Writing the Self-Help Book or Service Article

An estimated 40 million self-help books are sold each year in the U.S., and service articles and reported essays make up the bulk of online and print magazine markets. These pieces are just information, they inspire, encourage and entertain. Service and self-help writing can change lives.

It’s also a ready-made market for authors.

Whether you want to write a book to help, inform, or inspire—or one that builds your brand and creates market growth and credibility for your business—the self-help market provides an opportunity for authors looking to traditionally or independently publish.

What does it take? The elements of a strong self-help book or service article emerge from your lived experience, interests, training, and perspective, supported by research, expert interviews, and real-world anecdotes.

But how do you write a book that only you can write? One that shares your unique experience and expertise in a way that connects with readers, like the books written by Stephen Covey, James Clear, Mel Robbins, and many others? How do you create service articles that inspire action and appeal to editors and readers?

In this dynamic OnDemand webinar, Polly Campbell—author of four personal development books and hundreds of published service articles—will explain how to push back self-doubt, find your voice, develop a focused idea, create structure and write work that helps readers.

You’ll have a chance to ask questions and will leave with a clear understanding of how to shape your experience or work background into a focused idea for a service article or book, along with a practical next-steps plan to start writing.

What You Will Learn:

• What service writing is and why it matters
• The difference between a topic and a focused idea
• How to choose “The Idea” to write about
• Approaches to establishing tone, voice, and credibility
• How to structure a service article
• How to structure a self-help book
• How to launch your writing process
• What you need to know about publishing your piece
• Why it’s essential to deliver accurate facts and practical tips and essential takeaways that empower readers.

Ever had a unique experience, overcome a challenge, built a business, or gone through something you believe could help, encourage, educate, or inspire others—if only you knew how to share it?

Then this webinar is for you.

This webinar is ideal for:

• Writers of all levels who want to transform, serve, or encourage through their work
• Professional and side-hustle writers who want to incorporate what they know into a publishable piece
• Engaged individuals who want to share their practical knowledge
• People with a unique story, talent, or skill they want to teach others
• Writers who want to make a positive difference and publish their work
• Growth-oriented leaders who want to showcase their expertise
• Speakers, trainers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who want a book to expand their message
• Curious hobbyists who want to learn more about the genre

Knowledge is power. Stories are transformative. When we bring them together in service pieces and self-help books, we can create meaning and for readers and ourselves.

Instructor:

Polly Campbell is the award-winning author of four personal development books, including You, Recharged: How to Beat Fatigue (Mostly), Amp Up Your Energy (Usually), and Enjoy Life Again (Always) and How to Live an Awesome Life: How to Live Well, Do Good, Be Happy, among others. Her service articles have appeared in numerous online and print publications including Arthritis Today, Spirituality & Health Magazine, Psychology Today, and HuffPost. Polly hosts the Simply Write with Polly Campbell podcast and writes the companion newsletter at SimplyWrite.substack.com about writing craft and creating a sustainable writing life. She also hosts Polly Campbell, Simply Said: How to Live Well, Do Good, and Be Happy and writes about practical personal development at pollycampbell.substack.com.