Self-help: how to turn your experiences into a book… with editor Paul Roberts

“It’s all about you…” sang McFly in 2005. If you’re planning to write a self-help book, it’s tempting to put yourself at the heart of it. Perhaps you’ve developed a specialism from which others may benefit. Maybe you’ve learned the hard way and wish for your reader to avoid the pitfalls. But take a look at some of the bestselling self-help books on the shelves and you’ll realise that most are written by gifted authors, but are not necessarily about them.

Some 60% of the self-help books that come my way for editing or consultation are largely autobiographical in nature. That is, they focus on the author’s own experience – the mistakes they made, the challenges they faced, the solutions they implemented. Many infer a conclusion that the reader can succeed if they do as the author did. But unless the book specifically addresses the reader’s needs, the reader may well ask: how is this book relevant to my own journey of self-improvement?

Of course, some such books are worthy in their own right. But if you make the book about you, the subject matter has to be either compelling, relevant or both. Let me illustrate with two examples.

A selection of bestselling self-help books from Waterstones

First, amongst Richard Branson’s many publications is a slim but characteristically engaging self-help volume entitled, Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life and Business in which the author shares his own unique practices and behaviours. Whether a reader can become a billionaire by following his advice is open to question, but his narration is compelling enough to retain their attention.

Then, there’s Jia Jiang who, in 2016, brought us Rejection Proof, a book which promotes an innovative approach to dealing with rejection. Although his own story of self-discovery is crucial, Jiang encourages self-help by providing a methodology which is relevant to the challenges faced by his readers.

Both examples give priority to the needs of the reader. Before turning personal experience into a self-help book, we should ask ourselves: do we want our readers to learn how we succeeded, or how they can succeed for themselves? We must get to know them. What keeps them awake at night? Why are they unable to fix their own problems? How will our books address their issues so that they get a good night’s sleep? Or, are they simply seeking some autobiographical entertainment to divert them from their own worries?

In addition to putting their needs above all else, readers of self-help books depend on authors possessing a great many further qualities. They must be subject matter experts. They must be able to show how that expertise may be harnessed in someone else’s life. And – why so many of us benefit from the support of our fellow-writers – they must be able to educate and engage through the clarity and power of the written word.

Ultimately, a self-help book succeeds when its reader applies its content to their own needs and finds their life improved. So, keep singing, “It’s all about you…”, but sing it to your reader.

Paul is a writer and business consultant. His first book was published by The Economist in 2007 and is now in its third edition. He has had several further books published by Kogan Page, forming part of their hugely influential ‘Business Success’ series. He is also published by Routledge, distinguished specialists in academic subject matter. Paul is currently available for reports and mentoring – please contact the Cornerstones office for details.