Hey there! Welcome to Nothing but the Words.
I’m your Author Coach, Candice L Davis.
And in this episode I want to talk to you about how you can use the power of story to elevate your book and separate it from the other books in your category and really positoon you as an expert. Even more than the other content in your book, your stories can help your readers get to know, like, and trust you faster.
Coronavirus, concern, and Finding Padma
Let’s dive in to why you need to include stories in your book.
Unless you’re writing a straight user’s manual, you need to include stories in your book.
If you’re writing a memoir, you’re telling a story that consists of many stories. I’ll talk about that specifically in a future episode.
How-to book
Personal development
professional development
You can tell:
your own story
your client’s stories – in that case you’re positioned as the guide who has helped someone one else accomplish their goals or solve a problem
other people’s stories, which might include expert interviews or stories from people who haven’t necessarily worked with you but who have accomplished something that proves what your point. These could be famous people, whose stories are public and easily verifiable, or every day people who’ve created success in a particular area.
These could include case studies, in which case, you may want to include numbers so people have something to measure. Don’t just say your client lost weight, tell us how much and over what period of time and how long they’ve kept it off. Don’t just tell us you doubled your business. Tell us what that meant for your bottom line.
Paints you as the expert. It’s fine to show your struggles and failures, but ultimately, we want to know that you’ve figured it out.
o Is specific enough to be true only to you or that particular person.
o Shows transformation/growth, obstacles overcome, enlightenment, and/or achievement.
o Evokes emotion and/or shows an “aha” moment (resonance).
o Is relatable to your unique perfect reader.
o Is relevant to the book’s topic. On a recent coaching call with a new client, she explained that she had experienced abuse as a child. But we decided that experience wasn’t relevant to her business book, so she’s not going to include it.
o Illustrates and doesn’t contradict with your message.
o Stays within your boundaries of what you’re comfortable sharing/
o Avoids unnecessary offense.
Will resonate
o Focuses on you as either a hero or as a mentor to a hero.
o Inspires hope.
In the next episode, I’ll give you some tips to make sure your storytelling is the best it can be.
If you want some help with your book, pop over to the show notes at candiceldavis.com/10 and check out my group coaching program Short Books: Big Results. In that program, I’m available each week
Thanks for listening to Nothing but the Words. I’m your author coach Candice L Davis and I’ll see you next time.