a few weeks later with ideas for not one but two or three books.
‘Who am I to write a book?’
Richard Branson was once an unknown teenager selling records from his bedroom. Oprah wasn’t born famous. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were once just oddballs with brilliant ideas. You don’t have to be well-known or even an industry leader to write a book; in fact, writing a book is what can help you achieve these things. If you’re good at what you do and you’re motivated, you have the two key ingredients to write a book.
‘I’m not a very good writer.’
That’s what editors are for. I’ve worked on books that really should have had my name on them too. As long as you can produce something mildly coherent, an editor will take you the rest of the way. Yes, some writers have more talent than others, but you’re not trying to write the next great Australian novel, just something that your readers will find informative and useful.
‘I don’t know how to write a book.’
Get help! Get a writing coach. Do a course. Read a book. Google it. Ask a friend who’s written a book. Writing is a skill just like anything else, and you can learn how to do it.
‘I’ve never written a book before.’
If you never did things you haven’t done before, you’d never do anything!
‘I’m scared.’
When was anything worth doing not a little scary? If you run your own business no doubt you’ve had to conquer many fears before. This is just another one. Be brave and put yourself out there. The rewards can be immense.
‘I don’t have time.’
What this really means is it’s not a high enough priority for you. I work every day with small business authors who are running busy businesses, and with families and lives outside of work. Life is always busy – are you waiting for that magical six weeks when suddenly everything else in your life simultaneously goes quiet and a fairy comes and whispers in your ear, ‘Now is the time to write your book’? You’ll be waiting a while.
‘There’s already lots of books on my topic. Why would anybody read mine?’
Because it’s yours. Nobody has the same take as you on your industry, your products and your services. If you don’t have some unique skills and experiences and some fresh perspectives to bring to what you, you might have bigger issues than whether you should write a book.
Publish Central exists to help authors share their words with readers. We work to the highest design, editing and production standards, and partner with the same people and companies as the major publishers to produce our authors’ books. We have been helping self-publishers for almost 20 years. So if you’re in need of help with self-publishing your book, why not connect with us today and let’s make your dream a reality.
Now, get writing!
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