Many people dream of writing a book someday, and you may be one of them. If you’ve been thinking about writing a book, or if you’ve been told by others that you should write about your life or expertise, here are all the best reasons to pursue that idea.
1. You’ll inspire people
You probably remember reading a book and feeling inspired at least once. Think about the possibility that your book could inspire someone in a way that makes a huge difference in their life. For example, if you’re sharing a story about persevering through life’s challenges, readers who can relate are likely to feel inspired by how you describe getting through those tough times.
Inspiration can lead to a lot of things, including new companies, inventions, and solutions to problems. If you hold back your wisdom from the world, it might deprive society from an important insight or solution.
2. Someone will feel validated because of your story
People want to feel validated more than anything, and unfortunately, that’s rare. If you have unique insight to share regarding a specific situation, or if you have thoughts and ideas that lie outside the status quo, others who share your ideas and beliefs are likely to feel validated by reading your book.
Often, people feel like nobody understands them or what they’re going through, and that can be true to an extent. Caring about someone doesn’t guarantee you’ll understand everything they’re experiencing. Some things need to be experienced to be understood. And that’s where publishing your book can help. Sharing your story in a book will demonstrate to readers that you have first hand experience with the situations you’re discussing, and readers who can relate will feel good knowing you’re the real deal.
3. It doesn’t cost much to publish a book
Today, you don’t need approval from a publisher to get your book out there. You can self-publish and bypass the need to land a contract, or use a service like Printing Center USA to print copies in bulk for a low price. Typically, books come out in hardcover first before paperback, so printing your own hardcover books is perfectly acceptable and affordable.
On the other hand, traditional publishing can get expensive no matter which option you choose. Self-publishing platforms charge huge fees up front, and the royalties aren’t much. If you want to try getting a publishing deal, you’ll need to spend thousands of dollars on an agent, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get a deal. There’s also no guarantee you’ll get paid beyond the initial agreement of your contract for writing the book.
Publishers don’t market books past the first few months, which means you’ll be on the hook for executing your entire marketing plan. If future payments depend on sales, and you aren’t willing to spend your own time and money on marketing, you probably won’t sell many books.
While there’s no way around marketing costs, getting your book printed doesn’t have to be expensive.
4. You don’t need a traditional publisher
Finding an agent can be exhausting, but they’re essential in the traditional publishing world because unsolicited manuscripts aren’t typically accepted. You need an agent to pitch your idea and wait for it to be accepted.
If you’re dreading the idea of trying to find a publisher or working with an agent, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t need a traditional publisher to get your book to market. All you need is your manuscript, the ability to format your manuscript, a cover design, and a printer.
Your printer can be a self-publishing platform that provides access to an online layout editor, or you can hire a designer to create your manuscript layout and cover art.
5. You might end up with a best seller
Many independent authors have unexpectedly found themselves on a best seller list, whether it’s Amazon or the New York Times. This isn’t guaranteed, but it does happen. In fact, many classics were first self-published, including Paradise Lost, Sense and Sensibility, A Christmas Carol, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
6. You can earn money selling your book
Last, but not least, if you have a good story to tell, or great information to share, you can turn your book into a source of income. Once your book is published, the door will open for you to earn money as a speaker or consultant, among other lucrative opportunities.
Don’t wait to publish your book
Whether you just want to express yourself, help others, or earn some cash, the best time to get your book out into the world is now.