As you are probably well aware of there has been a huge shift in the publishing industry that has made writing and publishing books much more appealing and more accessible for the average person. So that’s why I tend to get a lot of people who write me mention that they are definitely interested in becoming an author but really aren’t very sure about what kind of book they should write.
Believe it or not a lot of these people don’t have any idea what they want to write about (and this may be you), because they have zero clue on what kinds of books they like. The reason? They don’t read. Now obviously I don’t mean that they’ve never read, but I’m talking about the average North American adult who works well over 40 hours a week, has a spouse perhaps, children, and/or pets plus a social life. In other words, I’m talking about people who don’t make time to read which can very easily happen but have always had a dream of writing a book. Sound like you?
You Have To Read
The first step to understanding what you like and don’t like and what kind of book you should write is to READ, and I mean read a lot! Start with a genre you are interested in, read a few books, and then move to another genre and rinse and repeat. This doesn’t have to break the bank either. The best way to dive into different genres without spending tons of money is to download free ebooks.
Don’t worry! A free ebook does not necessarily mean that it is synonymously a “crappy” book. For example, many established authors who are trying to introduce their work to new readers will run a promotion and give away the first book in a series etc. for free.
How To Find & Download Free Ebooks
Amazon – Free Kindle Ebook Collection
Barnes & Noble – Free Nook Ebooks
Kobo Books – Free Kobo Ebooks
Try this post: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/20-best-websites-to-download-free-e-books/
*Update*
Here’s another zero cost way to get to know your genre. I just discovered that my local library allows me to check out ebooks and magazines digitally! How cool is that? I can read Newsweek and a NYT bestseller right on my iPad for free. Sweet! So I highly recommend that you check with your local library and see if those services are available to you. You might be pleasantly surprised.
One More Thing…
Consider this if you’re not totally sold on my whole “read a lot” thing yet.. Perhaps you watch a lot of one genre on television (let’s take crime mysteries like CSI) and you even read a few of the New York Times Bestseller crime novels when they come out , BUT you want to write a book about your life growing up on a farm. Your next step would be to read a LOT of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Be sure to read a lot in the genre that you are interested in so you can recognize what you like and what you don’t like.
Let me know in the comment section when you’ve taken your first step by downloading a new book and what genres are peaking your interest. I look forward to seeing your progress!
Lisa, the thought of trying to write an e-book makes me want to throw up. (too graphic)? As a result I don’t have an e-book for my site, no e-book no free give away.
I use selected guest authors on my site, writing about their area of expertise. So here is my idea…develop a theme, like starting a small business, and have each guest write their next post on that subject. So far so good. How the “heck” do you write this so that is flows and does not present like it was 20 different people writing?
Lisa Go for the e-book on the current trend what readers want today. Write something different than all others. We all advice you but write on the niche in which you are interested.
you have never disappointed your audience like myself and you earned so much respect from me…am reading and i would keep reading as you see i just finished reading your post now.
Hey Lisa, I took your advice about reading books from different genres. I “rinsed and repeated” (love how you used that), until I discovered what genre of books I enjoy the most. Ocassionally I enjoy thriller novels, but after I “blew dried and set” I found out that books that focus on positive thinking, and practicing good habits benefited me the most. I enjoy these types of books, because they allow me to improve on myself , improving my habits in order to deal with the craziness, which can occur in our lives. Thank you.
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading Dessaline:)
Hi
Hair extensions is a topic that I always wanted to write about. There seem to be a lot of interest for it, but I have seen any books about it. What do you think?
Anna
http://www.fabhair.com
I’d do some keyword research around the topic but off the cuff I think it’s a good idea. Tons of women wear them, so there probably is a need for info around them. I’ll be publishing a book pretty soon about how to do the proper research around a topic to know if it’s a good topic. Look for that soon:)