Five reasons why you should consider writing a book

According to recent surveys, nearly three-quarters of adults would like to write (and publish) a book. And in fact there is no better time than now to start. For most people, the best bet is a nonfiction book based on their experience. There is no doubt that many fiction writers make a lot of money, but it is much more difficult to break into the fiction market than the non-fiction market. People often look for “well-known” authors when buying a fiction book. This does not apply to non-fiction books; they are usually looking for information, or how to solve a particular problem, and are not concerned with who the author is.

Five good reasons why you should consider writing a nonfiction book are as follows.

• It’s no easier to get a book published by a major publisher than it has been in the past, but if you can’t get your book published after trying for a few months, you can easily self-publish it. Desktop publishing is now, in fact, a great option because it’s relatively easy (see my book “You Should Publish a Book”). Now there are programs to set it up on your computer so it looks like a book you’d find in a bookstore. Also, with the internet (particularly Amazon.com) it’s now much easier to sell it yourself.
• It’s a good idea to have some experience in the field or area you plan to write about, but if you’re not sure or run into a problem, you’ve got the Internet. It is, without a doubt, a gold mine of information. You can find information on almost anything with just a few clicks. “But if you can find the information on the Internet, everyone else can,” you say (and it’s free). That’s true, and this is where your expertise comes in: your job is to explain and simplify it, and give advice on it. People still like to get information from someone they trust and prefer all the information to be in one place (like in a book).
• Another reason to write a book is that it gives you a certain amount of prestige and makes you an expert in the area you are writing about. Once you establish yourself as an expert, many new doors will open for you.
• There is also a certain satisfaction in writing a book. It’s a challenge that sharpens your writing skills and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish.
• Last but not least, it can earn you a considerable amount of money in your spare time. In fact, his book could become a “best seller” and make him rich.

So it’s important to remember: If you don’t try, you’ll never know how successful you could have been.