How to write a self-help book that sells

I've had a lot of requests recently to edit self-help books, spiritual manuscripts, etc... seems that a lot of people out there are writing self-help books; and so this post is going to help clarify the common problems most modern self-help writers make, and how to write a book that somebody is actually going to read.

In general, you can't go wrong with self-help. Everybody wants to be happier, richer, more successful, more confident... if you can promise these things up front, you'll hook readers. The problem is on deliverance. Sure there have been many best-selling self help books and there always will be. The secret? Simplicity!

Most of the self-help manuscripts I've edited recently have been monumental treatises. Moreover, the majority of them are riddled with repetition, poorly formed analogies, description and explanation (rather than anecdotes and examples). You need to realize, you're competing with books like 'who moved my cheese'. If you can't break your book down into one, or a handful, of very simple (1 sentence) maxims which can be explained in more detail, keep working!

Only the very intellectual/well read philosophers are going to read a lengthy manuscript about self improvement - and they'll probably stick with some erudite Greek philosopher or Benjamin Franklin; some of the greatest writers the world has ever seen have written self-help advice, and you are competing with them (so do yourself a favor and read them).

There's a lot to do right, but most people do it wrong; so here's a checklist to make sure your self-help project is successful.
1) Read more! If nothing else, some well placed quotes from famous historical writers and philosophers will establish your credibility.
2) Keep it simple! Each chapter should have ONE idea that can be reduced to a single, catchy sentence. Lots of big, clear text and big chapter heading, etc.
3) Pick a focus! The best self-help books I've gotten recently have picked one specific technique and explained why it works. Trying to write a book without producing any new method will be difficult.
4) People don't want theory, they want practice. Give them actual exercises, habits, rituals, that they can DO.
5) People don't need explanations. They need anecdotes. Stories of other people who were successful. Allegories are great, but as Aristotle said - only geniuses are capable of producing great ones (so don't be surprised if other people don't get yours)
6) Don't try to be funny unless you're funny! (Ok - you're not going to know whether or not you're funny. You're going to need some tough love her. Don't ask a friend or a spouse. Give a few strangers 10 of your 'best lines' and see if they like them.)
7) Read 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill. It's still one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. It's a little dated, the examples are old, but the style (and enthusiasm) is great! You need that kind of enthusiasm and conversational tone and confidence to be successful.

Questions? contact me at www.paper-perfect-editing.com