Years ago, I picked up the best-selling book, What Color is Your Parachute? Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success by Richard Bolles, when I was looking for work and found it. More than a job-hunting book, the book helped me figure out who I was – my passions, valuable traits and what I had to offer -- transferable skills – to land jobs and change careers.
It’s the same way when you’re writing a book. First, you need to get clear on what you’re passionate about, what traits, credentials, experience you have that make you the perfect person to write your book and what you offer, then transfer those skills by writing about it. Say you want to write a book about how to treat anxiety. Your passion, your experience and what you have to offer to your readers is your parachute.
I have a client who wants to write a book about boosting self-esteem, but she said that’s been done. It has been done, but not by her. Her parachute could be that she’s passionate about therapy, has a track record that shows positive results, and wants to help readers improve self-esteem using strategies from a Christian perspective.
What’s Your Parachute? Think about the book you dream of writing and try this:
What are your passions? What gets you excited? What do you believe in? What do you argue for?
What positive traits, experiences or results can help you write your book? Only you can write a book from your perspective.
What can you offer to readers? How can you transfer what you know and believe into a book? What message would you like to send to readers through your book?
Once you get clear about your “parachute,” brainstorm what you want it to cover. Do you want to focus on tips and techniques, strategies or a change in perspective, or all three? Would you like to base your approach on what’s worked for you and/or your clients? Gather resources and make notes about what you want to include under them, things like the method or plan you use with clients or patients that’s getting great results or an approach that you really believe it.
Ultimately, your Table of Contents will contain everything in your parachute. A TOC includes an introduction, often a section about How to Use This Book, chapters and resources. It will help you reach your ideal reader, define what you want to say, and how you want to say it. It will help you determine what approach you want to use or what method or plan that you want to explain so that readers can put it into action.
So today, think about your parachute. Is it yellow, blue, green or red? Think about not only what color it is but what you can offer to readers so that they can transform their lives for the better.
New Book Coaching Packages to Help You Write Your Non-Fiction Book!
Check out Is it a Book? 1:1 Idea Strategy Session to help you define your book idea and why you’re the best person to write it and Is it a Book? The 3-Step Plan to Write Your Nonfiction Book, a deeper dive that will help you define your idea, approach, method or plan and structure (Table of Contents). Both programs will help you move forward and write your book faster and with more clarity, confidence and ease. For more information click here: https://www.chrystlefiedlerbookcoaching.com.
Until Next Time!
Contact me when you’re ready if you need:
1. A book coach to be your editorial guide, support and project manager as you write or re-write your book and/or book proposal.
2. A manuscript evaluation for a big picture, smallest detail overview.
3. A developmental editor to structure your book, and make the text clear, concise, and reader friendly.
4. If you’d like a free copy of my PDF: Is it a Book? The Ten Step Roadmap to Writing Your Best Book sign up for my e-mail list at www.chrystlefiedlerbookcoaching.com.
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