Self-help books are written with an aim to help the reader solve a personal issue. With many books in recent years falling into this category, it is important to understand what will make your self-help book stand out from the rest. The upside is that many people are looking to books to help solve personal problems and yours could be just what someone is looking for.

An important consideration before beginning to write your book is to examine your experience and knowledge in the topic you want to write about. When readers choose to read your self-help book, they should be confident that you have the ability to solve their problem. Your knowledge of the subject matter could be derived from your occupation and the experiences you have had in your line of work.

The experience of an author always shows in the book and readers will be able to identify inexperience. Before you embark on your project, be sure you have enough experience to write your book and add to it with further research. This way, you will be offering the reader value for their money and they are more likely to recommend the book to others facing a similar issue.

In addition, note your credentials in the author’s bio such that even before the reader reads your work they are sure you are qualified to write on the specific area the book addresses. Your qualifications also show that your knowledge goes beyond personal experiences and this is what sets you apart from just anyone else who may choose to write on the topic.

Specificity is the next important aspect of writing a self-help book. When selecting a title, select one that clearly describes the topic you are about to address. Vague titles will confuse the reader and not give them a clear picture of the book’s content. This applies to the content too. Ensure that your work clearly addresses the topic that appears on the book’s cover.

A self-help book should recreate the environment of therapy sessions. The reader should feel like they are receiving information from a therapist who cares about what they are going through. The way to establish such a relationship is through different aspects of writing. The point of view in which the book is written should be considered as you do not want your work to sound accusatory instead of understanding.

The choice of words is also important when building a relationship with the reader. The work should not feel overly formal. Rather, it should be like a conversation in which the reader feels confident to share and receive information without judgment.

The voice used in the work is also important. A friendly style will more likely gain an audience than a distant one where the relationship between the reader and the writer is strained. As the author, write from the reader’s perspective and consider how different aspects of the book will be perceived by the reader and how likely it is that the information in the work will be received by the reader.