If there are no persons to read your book, then the book is just a bunch of words on the paper. Book has purpose only if there is someone to read it. And the easiest way to get a reader is to write for a reader.
But, how do you know that you are on the right track?
The key is to start the process of writing by defining your ideal reader. Who are you going to target the book at? Describe every little thing about that person. What is the age of that person? What do that person like? What don't that person like? What do that person does for a living? What is the educational background? How busy is that person? What hair-color and eye-color that person has? What is the name of that person? Be very specific and detailed. The more detailed the better. Let's give our person name Brian.
Now, let's focus on Brian's environment. Now, consider Brian's environment. Where does Brian work? What are the people around Brian like? What are Brian's reading habits? What world view does Brian have? What is Brian's environment expecting of him? What are Brian's co-workers like? How does Brian relate to his environment?
When you write a "how to" book, you need to have a particular topic in mind.
How does Brian relate to that topic? What does Brian already know about the topic? What does Brian need to know? Why does Brian need to know it? Why would Brian bother to read a book on that topic? Why would Brian pick up a book on that topic? Why wouldn't Brian put it down? Why would Brian keep reading it?
Now let's consider Brian's environment. What does the environment need Brian to know about the topic? Why would Brian's environment influence Brian to learn about the topic? How does the environment relate to the topic?
After this process, you should have three things.
1) You should have a complete picture of Brian. When you write your "how to" book, you should be able to close your eyes and visualize Brian. With every paragraph written, you should be able to see Brian reacts to what you are saying.
2) You should have a list of questions which Brian will need answers to. How long a list will help determine the length of the "how to" book you are writing. These questions will focus on how Brian relates to his environment around the topic. In other words, these questions will motivate Brian to learn about the topic because his environment needs him to know about the topic.
3) Third thing is also a list of questions. These are questions that Brian wants answers to. His environment isn't pushing Brian to know the answers but Brian still wants to know them. Frequently these are either background issues or advanced issues.
Once you have your target reader, Brian, fully fleshed and the questions you need to answer for Brian, you have the makings of your "how to" book. Now, write your "how to" book so Brian will want to read it. Answer Brian's questions in your book. Write your "how to" book with Brian's purpose always in the front of your mind.
Now you'll have readers for your "how to" book.
All you have to do now is to PUBLISH YOUR BOOK.
But, how do you know that you are on the right track?
The key is to start the process of writing by defining your ideal reader. Who are you going to target the book at? Describe every little thing about that person. What is the age of that person? What do that person like? What don't that person like? What do that person does for a living? What is the educational background? How busy is that person? What hair-color and eye-color that person has? What is the name of that person? Be very specific and detailed. The more detailed the better. Let's give our person name Brian.
Now, let's focus on Brian's environment. Now, consider Brian's environment. Where does Brian work? What are the people around Brian like? What are Brian's reading habits? What world view does Brian have? What is Brian's environment expecting of him? What are Brian's co-workers like? How does Brian relate to his environment?
When you write a "how to" book, you need to have a particular topic in mind.
How does Brian relate to that topic? What does Brian already know about the topic? What does Brian need to know? Why does Brian need to know it? Why would Brian bother to read a book on that topic? Why would Brian pick up a book on that topic? Why wouldn't Brian put it down? Why would Brian keep reading it?
Now let's consider Brian's environment. What does the environment need Brian to know about the topic? Why would Brian's environment influence Brian to learn about the topic? How does the environment relate to the topic?
After this process, you should have three things.
1) You should have a complete picture of Brian. When you write your "how to" book, you should be able to close your eyes and visualize Brian. With every paragraph written, you should be able to see Brian reacts to what you are saying.
2) You should have a list of questions which Brian will need answers to. How long a list will help determine the length of the "how to" book you are writing. These questions will focus on how Brian relates to his environment around the topic. In other words, these questions will motivate Brian to learn about the topic because his environment needs him to know about the topic.
3) Third thing is also a list of questions. These are questions that Brian wants answers to. His environment isn't pushing Brian to know the answers but Brian still wants to know them. Frequently these are either background issues or advanced issues.
Once you have your target reader, Brian, fully fleshed and the questions you need to answer for Brian, you have the makings of your "how to" book. Now, write your "how to" book so Brian will want to read it. Answer Brian's questions in your book. Write your "how to" book with Brian's purpose always in the front of your mind.
Now you'll have readers for your "how to" book.
All you have to do now is to PUBLISH YOUR BOOK.
