How to Write a Book That’ll Change Lives (Including Your Own)
When most people talk about a book changing their life, they’re talking about a book they read — a book that changed their perspective or way of thinking. But for many authors, writing a book can be just as powerful, with true life-changing outcomes for themselves and their readers.
However, getting that new book to stand out and change lives can be hard. With over 4 million books published in the United States each year between traditional and self-publishing, finding the right readers can be a challenge.
However, this isn’t the only thing that Ashley Mansour, founder and CEO of LA Writing Coach and publishing services company Brands Through Books, believes potential authors should focus on. As she details in her own book, The Author’s Success Code: 9 Secrets to Write and Publish a Book That Will Change Your Life, a key part of publishing a book is the personal transformation it can bring to the author.
Develop the Writer’s Mindset
According to Mansour, the first thing aspiring authors need to turn the dream of a book into reality is a clear sense of purpose. “Finding your deepest why will fuel your writing journey like few other things. I advise authors to dig deep into why they want to write their book — what is the purpose and motivation behind it? This why is what creates the kind of excitement, inspiration and joy that ultimately helps you create a stand-out book.”
This sense of purpose isn’t just about motivation. In Mansour’s view, it can also offer much-needed direction to the writing journey, helping authors focus their vision and gain clarity about the type of book they should create. It helps them home in on who they want to reach, and how their book can help these individuals.
Even with sufficient motivation, Mansour sees many writers getting tripped up when they become obsessed over craft.
“Craft — how good your writing is — is valuable, but ultimately, you need to shift your thinking to how you will get your book done,” she says. “A strategy-only focus, where you learn to master your use of writing time and hold yourself accountable, is how you will make meaningful progress. And as you write more and more, your mastery of craft will come. You’ll still need an editor, but simply taking on the task of writing is what will help you become a better writer. Successful authors focus on their writing strategy so they can move beyond the idea phase and actually complete the critical first draft.”
As an example, one of Mansour’s clients had spent years worrying about the craft and process of writing a book. After consulting with Mansour and learning her TAP Method, which emphasizes time, accountability and process as key principles to master to become a successful author, she was able to write her book in less than a month and then publish her book and become a bestselling author less than six months later.
This “learning by doing” approach is a critical part of personal development — though it can be understandably intimidating. Because of this, Mansour advises that would-be authors seek qualified mentors who can guide them through the process and offer support, education and accountability along the way.
Cultivating Success Strategies That Go Beyond the Book
Part of why Mansour believes that a book can change the author’s life is because of the strategies that are required to actually complete the entire process of writing and publishing a book.
“To succeed as an author, you must master how you use your time, hold yourself accountable and learn (and master) the publishing process,” she says. “I developed what I call the TAP Method (mastery of time, accountability and process) as part of my own journey of learning what was needed to become successful in writing and publishing. This led me to release three number one Amazon bestsellers of my own and then use these methodologies to teach other writers how to succeed. It has completely reshaped my career and allowed me to successfully coach other authors in a wide range of genres.”
Another strategy that Mansour emphasizes is the importance of realizing that becoming a successful “authorpreneur” requires looking beyond the basic metrics of book sales.
“Ideally, your book should serve as a launchpad for multiple other revenue streams,” Mansour says. “I learned this years ago, when one afternoon I updated my LinkedIn profile with my bestselling book and made new connections. A few days after that, I received an invitation for a $5,000 consultation project that would take just a couple of weeks. I’d never earned so much so quickly, and it came because the client read my book, liked it and decided they wanted my expertise. That’s when I learned that leveraging my book was what could truly change my career and my earning power.”
Consulting projects aren’t the only way authors can use their book as leverage to create additional revenue. Many authors have used their book to start successful podcasts, increase service rates for their existing business, create online courses and webinars, get booked as keynote speakers and more. In one case study from her book, one of Mansour’s clients was able to nearly double rates for her private coaching packages by leveraging the value and authority derived from her book.
This mindset shift is what ultimately unlocks the full power of a book, allowing authors to spread their impact even beyond those who have actually read their book.
Get to Work
As Mansour’s examples illustrate, writing a book can be truly transformative — but it still depends on you. By discovering your sense of motivation and finding a mentor to help you learn strategies to write more effectively and leverage your book to spread your message even farther, you can maximize your future book’s impact.
Following Mansour’s principles of time, accountability and process, as outlined in her book, enables many to turn an idea for a book into a game-changing reality. Ultimately, you just have to start. As Mansour describes, “The imperfect book that gets done and published is a thousand times more valuable than the perfect book that lives in your mind forever.”
The personal growth you gain through writing a book, as well as the opportunities you gain when leveraging it appropriately, are undeniable. Your book won’t just influence your readers, but it can also completely alter your personal and professional trajectory.
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