Help! Someone has already written my book!
By Jessica Brown
You’ve had the most brilliant idea for a book. It’s the book that is going to establish you as an expert in your field and elevate your business to new heights. You’re excited about sharing your personal message with the world and have even thought of the catchiest title. Amazon bestseller, here you come!
And then it happens… You are merrily scrolling through Instagram when you see that someone in your network has just launched a book that sounds just like yours! In fact, the more you look, the more you see books popping up all over the shop that question the originality of your brilliant book idea.
One of my personal-development author clients, Sian Hill – an NLP trainer and master coach – would tell me this is your reticular activating system on high alert. When something takes a high priority in your consciousness (like, for example, the subject of the book you have been focusing on), you start becoming hyper aware and zoning in on anything associated to it that comes into your periphery – just like when you want to buy a certain make of car and start seeing it everywhere!
This is something I hear from my clients all the time and it can be a real trigger for our old friend imposter syndrome. As much as we know we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others, in reality, our egos often can’t help themselves and all those self-limiting doubts come flooding in.
However, I am here to be the voice of reassurance. It is normal to have these thoughts but they don’t have to take over and ruin your author journey.
Let me tell you a story…
Last year I was commissioned to edit two books by two different self-publishing authors within a couple of months of each other. On paper, these two books sounded remarkably similar and although they slotted into the same genre, once I got to work, it became clear they were different in so many ways. Okay, yes, there were certain overlaps in topics but not massively so and both looked at the subject from entirely different backgrounds, bringing fresh and varying experiences to their perspectives. Most striking of all was the difference in styles and how both writers harnessed the power of their unique author voices, which made for two very different and equally rewarding reading experiences… and they both helped them to establish themselves as experts in their field.
Why similar books are actually good news
If there are already bestselling books in your niche, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means there is a demand for books like yours.
Ever since I read The Secret, I have loved reading books about manifestation. In fact, I can’t get enough of them. As much as I enjoyed reading Rhonda Byrne’s take on the Law of Attraction, I don’t want to just read one book and one person’s perspective on the topic; I want to gain as much information and soak up as many varying insights as I can. And if a new book by a new voice in the field pops up in my radar, you can bet it’s going to the top of my wish list
Just because there is a book that sounds kind of like yours, it doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to bring to the conversation. Your voice is just as valid and readers will still want to hear what you have to say.
Originality is overrated
Truth bomb time: unless you are writing about some break-through piece of unpublished research; it’s highly unlikely that your concept will never have been touched on before in the history of non-fiction books.
As Joanna Penn writes in her book The Successful Author Mindset, “Every non-fiction gem of wisdom has been said before… But your thoughts have not been written before and your story has not been told before.”
Have you ever heard people say that they have listened to the same message a hundred times but it wasn’t until they heard it explained in one particular way, by one particular person that it finally clicked? You could be that person for someone.
There is only one you and that can be your superpower.
Market research is key
Cultivating the right author mindset is crucial. However, on a practical level, taking the time to do some thorough market research before you start putting pen to paper can give you the confidence that there is a place for your book in the market. Achieving the delicate balance between a book that sits within a popular genre but is different enough to stand out from the crowd is where you’ll find the coveted sweet spot. Writing out a book proposal can be a great way to make sure you’re asking the right questions and are writing the right book for your target reader. This is why literary agents and publishing houses ask for a book proposal with submissions: they need to know your book is marketable before they make an investment. Writing a business case for your book is just as important when you are self-publishing. If you’re not sure where to start with crafting your own proposal, guest blogger Celina Mina sets out exactly what you should be thinking about before you begin the book writing process.
A final note
Writing your first book is incredibly exciting but doing something different and putting yourself out there in a way you haven’t before is bound to feel a little uncomfortable at times. However, keeping focused on your goal and staying true to yourself and your own creative style (and avoiding that tricky little monkey comparison) can help foster a confident author mindset. In the words of author Charles de Lint, “No one sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.”
Have a non-fiction book in progress? Our team are on hand to help you get it in the best shape possible. Browse our services to find out how we can help you on your own book adventure or schedule a chat. We’d love to hear from you.