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How To Write A Book People Want Contributed To Bookpleasures.com By Brian Feinblum
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Brian Feinblum
Brian Feinblum publishes Bookmarketingbuzzblog on a daily basis, presenting ideas, providing information, offering insights, and raising questions regarding the state of book publishing, marketing, promoting, editing, writing, and all facets of the book world. He has been in book publishing for over two decades as a publicist, an editor, an author, and a marketer, and is currently the chief marketing officer for Planned Television Arts, the nation’s largest book promotions firm. You can reach him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  
By Brian Feinblum
Published on September 8, 2011
 

Many writers write about what they know, what they’re interested in, what they like.  Whether it’s a book that is based on a personal or professional experience, a hobby, or a passion, writers will write books that are meaningful to them but then have to find an audience to enjoy the book as much as they enjoyed writing it. 



Many writers write about what they know, what they’re interested in, what they like.  Whether it’s a book that is based on a personal or professional experience, a hobby, or a passion, writers will write books that are meaningful to them but then have to find an audience to enjoy the book as much as they enjoyed writing it. 

If one can write about what they like and have a strong feeling for AND write for an eager readership who will buy the book you’ll have a win-win situation.  But often writers find that building a fan base or finding those who would fit their readership profile is a labored and sometimes costly process.

Even when you hire publicists and marketers to get the word out about your book there is no guarantee on the return on your investment, at least as far as initial sales are concerned.  But there are numerous benefits to promoting and marketing your book regardless of that.

So, if your goal is to write a book that sells, you need to take a different approach about what you write about and how you write about it.  Rather than writing your dream book and hoping your readers find you, you now are seeking to write for the demands and desires of the marketplace.  You are going commercial and you should feel zero misgivings about it.  Hopefully you can still produce a book that is consistent with providing great writing, useful information, and a positive message.

What would you write about?

·        Look for topics that people need, not just want – they will pursue the book they have to have before the one they’d like to have.  For instance, if it’s tax time and you’re preparing your own taxes, you’ll be more likely to buy a book to guide you through the process than to buy a book that merely entertains you.

·        Follow the best-sellers – if best-seller lists show you a certain genre is hot or a certain approach to a topic is being embraced, try to ride the gravy train and follow suit.  However, do it quickly before the marketplace gets saturated with too many similar books.

·        Write for a sizeable niche – not every book has to appeal to half the country.  Instead, find a topic that meets the needs of a loyal group of people that are easy to find or market to.  For instance, create a handbook for a particular profession or a guidebook for a specific age class (college students) or a unique group – first time moms.

·        Write a book based on trends – be the first to announce a trend or the first to provide a solution to a problem or the first to show how to prevent, deal with, or profit from something.

·        Write a book that no one else could write, something unique to your experiences or imagination. Your story is special when few others could have lived it or dreamed it.

Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person.