9
How to Write a How-to
Bookstores everywhere are littered with How-to books filled with quick-fix solutions for anything from everyday nuisances to serious personal problems. More than 90 percent of Americans believe they have it in themselves to write some kind of book. Why not
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further clog the marketplace with your own How-to, helping the helpless and maybe even making a little money along the way? First, identify a problem lots of people have. Like greed or sarcasm. It helps if you're at least marginally knowledgeable of the subject, but willingness to research works just as well. Next, come up with a list of vague solutions. At their core, these solutions will be no-brainers but should give the illusion something profound is being revealed. Provide a list of mantras and catch phrases that sound good when said aloud by small groups of people; encouraging readers to share what they've learned spreads the healing and generates sales. Finally, choose a snappy title that will help you help others:
I Am You: How to Know Yourself
(You can't have that one, it's mine). A good title begins the assault on the potential readers' defenses. Let your inner wisdom do the rest. Unlike authors who take more traditional publishing routes, you may actually earn money for your writing.
Do it yourself:
First peruse the aisles of the nearest corporate chain supervendor of books, looking for holes in the vast galaxy of How-tos. Once you've settled on a topic Fred Gleeck, How-to guru and the brains behind
, will help you learn the skills it takes to market your book to the needy masses. Pick up a copy of the
2005 Writer's Market
at your local bookstore for additional info on markets for How-to books.
