How to write a professional self help book when You don’t have any qualifications?
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Hi I really want to write a self help book. But I don’t know how to write it without getting expert advise. How can I write a book on something other people have written about without copywriting? The book is How to Be Yourself. I know how to write I just want to know how to get expert advise and references for the book, to make it authentic.
Do your own research on the subjects you want to write about so you know you have empirical evidence to back up your writing. A good place to start is to look for academic research reports on the relevant subjects. If you are part of a university you will have access to research journal databases (for studies that have been published in journals), and if your not you can subscribe to journals for not too much cost. You can reference academic reports in your writing as long as you report their data accurately.
Once you have an idea of the topics you want to cover and you have done some background research on studies etc backing up your ideas, then write an outline for your book, including chapter headings and main ideas etc.
Then, research some experts in the field. You may find them on the university websites or or by other means, but once you have tracked down a few experts you can approach them for an interview. You could even discuss with them the proposition that they write an essay or short spiel for your book.
You could format your book kinda like chicken soup for the soul with main writing by you and various contributions from various experts slotted in to help illustrate your points.
Using your own insight and ideas to pull together separate research findings and expert opinion on the subject of how to be yourself to make it accessible, helpful and readable for everyone sounds like an amazing idea.
My main advise though would be to consider gaining a qualification before you write your book. Even just an undergraduate qualification, because then you may even be able to write your book as a dissertation for a PHD!
The reason i suggest this is, sadly, no matter how amazing your writing is or how correct your ideas, people are not likely to take you seriously enough without a qualification to back you up.
Good luck!! xx
Read a number of self help books, and rewrite the parts you like in different words.
Some books worth reading:
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky (Paperback – Mar 15, 1995) "Feeling Good." The New Mood Therapy. Harper Collins.1999. (about treating depression),
and the more general, earlier, bestseller: "The Feeling Good Handbook" 1980. (your bookstore, or Amazon.com for this) by
David D. Burns, M.D.
So you want to be happy? : stop chasing happiness and feel good – most of the time / Sherwood, Peter.
by Sherwood, Peter. New Holland, 2004.
The happy plan : the complete diet and lifestyle plan for natural happiness / Charmaine Yabsley.
by Yabsley, Charmaine.
Collins & Brown, 2006.
"Better than Chocolate 50 proven ways to feel happier": Siimon Reynolds. Penguin Books. ISBN 0 14 300296 1 (CORRECT SPELLING!)
How to Be Your Own Therapist. A Step-by-Step Guide to Taking Back Your Life. by Patricia Farrell, Ph.D.
Mc Graw – Hill. 2002. ISBN 0-07-138733-1
Phoenix in a Bottle, by Lilian and Murdoch MacDonald
Why Your Life Sucks, by Alan N. Cohen. This book helps you focus on the ways we sabotage our own happiness.
"Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve” by Lewis B. Smedes. Get through your fear of forgiveness.
Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer. This book has been recommended by a number of members. “This book is helping me to overcome negative thoughts and giving me peace.” There is a book by Joyce Meyer called The Confident woman it was helpful to me – if you are up for a good read.
Love is a Choice , by Dr. Robert Hemfelt, and Dr. Paul Meier
Power Over Panic, by Bronwyn Fox.
Heart of the Soul , by Gary Zukav and Linda Francis. Member Comment: It helps one get to core issues of feelings.
Fearless Living, Live Without Excuses and Love Without Regret
by Rhonda Britten, Member Comment: This book may really awaken some senses in you and make you take a hard look at myself.
Never Good Enough, by Monica Ramirez Basco. How to use perfectionism to your advantage without letting it ruin your life.
Feel the Fear & Do It Anyway , by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. Often recommended.
Another is The Relaxation Workbook which is a practical step-by-step guide to developing relaxation skills.
Another great book that explains a lot about the physiological symptoms associated with anxiety is "The Stress Response" by Hans Selye
OLDER, BUT STILL GOOD: "Your Erroneous Zones" – Dr. Wayne Dwyer. If you like it, read his other books, as well.
"I’m OK; You’re OK" by Eric Berne, is quite dated now, but uses TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS in teaching you about psychology. Also read: "Games People Play", about psychological games, such as: "Yes, But" and "Poor Me" and "Rapo" and "Uproar".
References :
Do your own research on the subjects you want to write about so you know you have empirical evidence to back up your writing. A good place to start is to look for academic research reports on the relevant subjects. If you are part of a university you will have access to research journal databases (for studies that have been published in journals), and if your not you can subscribe to journals for not too much cost. You can reference academic reports in your writing as long as you report their data accurately.
Once you have an idea of the topics you want to cover and you have done some background research on studies etc backing up your ideas, then write an outline for your book, including chapter headings and main ideas etc.
Then, research some experts in the field. You may find them on the university websites or or by other means, but once you have tracked down a few experts you can approach them for an interview. You could even discuss with them the proposition that they write an essay or short spiel for your book.
You could format your book kinda like chicken soup for the soul with main writing by you and various contributions from various experts slotted in to help illustrate your points.
Using your own insight and ideas to pull together separate research findings and expert opinion on the subject of how to be yourself to make it accessible, helpful and readable for everyone sounds like an amazing idea.
My main advise though would be to consider gaining a qualification before you write your book. Even just an undergraduate qualification, because then you may even be able to write your book as a dissertation for a PHD!
The reason i suggest this is, sadly, no matter how amazing your writing is or how correct your ideas, people are not likely to take you seriously enough without a qualification to back you up.
Good luck!! xx
References :
Check this site out on self help books. Maybe it can help you with your problem.
http://www.selfmadeeasy.com
References :