S1 Ep16: S1 Ep16: Empathy in Ink: Understanding Your Reader's Journey When Writing Non-Fiction

Writing a book without really knowing your reader’s journey is a bit of an insult to them - and can be THE thing that means they finish your book and love it… or they don’t. When you’re writing, sometimes you’re so wrapped up in what YOU want to write about you almost forget the reader exists.  Now I’m pretty confident you’re not like that. But it’s easy to slip into writing a book without considering exactly how you're going to take the reader on a journey of transformation and change. You’re brimming with ideas and knowledge; you just want to get it down on the page. And I get that. I really do.  But before you write, you have to get a clear idea of your reader and their journey. Not only does it make the book far more helpful for them to read, but it also makes it a lot easier for you to write too. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why emotions have a MASSIVE impact on whether your reader will pick up your book - as well as some examples of books I’ve recently read for this exact reason! The three stages of your reader’s journey that you must consider when planning your book’s structure and why! A simple yet powerful activity that can help you put yourself in your reader’s shoes and consider the outcome you want them to have after reading your book. And so much more! Your reader MUST be at the heart of your book - it makes all the difference between a book that someone reads once and never opens again - and one that changes their life. So let’s get to know them and help them in the best way possible. I hope you enjoy listening! Further resources: You can read more about publishing in this blog post. Books mentioned in this episode: - How to Grow Your Small Business: A 6-Step Plan to Help Your Business Take Off by Donald Miller - Fast Like a Girl: A Woman’s Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy and Balance Hormones by Dr Mindy Pelz - How to Craft a Killer Cosy Mystery: An Intensive Guide to Traditional Murder Mysteries and Writing the Modern Whodunit - by Andrea J. Johnson If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform: Apple Spotify Amazon Subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter - The Write Stuff - which is full of advice on writing and publishing a book in your niche. Download my FREE PDF - 5 Steps to Plan a Bestselling Book in Your Niche Steph’s books: Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - Amazon Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - CHW website Connect with Steph: Website: https://creatinghappywriters.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatinghappywriters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/creatinghappywriters Twitter https://twitter.com/stephcaswell_ Use #creatinghappywriters Listen to all previous podcast episodes on my website, via the podcast platforms below or by searching for 'Creating Happy Writers' on your favourite podcast provider. Apple Podcasts  Spotify Amazon Music *Disclaimer: if you buy a copy of a book I have linked to in these show notes, I’ll receive a small commission as an Amazon affiliate. If you’d rather buy your books elsewhere, I completely understand.