| Who Can Write a Book? | | | | want to buy. People buy non-fiction books to learn |
| Is there a book inside you? 81 percent of | | | | about something; they purchase fiction books for |
| Americans say yes. With so many people having | | | | the pleasure of reading. Consider non-fiction for |
| the desire to see their story in print, why does | | | | your first book, they're easier to write and |
| only a small percentage pick up the pen and | | | | considerably more non-fiction books are published |
| write? Maybe it's because writing and publishing a | | | | than fiction. In fact, non-fiction generally outsells |
| book seems like such an immeasurable task. But | | | | fiction by two to one. |
| with proper direction, all writers have the ability to | | | | Half of all books sold in 2006 were sold to people |
| see their story in book form. You're not alone in | | | | over age 45. Women buy 68 percent of all books |
| this venture, there are about 195,000 new titles | | | | sold, so it might be wise to consider targeting |
| published in the U.S. each year-is yours next? | | | | your book idea to include a more mature and |
| What to Write? | | | | primarily female audience as well. The highest |
| Do you have an expertise which may benefit | | | | percentages of books sold were mass market |
| others? Has your imagination run wild with thrilling | | | | paperbacks and college text books. |
| mysteries others may enjoy reading about? Or | | | | The following are statistics on what age groups |
| do you simply have a story to tell? If you feel | | | | purchase which type of books. Results are based |
| there is a book inside you, the first step to | | | | on telephone interviews with 1,001 adults, aged 18 |
| turning your idea into a book is of course, writing | | | | and older. |
| it. First and foremost, write what you know. With | | | | The top three for ages 18-29 were:o 72% - |
| experience comes knowledge, and you will enjoy | | | | Biographies or books about historyo 60% - |
| writing more when you are familiar with your | | | | Self-improvement bookso 58% - Thriller or |
| subject. Later, when you are promoting your | | | | suspense novels |
| book, you will need to be very familiar with the | | | | For ages 30 - 49:o 72% - Biographies or books |
| information included to be comfortable discussing | | | | about historyo 60% - Religion and theologyo 60% |
| your book with potential buyers and others. | | | | - Self-improvement books |
| When you choose your book, the subject | | | | For ages 50 - 64:o 74% - Biographies or books |
| matters. Check your resources (library or | | | | about historyo 60% - Self-improvement bookso |
| internet) to make sure the book market is not | | | | 59% - Current literary fiction |
| already saturated with similar books. It's always | | | | For ages 65 and over:o 76% - Biographies and |
| good to look for a niche, something new that | | | | books about historyo 58% - Religion and |
| hasn't been previously published or puts a new | | | | theologyo 53% - Current events books and |
| twist on a subject. Make yourself familiar with | | | | mystery novels |
| researching the library or internet; you will be | | | | The balance of genre choices in the poll included |
| spending many hours there, especially if your | | | | business management and leadership books, |
| choice is to write non-fiction. | | | | classic literature, horror novels, personal finance |
| Avoid a book idea which requires the reader to | | | | books, science fiction and romance novels. All |
| make notes in the book. Libraries and some | | | | rated between 7 and 48 percent. For a complete |
| booksellers prefer not to carry books which | | | | list visit |
| include several work sheet pages because they | | | | How Do I Put it All Together? |
| lose value once written in. | | | | Slow down and take writing one step at a time. It |
| Who's Your Audience? | | | | may seem like an impossible journey right now, |
| Before you decide exactly what to write, figure | | | | but over time, and following the right cycle of |
| out who will be buying and reading your book. If | | | | things, you will eventually see your book in print. |
| you are writing a family history, for instance, your | | | | You can subscribe to a free monthly ezine |
| audience may be limited to your friends and | | | | through Plain & Simple Books (sign up at |
| family members, and book sales won't be a | | | | which walks you through the journey of writing, |
| concern to you. But if your plan is to sell your | | | | publishing, and selling your book. But for now... |
| book and make profit, you need to research the | | | | SIT DOWN & WRITE! |
| market to determine what your audience will | | | | |