May 7, 2025
Thinking about writing a self-help book? Books that encourage readers to improve their lives, work on their mental health, or change some facet of their lives for the better fall under the self-help umbrella, and they are more popular than ever. According to literary market research, self-help books currently make up 5.7% of all yearly published books, while the number of books in this genre produced annually has tripled since 2013.
This flourishing market is an appealing draw for self-publishing authors because it’s clear that readers are always searching for knowledgeable, personal advice that could lead to happier, healthier lives. Authors writing self-help book content can craft a likeable book that readers will want to read by developing content that feels authentic, creating eye-catching marketing, and connecting with potential readers seeking the specific advice and support the self-help book offers.
Developing a book in the self-help category is a great idea for writers who have knowledge they can impart through a book. But having a good idea is just the beginning. Use our seven tips to take your book idea from concept to finished manuscript, ready to send off to the printer so you can start changing lives with your self-help advice.
The primary focus of writing self-help book content is creating a concept that provides actionable, meaningful steps for readers to use in their lives. Your self-help book should include things readers can accomplish without being expensive, challenging to source, or requiring unusual tools to do them.
Including concrete actions your reader can implement rather than vague or abstract ideas makes your self-help book instantly usable. Useful advice is paramount in a self-help book, so be sure to present the ideas clearly and give examples or suggestions on how to follow through on the action steps so readers can take away practical advice from your book.
In addition, sprinkle stories and anecdotes throughout the self-help book to encourage readers to make a change in their lives and to demonstrate that others have experienced the same challenges in their lives.
Choosing a topic that you have experience and first-hand knowledge about is key to writing self-help book content authentically. Presenting your stories, advice, and suggestions to readers through the lens of personal experiences will not only lend credibility to your book but will also help readers to see themselves successfully implementing your advice in their own lives.
Your own lived experiences will help readers to identify with you, and as you explain your transformation through the challenges in your life, using your advice and action points to improve yourself, readers will respond to the authenticity in your book’s advice.
Augment your personal experience with plenty of research, both formal and informal. Consider talking with others in the field and conducting interviews with those who have experienced the same challenges so you can present different viewpoints and life experiences for your readers to learn from. Giving readers a variety of perspectives demonstrates your expertise in your book’s self-help topic and ultimately increases the chance readers will feel your book’s advice helped them, too.
Find a way to make your take on the topic different from other books in the market. Begin by doing market research to learn what other books are available to readers on your specific topic and keep track of how each author approaches the advice they give, what steps they suggest, and what types of anecdotes or stories they include in the book. Then, craft your self-help book content so your book’s unique perspective and take on the topic will stand out from other available books.
One of the things that readers of self-help books look for is content that feels authentic and realistic to put into practice. When a book provides self-help guidance that comes across as cold, phony, or too clinical, readers won’t connect emotionally with the author’s perspective and may be unlikely to take the advice to heart.
Instead, an author can make their book personal and appealing to the reader by including content that demonstrates empathy for the reader who is going through a challenge shared or at least intimately understood by the author. When the reader can see and feel that the author has a personal stake in the advice and support of those facing problems addressed in the book, the reader will feel the author’s compassion through a stronger emotional response to the book’s advice.
In addition to including an empathetic viewpoint in the book’s stories and anecdotes, books with deep, substantive content give the reader something to think about while building the author’s credibility as an expert. As they find a way through their challenges using the book’s actionable steps and practice suggestions, readers will find they can sink their teeth into the hearty content that provides them with a multifaceted approach to solving their problem.
One of the first ways a potential reader is introduced to a book is through its title. Be sure to choose one that not only reflects the book’s focus but also demonstrates the perspective it will take, whether it be humorous or serious. Double check your book research to confirm that a title you are thinking about using is not the same as or too close to another book title already on the market to minimize confusion in potential readers.
Consider using a subtitle in addition to a traditional title so you can capture the attention of potential readers by including keywords or phrases that are commonly associated with the topic your self-help book addresses.
Since many books are purchased online utilizing a thumbnail graphic of the book cover, enlist the aid of a book cover designer or graphic artist to ensure that your book’s title looks great and attracts the right reader. In your market research, note the look and feel of the cover design in your specific genre and topic of self-help books so you can make sure that your book fits in with them in a familiar way without looking too closely like another book already published.
Before your book has been sent to the printer, build buzz about it through social media. After securing a handle on major platforms using your book’s title and your name as the author, begin the conversation online about your book and its focus with potential readers and others who may be associated with or interested in the self-help genre.
Promote your book on social media by harnessing the power of each platform correctly.
© 2025 Publishing Xpress. All Rights Reserved.
