What Problem is Your Reader Trying to Solve?

"A book is not about something. It’s for someone."-- AJ Harper, Write a Must-Read Book

When it comes to writing a nonfiction book on a health and wellness topic, the problem is the most important part.

No problem, no book.

If you’re not solving a problem or pain point for the reader, you’re talking to yourself. 

So, the problem comes first. Your idea for your book is how you’ll solve the problem. 

This means that you need to know your ideal reader. Who is she? How old is she? What problem is she trying to solve? Does she have:

·         Chronic pain

·         Stress

·         Anxiety

·         Depression

·         Allergies

·         Chronic Fatigue

·         Lyme Disease

·         Or something else? 

Is she new to this problem? Or has she been trying to solve it for years? Does she believe in alternative or conventional medicine?

Your idea is how you’ll solve her problem. That’s what you’ll write about in your book.

So, if someone has a problem with chronic pain: 

· You might address this problem by giving readers relief through mental, physical, and emotional strategies and spiritual support. The idea/title is: Mind-Body-Soul Relief for Chronic Pain.

· Or you might focus on natural remedies to give readers relief. The idea/title is: Natural Remedies for Chronic Pain.

· Or you may want to use your personal story about chronic pain to inform your approach and tell readers what worked for you. The idea/title is: My Journey Through and Beyond Chronic Pain.

What’s Your Solution?

For most self-help and health and wellness books, your solution is your method, plan, approach or program. Day after day, you’re working with clients or patients and seeing the same problem whatever that may be. Over time, you’ve devised a method or plan that gives them relief. 

The Very Useful Aspects of Your Method or Plan

When it comes to writing a book, you’ll use this method or plan to structure your book. From the introduction to THE END, you’ll take them on a journey that will transform their pain (solve the problem) so that they feel better. If your book is well-thought out, well-written and you get it in the hands of your ideal reader, you can have a successful book.

What’s Your Problem?

We’ve looked at your ideal reader’s pain point. What’s yours? If you're having trouble starting and finishing your book, I can help you define your ideal reader along with your idea, method or plan and structure to make writing and revising your book easier. You, like your reader, will experience relief. Whew! And you’ll be able to hold your book in your hands and share it with the world. 

What problems do you solve for readers, writers, clients or patients? Please leave a comment below. 

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.