You can write a book, and here’s why you should

You can write a book, and here’s why you should,

by Diana M Smith

Whether writers or not, most of us have inherited the idea that writing is difficult.

We see Joseph Fiennes as Shakespeare with ink-stained fingers twiddling with his quill as he agonizes over a play, or hear Earnest Hemingway quip that writing is easy: ‘all you must do is sit down to a page and bleed.’

But if you were to print all the conversations you’ve had just by email, you’d probably see that you’ve written a book already (or more) — without even thinking about it.

Remember, writing is simply the act of communicating or sharing with another person in words, and putting those words on a page.

Don’t get me started,’ some of us disclaim, ‘I could go on forever.’ Talking about something we love is especially easy to do.

If there’s something you wish other people knew or could hear, and you’ve thought about writing it down—that is the signal that you should.

Just make a start, and start writing.

It doesn’t have to be a big page or book. American design business owner Joseph Nguyen thought it might help someone else to hear how he managed his anxiety. In the end, his book (under 200 pages) sold so well that he is now a full time author and teacher. No writing degree. No big publisher. No inventory; people can buy it online.

A book doesn’t need to ‘go big,’ either. If you have something you want to share, it could have an enormous impact, even in a small format. And there are many ways to ‘publish’ a book that feels natural and easy.

Think small. Think: tiny. You could make:

– A short booklet with what you wish people knew about your industry: How to Simplify Your Books in 5 Steps, or Remaking Networking: Turn Small Talk into Big Wins

– Create an eBook to make a tricky topic easier to understand: Fall Back in Love with Your Sales Pitch, or How We’re Making Building Beautiful

– Offer a free PDF to encourage people to sign up for your newsletter: Free 5-Day Email Copywriting Course, or SEO Unlocked Workbook

Don’t let size fool you. Here are real, tiny books that have made a big difference:

● Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, is a collection of actual letters he sent to a friend that other writers still find helpful

● We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – a tiny book version of her TED talk

● The Elements of Style by Strunk & White: this short guide to writing well is still assigned in schools, 100+ years after it was written

● Powerfully Practical PR (a real ebook by Cotswold Networking members Carnsight Communications), serves clients who aren’t ready for a full-service PR package (yet!)

Could AI write this for you? Maybe. Although, it would miss two vital qualities: Your own unique voice and personality, which is likely why your clients hired you over someone else. Also, and I believe the best bit, is AI can’t give you the irreplaceable feeling of having made something yourself – with your own words. When we create something, we feel better. There’s no feeling like holding your own book in your own hands.

If you’ve ever thought of writing, just make a start. (The word “essay,” after all, just means ‘to try’). You never know what positive ripples it might make for your clients, your business or community, and even yourself.

In fact: even right now, just take 10 minutes to write. Don’t think. Set a timer. Put a few words down, and see if you don’t feel a little better.

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If you’d like to write a tiny book (or just make a good start), please join me on 11 July for the Bit of a Book Workshop. Write a simple project with simple tools I’ll share. Learn more here.

If you had a book waiting inside you but haven’t had the time to write, the Rest & Writing Retreat this autumn may be just what you need. Learn more here.

Diana Smith is a writer, book coach and business mentor. She helps leaders rest, live and lead from their creative best. Get in touch by email at , or learn more at dianamsmith.com.