Quantum Leaps in Storytelling: Elevate Your Sci-Fi Novel Game

Writing a compelling science fiction novel is all about blending imagination with thoughtful world-building, engaging characters, and thought-provoking themes. Whether you’re exploring distant galaxies or envisioning futuristic technologies, here are some tips to help you craft a standout science fiction story:

1. Build a Consistent and Believable World
   Science fiction often involves creating entire universes, but no matter how outlandish your setting, it needs to be consistent. Think about the rules that govern your world, from politics to technology to social structures. Every element should make sense within the framework you’ve built, even if it’s fantastical!

2. Blend Science with Imagination
   The best sci-fi books balance real science with speculative ideas. While you don’t need to be a scientist, grounding your story in plausible science (or a logical extension of current science) can make your world more immersive. At the same time, don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild – sci-fi is about exploring the "what ifs."

3. Focus on Human (or Alien) Nature
   At its heart, great sci-fi is about the human (or alien) experience, often set against futuristic backdrops. How does technology shape human relationships? What moral dilemmas arise from technological advancements? Even in space, characters should feel real, with motivations and emotions that readers can connect with.

4. Incorporate Thought-Provoking Themes
   Sci-fi excels at exploring big questions – about humanity, society, technology, and the future. Consider how your story might explore themes like ethics, artificial intelligence, or environmental sustainability. Use your narrative to ask questions and challenge assumptions, but always tie these big ideas back to your characters’ journeys.

5. Create a Strong Plot with Stakes
   Even in the most “out of this world” settings, your plot should have clear stakes. Whether it’s saving the world, navigating a personal crisis, or resolving an intergalactic conflict, ensure that the tension builds throughout the story. Sci-fi is all about exploration, but without stakes, your story could feel aimless.

6. Use Technology as a Tool, Not a Crutch
   While gadgets and futuristic inventions are staples of sci-fi, they shouldn’t overshadow your characters or story. Technology should serve the plot or theme, not distract from it. Make sure your focus is on how the technology impacts the people and world around it, rather than just showing off inventions.

7. Don’t Forget the Human Element
   Sci-fi can sometimes feel like it’s all about the futuristic setting or mind-bending concepts, but the best sci-fi novels are grounded in the human (or sentient) condition. Your readers should care about the characters and their struggles, whether they’re fighting off alien invaders or trying to make sense of their place in a rapidly changing world.

Writing science fiction gives you the freedom to explore new worlds, technologies, and ideas, but it’s the human stories within those worlds that truly make your novel stand out. So embrace the endless possibilities and dive into the unknown!

Selecting a Self-Publisher: A Guide for Authors

Here is an author question I received: I also always hear agents and editors saying that self-publishing is a bad choice for writers like me. I’ve heard stories in the news about self-published authors who have made it big, though – what about E.L. James?

Self-publishing can be such a heated topic to talk about.  Authors feel like the underdog no matter what, and that is understandable. The most important thing to remember is that you need to be an informed consumer. No matter which type of publishing you decide to pursue – traditional or self – you need to keep in mind that you will be a very small fish in a VERY large pond.  You just have to decide which pond you want to be in.

If your book has a very “niche” topic (i.e. “Growing Chrysanthemums in North Dakota” or “Tuning Your 1984 Steinway Piano”) or would attract a smaller audience (i.e. a collection of your grandfather’s barbecue recipes or a collection of letters sent between you and your husband) self-publishing is definitely  the best option for you. If you are a professional speaker and are planning on selling your book in the back of the room, self-publishing might be the best option for you, too. If you are prepared to spend every waking moment of your life on marketing and promotion, self-publishing might be a good choice for you as well.

However, you need to make sure you understand what you are getting into. Lots of self-publishing companies promise authors many things that they are unable to deliver on. No one can make you a New York Times bestseller, unless they are personally planning on buying thousands and thousands of copies of your book. They may advertise your book, but it may be in a teeny tiny ad with several other books. Just as you would want to choose the best agent for yourself, you want to make sure you choose the best self-publishing company for yourself.

You need to also keep in mind that the reason you heard about a self-published author hitting the big time is because it is a newsworthy – meaning if this happened all the time, you would not be hearing about it on the news.  Most self-published authors sell fewer than 50 books in their whole lifetimes.

So ask yourself – what do you think you need help with, when it comes to publishing? Is your book ready to publish, and all you want to do is get it uploaded and into the digital hands of readers? Or do you want a bit more hand-holding, with assistance in connection with editing, cover design, etc.?

To get you started, here is a list Reedsy put together of some of the best self-publishing companies to work with: https://blog.reedsy.com/best-self-publishing-companies/

When you have some contenders, you will also want to make sure you read up on the reputations of those companies. Websites like Predators and Editors (https://pred-ed.com/) and Writers Beware (https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/) are great places to start.

The steps to self-publishing are:

·      Write the book

·      Edit the book

·      Design the cover and layout

·      Publish

·      Market the heck out of your book

You can hire help for every one of those steps, both on your own and though the self-publishing company. (Most self-publishing companies have freelancers working for them who can help you with your editorial and design needs, for example.)

Curious as to how much everything might cost? Reedsy has another great resource on that: https://blog.reedsy.com/cost-to-self-publish-a-book/

Do you have a self-publishing success story to share? Or some great advice for newbies? Feel free to comment below.

To you and your book!

How to Build Suspense in Your Thriller Novel

Suspense is the lifeblood of any thriller. It keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to turn the next page. But how do you build that heart-pounding tension and keep your audience hooked? Here are some tips to master the art of suspense in your thriller: 

Create High Stakes

For suspense to truly resonate, your story needs high stakes. What will happen if the protagonist fails? Whether it’s a life-or-death situation, a personal loss, or a societal collapse, the consequences of failure should feel significant. The higher the stakes, the more invested readers will become in the outcome.

Master Pacing

Suspense thrives on pacing. Vary the speed of your scenes – slow down for moments of reflection or building tension, then speed up during moments of action or revelation. Short, punchy sentences during high-stakes scenes can create urgency, while longer passages can allow the tension to simmer before the next big twist.

Foreshadow and Drop Clues

Foreshadowing is a key tool for building suspense. Dropping small clues and hints about future events creates an underlying tension that keeps readers anticipating what will happen next. Just be careful not to give away too much too soon – keep them guessing!

Unreliable Narrators and Deception

An unreliable narrator can add layers of suspense, as readers can’t fully trust what they’re being told. Whether your protagonist is keeping secrets or misinterpreting events, this sense of uncertainty will leave readers questioning everything and craving more information.

Introduce Red Herrings

Throw in a few curveballs! Red herrings keep readers on their toes and make them second-guess their theories. Introduce suspects, motives, or events that seem important, only to reveal later that they were distractions. This keeps the suspense high as readers try to figure out what’s really going on.

Use Cliffhangers

Ending chapters (or scenes) with a cliffhanger is a tried-and-true method for building suspense. A character in danger, a mysterious discovery, or an unexpected twist will have readers rushing to the next page to see what happens.

Control the Reveal

Don’t give everything away at once. Keep secrets from your readers until the perfect moment to reveal them. The more you withhold and tease, the more suspense you create. Time your reveals to maximize the emotional impact and drive the plot forward.

Thrillers are all about building tension, creating uncertainty, and giving readers just enough to keep them hooked – but never enough to let them relax. Master the art of suspense, and you’ll have readers hanging on to every word!

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Writing an Awesome Query Letter

When you are pitching your book project to literary agents, the first thing you will send over is a query letter. With this letter (usually an email, but in letter form), you are “querying” to see if they would be interested in hearing more about you and your book. Your query letter introduces them to your book, the potential readers of your book, and you and your qualifications as an author.

To begin with, query letters should not be longer that a single page, single spaced.  (Usually less than 450 words, but the number of words is less important than the quality of them.)

Now let’s get into the structure:

The intro, or “housekeeping” – Your book’s genre, word count (if you’re writing fiction), and title.  You can also personalize this section by explaining why you are reaching out to this particular agent/editor.  While this section is necessary to pass along specific information, you can also inject a bit of flair here.

The “hook” – A description of your story, major plotlines, and character development.  Usually about 150-300 words.  Who is your main character?  What journey is she on?  If you’re writing a nonfiction book, present your main argument and supporting ideas. is not supposed to be a summary of every single thing – that you can be saved for the synopsis.

The bio – An introduction to you, and any relevant information that speaks to your qualities as a writer.  (If you have an MFA, mention it, but if you are a retired FBI agent and are writing a thriller, your job history is absolutely relevant.)  Mention any publication credits, special research you’ve done (if you spent a year in the jungle and your book is set in the rainforest, for example), and any major awards you’ve won.

The closing – your thank you.

Make sure that you do your research, both for the agents/editors to whom you are going to send your book, and how they want to receive your book (this information is generally on the agency/company’s website).  Some agents want you to send your first 30 pages immediately, some want to request it based on your query.  Depending on the size of the company you are reaching out to, hundreds of queries might be received every day.  Don’t risk having yours ignored just because you send an unsolicited attachment.

Questions about pitching your project? Think you’re ready to start querying? Let me know in the comments below.

Setting Good vs. Bad Writing Goals: A Quick Guide for Authors

As authors, setting goals is essential to keep us on track and motivated. But not all writing goals are created equal! The difference between good and bad goals can make or break your productivity and growth as an author.

Bad Writing Goals:

❌ "Write 5,000 words every day." – Unrealistic and unsustainable. Consistency is key, but this kind of pressure can lead to burnout.

❌ "Finish my novel in a month." – While it's great to have a target, focusing on completion at the expense of quality can lead to rushed, unfinished work.

❌ "Become a bestselling author - immediately." – Success takes time. It’s important to focus on the journey, not just the destination.

Good Writing Goals:

✅ "Write 500 words a day, five days a week." – Achievable and consistent. It allows for flexibility while keeping momentum going.

✅ "Complete one chapter a month." – Breaks the process down into manageable chunks and encourages steady progress.

✅ "Edit one page a day." – Focus on quality over quantity to refine your writing and strengthen your story.

Remember, good goals are realistic, specific, and motivating. They focus on the process and celebrate small wins rather than just the end result.

So, what’s your next writing goal? Let’s set some realistic and meaningful ones together! 📚✨

For Authors: Selling Secondary Rights to Your Book Projects

As an author, you’ve likely spent countless hours crafting your story, and now that you’ve written your book, you might be wondering how to get it out into the world in other ways. One exciting avenue for authors is selling secondary rights to their work. These rights open up a range of opportunities for your book to be adapted, transformed, and marketed in various formats and platforms. (Please note, I am not a lawyer, and none of this constitutes as legal advice!)

What Are Secondary Rights?

Secondary rights (also known as subsidiary or subsidiary rights) refer to the rights that go beyond the core book deal – essentially, these are the rights to adapt, reproduce, or distribute your work in ways other than traditional print or ebook formats. Some of the most common secondary rights include:

1. Film and Television Rights: The right to adapt your book into a movie, TV show, or limited series.

2. Audiobook Rights: The right to produce an audiobook version of your written work.

3. Foreign Language Rights: The right to translate your book and sell it in other languages and markets.

4. Merchandising Rights: The right to produce and sell items based on your book (e.g., t-shirts, posters, toys).

5. Serialized Rights: The right to publish your book in parts or installments, often in magazines or newspapers.

6. Digital Rights: The right to publish or distribute your book digitally in other formats or on other platforms.

These rights are often separate from the initial book deal and can provide additional revenue streams or help promote your work in different formats.

How Do You Sell Secondary Rights?

Selling secondary rights can be an exciting opportunity, but it’s important to understand the process. Here’s how you can navigate selling these rights:

1. Work with Your Literary Agent

For many authors, a literary agent is key to selling secondary rights. Agents often have the connections and expertise needed to sell rights to film production companies, foreign publishers, and more. If you don’t already have an agent, consider finding one who specializes in the rights you want to sell.

• How they help: Your agent will be able to negotiate deals, pitch your work to the right parties, and handle legal agreements.

• Their role in secondary rights: Agents may help sell specific rights, such as film, foreign language, and audiobook rights, while leaving others (like merchandising) for you to handle independently.

2. Sell Rights Independently

If you don’t have an agent, or if you want to retain more control over your book’s secondary rights, you can negotiate directly with publishers, production companies, or distributors.

• Film/TV Rights: If you have a film or TV adaptation in mind, you can approach production companies directly or through an entertainment lawyer. Sometimes, production companies will find you if your book garners enough attention, but it’s still important to be proactive.

• Foreign Rights: Publishers in different countries may be interested in purchasing the translation rights. These deals are often made at international book fairs, such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, where publishers gather to buy and sell rights.

• Audiobook Rights: You can approach audiobook production companies (like Audible, Findaway Voices, or independent audiobook producers) to sell the rights to create an audio version of your book.

3. Understand Your Contract

When selling secondary rights, be sure to read the terms carefully. Here are some key aspects to look out for:

• Exclusivity: Some rights deals are exclusive, meaning that only one company or producer can use the rights for a set period of time. Others may be non-exclusive, which allows you to sell the rights to more than one party.

• Territory: Pay attention to the territory or region in which the rights are sold. For example, if you sell the film rights for North America, that won’t prevent you from selling the rights for international markets.

• Revenue: The payment structure will vary depending on the type of rights. For instance, film rights are often sold for a lump sum, while audiobook rights may be sold for royalties or a flat fee. Understand how you will be compensated.

• Duration: The length of time the rights are being sold for matters. For example, you might sell film rights for five years or a specific number of adaptations.

4. Know the Value of Your Rights

Before you sell any rights, it’s important to understand the potential value of your work in other formats. Some things to consider:

• Popularity and demand: Books with existing fan bases or those that are trending may have more value in terms of film/TV adaptations or foreign sales.

• Genre: Certain genres, like thrillers, fantasy, or romance, often have higher demand for film adaptations or foreign translations. Consider how your book fits into broader market trends.

• Adaptability: If your story has strong visual elements or a unique concept, it may be more attractive to film producers or merchandise companies.

5. Leveraging the Rights Sale for Marketing

Selling secondary rights can also work as a tool for marketing your book in its original format. For instance:

• Film/TV Deals: A book that’s optioned for film or television often gets a boost in visibility. Even if it’s not immediately adapted, the announcement of a deal can drive interest in your book.

• Foreign Sales: Translating your book into another language can open up new markets and new readers who might then explore your book in its original format.

6. Rights Reversion: What Happens After the Deal?

In some cases, rights deals may revert to the author after a certain period, such as if the book is not adapted or the agreement expires. Understanding your reversion clauses is critical so you can regain control over the rights if necessary.

Selling secondary rights is an excellent way to expand the reach of your work and gain additional income streams. It can open up new audiences, new opportunities, and even give your book a second life in different formats.

To you and your book!

Megan

How to Incorporate Humor Into Your Writing: A Guide for Authors

Humor can be a powerful tool in storytelling, whether you're writing fiction, nonfiction, or memoir. It can lighten the mood, deepen characters, and make your work more relatable. But how do you add humor to your writing without it feeling forced? Here are a few tips that might help:

1. Know Your Audience: Humor is subjective. Think about your readers and what they might find funny. Is it dry humor, witty banter, or slapstick comedy? Understanding your audience helps you tailor your humor to their tastes.

2. Use Relatable Situations: Some of the funniest moments come from real-life situations we can all relate to – awkward social interactions, misunderstandings, or everyday struggles. Infuse these scenarios with your characters' unique perspectives to create humor that feels natural.

3. Play with Dialogue: One of the easiest ways to inject humor is through character dialogue. Quick-witted exchanges, sarcasm, or well-timed punchlines can bring lightness to your scenes while deepening character relationships.

4. Embrace the Unexpected: Humor often thrives in the unexpected. Surprising your readers with an unexpected twist or character reaction can create a memorable and funny moment. The key is to keep it consistent with your characters and plot.

5. Self-Deprecating Humor: Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself (or your characters!). Self-deprecating humor can create a connection with readers, making your characters more endearing and relatable.

 Remember, humor is about timing and subtlety. It doesn’t need to overpower your story – it just needs to enhance it. And most importantly, have fun with it! 😊

Choosing Your Book's Genre

Book genres are used to categorize your books. There are lots of benefits to this, of course – if a reader wants to read a romantic story, they will be grateful to find the romance section, as opposed to looking at every single book in the bookstore to see if it aligns with their interests.

Additionally, a genre helps agents know which editors to pitch your book to, and it helps editors know how they can package and sell your book to readers. Not every agent is interested in the same genres, just as some publishing imprints specialize in some genres over others.

Below you’ll see a list of the main genres in the publishing world. Note that these are main genres, and that there are often subgenres associated with a category (for instance, there are different types of mysteries – cozy mystery, police procedural, etc.).

When you are pitching your book, it is essential you know the genre your book lives under (e.g., “My 110,000-word novel, Murderous Kisses, is a romantic police procedural…”). As you can see in the example, you will likely have elements of more than one genre – however, you’ll want to have one be the primary focus (in the example, the book is a police procedural that also has romance.)

It also helps to use comparative titles when pitching, as it gives the agent or editor a shorthand understanding of your book’s potential spot in the marketplace (for instance, “my self-help empowerment guide for women has the sassiness of Girl, Wash Your Face and the spiritual elements like those in The Universe Has Your Back”).

Here are three lists of genres (fiction, nonfiction, and bonus) to get you started:

Fiction Genres

1.     Fantasy

2.     Adventure

3.     Mystery

4.     Romance/Erotica

5.     Literary

6.     Contemporary

7.     Dystopian

8.     Horror

9.     Thriller

10.  Paranormal

11.  Magic Realism

12.  Historical Fiction

13.  Science Fiction

14.  Children’s

15.  Young Adult

16.  New Adult

17.  Realist

18.  Upmarket

19.  Mainstream

20.  “Women’s”

Nonfiction

1.     Memoir/Autobiography

2.     Self-Help/Personal Development

3.     Cooking

4.     Art/Photography

5.     Health/Fitness

6.     History

7.     Travel

8.     Guide/How-To

9.     Families/Relationships/Parenting

10.  Humor

11.  True Crime

12.  Biography

13.  Business/Money

14.  Politics/Social Sciences

15.  Science/Technology

16.  Religion/Spirituality

17.  Essays

18.  Poetry

19.  Children’s

20.  Young Adult

21.  New Adult

Bonus Genres:

1.     Graphic Novel

2.     Short Stories

3.     LGBTQ+

4.     Bildungsroman

What genre are you writing? Let me know in the comments below.

Is It Time to Find Your Beta Readers?

If you've just finished writing your book, congratulations! 🎉 But before you hit publish or send it off to agents or publishers, there’s one crucial step you shouldn’t skip: Beta Readers.

So, what exactly are Beta Readers?

Beta readers are individuals who read your manuscript before it’s officially published. These readers can be fellow writers, avid readers, or even people who fit the target audience for your book. They provide feedback on everything from plot holes and character development to pacing and readability. Think of them as your book’s first fans — but with a critical eye! 👀

Why are Beta Readers so Helpful?

Fresh Perspective: They offer insights you might have missed after staring at your manuscript for so long. What makes sense to you as the author might not always be clear to a first-time reader!

Spotting Plot Issues: They can identify confusing or inconsistent plot points, and ensure your story flows smoothly.

Character Development: They’ll tell you if your characters feel real and if their motivations are clear — or if they need more depth.

Reader Experience: Beta readers are the audience your book is meant to engage. Their feedback can help ensure your story resonates.

Confidence Boost: Positive feedback from beta readers can give you the confidence to move forward with the next steps toward publication!

Remember: Beta readers don’t just catch errors, they help you elevate your manuscript to its full potential.

Please note: even with a team of trusted beta readers, every author needs a professional book editor. While beta readers provide invaluable feedback on story structure, character development, and overall plot, an editor brings an extra layer of polish that ensures your manuscript is truly ready for publication. Editors help refine your voice, improve clarity, fix inconsistencies, and elevate your writing to its highest potential. They’re the professionals who see what readers won’t - and can turn a great story into a masterpiece. A skilled editor is the final key to making your book shine.

So, if you’ve finished that draft, start thinking about who your beta readers will be. Their input can make all the difference between a good book and a great one!

Re-Share: Writing a Self-Help 101

Do you want to help people change and improve their lives? Do you want to make a difference? I’ll be you’re considering writing a self-help book.

One of my most popular LinkedIn and blog posts is on doing just that, and I wanted to share it again with you here, as this is one of the genres I get asked about a lot:

It’s a beautiful thing to want to help, and there will always be a market out there for self-help – people will always want (and need) to get better, and they will always be in search of new, fresh voices to help guide them in their quests for self-improvement.

The bad news? This is also a very crowded field – according to the NPD Group, in 2019 alone, 85,253 new self-help titles were published, and 18.6 million books were sold. That’s a lot of helping!

So, what you can you do to stand out from the pack? You should always be working on your author platform, for one. Then, you need to make sure that your book is the best it can possibly be.

Before you get started, be careful about the following things:

• Choose your topic wisely – as mentioned above, self-help is a crowded marketplace, and you want your book to stand out. You also want to make sure that this is a topic you know enough about to position yourself as an expert, and that you care enough about the topic to write the book, market it, etc.

• Be specific when choosing your topic. A subject like “how to be a good mom” is too broad; “how to be a compassionate and effective parent to your adolescent daughter” is more specific.

• Know your audience. What are they looking for? What is their biggest pain point?

• Be aware of comparative titles. What books like yours have been super successful? What do they do well? What does your book offer that is better or different? This knowledge will help when pitching and marketing your book, and it will also help you analyze what kinds of books readers need, the best approach to take, etc.

• Choose a title AND a subtitle – the title can be catchy, and the subtitle can explain that the book is about (e.g., Fat Schmat: The Sassy Girl’s Guide to Weight Loss, Manage Sideways: The New Manager’s Guide to Change)

As you’re writing be cognizant about word count. Most self-help books are 40,000-60,000 words, and you definitely want to err on the side of brevity. Not only do most readers want to receive their answers/instructions/guides as quickly as possible, the higher the page count, the more expensive the book will be to publish. (Therefore, fewer books will be sold, which makes the prospective book less attractive to agents, editors, and readers.)

Possibly the most important tip I have for you? OUTLINE. Outline the heck out of your book. You need a map to guide you during the writing process, and to stay focused.

Structure is always important, and when you are starting out, it’s important to stick to the traditional structure as closely as possible. Here’s a good sample structure to follow:

Most books have about 12 chapters (with each chapter is usually about 5,000 words long, including 2,000 words in stories/anecdotes/case studies). Each summary should be 1-3 paragraphs, and should give an indication as to what information will be covered in each chapter and how (client success stories, quizzes/assessments, etc.).

Your book should be laid out in a clear, logical manner. Here is a general structure:

• Chapter 1 – The overview/introduction – this is where you identify/explain the problem/pain. You will likely share your story here, or another particularly powerful one – you want to connect and empathize with the reader.

• Chapter 2 – Here you help the reader identify him or herself as a person desperately needing the information you’re about to offer. You want to introduce your “solution,” and explain why it is effective (i.e., how the reader’s life will benefit).

• Chapters 3-11 – Give the reader the steps they need to follow; expound your ideas of how to solve the problem. Each chapter should build upon the one that precedes it.

• Chapter 12 – I call this the “go forth and conquer” chapter. Here you sum up what the reader will have learned, tie everything together, and end things on a powerful note. Empower the reader to take the necessary steps to change/improve their life. The reader should leave the book feeling like they too can achieve the results you presented in Chapter 1 and 2 sums up book, inspires reader to go out and change their life.

When you’re looking at the chapters themselves, you can consider following this general structure:

• Start with a quote that can set the tone for the pages that follow.

• Identify your goal for the chapter (what do you want the reader to learn?).

• Share a story or two that they can relate to/connect with.

• Make clear why they need the information you’re sharing.

• Tell them what to do next.

• Give a brief summary (this can be done in a short paragraph, or this can be down in a bulleted list of key takeaways, for example).

• Give them an action step (e.g., worksheet to fill out).

As you’re writing:

• Don’t take too much on – don’t try to do all the things. There can always be other books, and you want to make sure you don’t overwhelm the reader with information – make this as easy for them as possible.

• As Denise Duffield-Thomas says, be comfortable being a contributor, not a guru. While you should be an expert in what you are saying, you don’t have to be the expert to end all experts. People want to hear what YOU have to say.

• Do your research. Whether it’s interviewing experts, reading studies, or compiling statistics, you need to have relevant and factual information to back up your statements and claims.

• Give the reader something to do. You want the reader to have as many opportunities as possible to interact with your material. Stories allow them to interact emotionally, but activities (quizzes, worksheets, fill in the blanks) give them the option to review and apply the information they’ve just read.

After you’ve written your first draft:

• Edit (obviously). Go back to your outline and make sure you have followed it as closely as possible. As yourself if you’ve shared enough stories, given the reader enough ways to connect with the information, etc.

• Consider hiring an editor. I don’t mean this in a self-serving way, but it helps to have a person in your corner that has experience editing your type of book.

• Get an amazing book cover designed for you – people really do judge a book by it’s cover.

• Get endorsements – these make a huge difference when they’re splashed on the book’s cover!

• If you’re planning to traditionally publish, write your book proposal (this is what agents and editors will want to see before the manuscript itself).

• Keep working on your platform!

Need a little inspiration? Reedsy put together a great list of some of the best self-help books of all time: https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/best-self-help-books

I can’t wait for your book to change readers’ lives. See you on bookshelves soon!