Don’t Let Form Distract from Your Substance

One common reason I hear people say for not starting their book yet: they don’t know what “type” of book to write. 

Should it be a memoir? A walkthrough of a framework? Something less traditional? 

For some people, the approach is obvious. For others, it really could go any direction at the initial concept stage. 

The thing is, while there are best practices, there are many different ways you can approach your book. There are no objectively right or wrong answers. 

In my time as a ghostwriter, I’ve written a variety of different types of books. Some follow a more traditional structure. Some are more creatively structured. Some have long chapters. Others have short chapters. Some have pictures. Others don’t. You get the idea. 

Your experiences and insights are what make the book impactful. What’s important is that those are conveyed in a meaningful way. No one is going to grade on the structure you follow or if you fit into the “right” box. What they will remember is the impact your book had on them. 

Here are some ways to gain more clarity as it relates to structure.  

Intentions

When deciding how you want to go about writing your book, it’s important to be really clear on what you want to convey. 

If it’s important to you to share your wisdom specifically as it relates to frameworks, systems, a specific set of teachings, etc., then a more traditional business or leadership style may be a great fit. 

“But Jamie, I have so many stories to tell!” 

Here’s the good news. You don’t have to write a memoir to share stories. Every book should include a healthy dose of stories, including business and leadership books. These will include both personal stories and other examples from your experiences. 

If you’re looking to inspire or teach primarily through your story and journey, a memoir style may be a great fit. This primary tells your story but includes teaching through choosing a powerful theme for the book and the lessons along the way that support that. 

Some books blend these two styles together. Some books stray from these altogether. What’s important is that you know what you want to accomplish with this book so you can formulate the structure around that. 

Look at Other Examples

Reading a variety of books can help be the antidote to this concern. You’ll be able to see a host of different styles and approaches when you do this. Not every memoir is the same, and not every business and leadership book is the same. When you start to pay attention, this becomes very clear as a reader. 

Just last week, a friend was telling me how she was stuck on what approach to take for her book because she keeps hearing different opinions on how to go about it. This week, I started reading a book and realized it might be just the format she needs!

We can strike inspiration from so many different places. If you want to write a business and leadership book, that doesn’t mean you should just consume those books. In fact, my mentor even encourages me to read fiction because it’s a fantastic way to study storytelling and other forms of writing. 

Just Start

Sometimes starting the process is what brings clarity. 

I’m not saying to just start writing the book with no sense of direction. That will end very, very badly with lots of rewrites and unnecessary spinning of your wheels. What I am saying is that sometimes trying to structure your thoughts on paper brings a lot of clarity. 

I’ve had times where the client and I have known immediately how the book would take shape. I’ve had other times where we had to get deep into the outlining process to see what may make the most sense. 

Then, even when you feel like you’ve chosen a good option, write a chapter and then really evaluate it. Don’t wait until you finish the book to do it. If you feel good about that chapter, keep going! If it feels off, don’t wait until you finish the book to adjust. 

Getting traction is what helps us gain clarity and refine as needed. 

If you want someone who can spend the mental energy on things like the flow and structure of your book while also relieving the burden of writing, a ghostwriter may be a great option. Request a book consult below to learn more!