What does your reader stand to lose if they don’t solve the problem your self-help book addresses? What do they stand to gain if they do? Identifying the stakes supercharges your reader’s motivation.

How broad or narrow should your self-help book’s pain point be? The answer to this question depends on your target audience and your unique qualifications as an author.

Identifying a compelling pain point and promise is the number one secret to writing a great self-help or spirituality book.

Readers turn to self-help and spirituality books because they want to believe in something. As a highly ethical self-help author, it’s essential to put care into how you shape those beliefs.

Want to write a great self-help or spirituality book? Back up your advice with quality research, and carefully consider the implications of the guidance you give your readers.

Self-help and spirituality authors wield tremendous influence over their readers—and should consider these guidelines for wielding that influence responsibly.

If your self-help or spirituality book feels too generic, chances are you need to tap more deeply into your personal connection to the topic.

If you find yourself running out of material for your self-help, psychology, or spirituality book, you may need to expand your book’s scope.

If your self-help, psychology, or spirituality book doesn’t have a clear pain point, readers will look elsewhere for help with their problems.

Overgeneralizing from your own experience can make your self-help or psychology book feel too limited in its applicability. Broadening your scope can help.

If your self-help book is overly autobiographical, you might be writing a memoir instead!