Thinking of Writing a Book? 5 Surprising Truths from Authors Who've Been There
Introduction: The Dream and the Reality
Almost everyone has, at some point, thought, "I should write a book." It's a romantic and powerful idea—to codify your knowledge, share your story, and create something permanent. But the journey from a flash of inspiration to a published book is often overwhelming, confusing, and filled with common misconceptions.
The reality of authorship is far more nuanced than simply sitting down to write. To help demystify the process, we gathered a diverse group of authors, book coaches, and publishing experts. They shared some of the most surprising, counter-intuitive, and impactful truths they’ve learned from years in the trenches. Here are five of them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Stop Obsessing Over the Title—It's Not Your Starting Point
One of the most common mistakes an aspiring author makes is getting stuck on the title. While a great title is crucial for marketing, the experts agree it shouldn’t be your starting point. In fact, it should be one of the last things you finalize.
The most effective titles emerge organically from the writing process itself, reflecting the core message you discover along the way. More importantly, you must first define the book's purpose. As publishing expert Steve Sarner advised, you must first define your goals: Is the book meant to solve a problem? Support a speaking or consulting business? Or is it a story you feel compelled to tell?
Author and coach Barbara Wainwright suggests starting with a meditation to clarify "the message that you want to most deliver in your book." This foundational work on your purpose is far more critical than a catchy name—especially since a publisher might insist on changing it anyway. As author Barry Maher bluntly puts it:
"And then what's going to happen if you sell it to a major publisher? They're going to change the damn thing anyway."
- Understand Your "Why," Because It’s Probably Not About the Money
Before you invest hundreds of hours into a manuscript, it's vital to get honest about your motivation. For most authors, especially in non-fiction, a massive payday is not a realistic primary goal. Book marketing expert Steve Sarner offers a sobering statistic: "only a small percentage of books sell more than a thousand books."
Instead, successful authors are driven by a deeper "why." The experts identified several powerful motivators that are far more meaningful than profit alone:
- The "Give Back": Author and former executive Jim Boswell described writing his book as a way to "pay it forward." He felt compelled to codify the unique lessons he'd learned over a long career and make them available to others—so much so that he gives the book away for free on his website.
- The "Calling Card": For many professionals, a non-fiction book is a powerful business tool. Sarner explains that it can serve as a "calling card" to build credibility, support a speaking or consulting career, generate new leads, and establish you as a thought leader in your industry.
- The "Passion Project": Sometimes, the motivation is a persistent internal nudge that won't go away. Author and coach Barbara Wainwright shared how her spiritual guides kept "nudging" her for years to write her book. The persistent call to share her message eventually became too strong to ignore, leading her to finally write it.
- Treat AI as a Smart Assistant, Not a Ghostwriter
In the modern writing landscape, artificial intelligence is an unavoidable topic. But the consensus is clear: AI is a powerful tool to assist the process, not a replacement for the author's voice and soul.
Experts use AI in highly practical ways. Marilyn McCloud described having a "conversation with AI" to develop and refine ideas she'd been carrying in her head for years. Jim Boswell noted that AI is valuable for helping with the "cranking it out" part of writing—the less glamorous work of structuring and drafting.
Specific, effective uses for AI include:
- Fleshing out chapter outlines and subtopics.
- Brainstorming different angles or ideas.
- Performing what author and coach Barbara Wainwright called "publisher level editing" for grammar and punctuation.
However, its limitations are just as important. As Jim Boswell explains, "the original thoughts, the major motivation, the key ideas all need to come from you." The human element is irreplaceable. Book coach Mick Smith offered a powerful reflection on this point:
"AI has no idea who I've buried, who I've loved and lost, who I've loved at all. So AI can't do any of that. So the original inspiration gets you the humanity..."
- Your Marketing Campaign Starts Months Before Your Book Launch
Many authors make the critical error of waiting until their book is published to start thinking about marketing. By then, it's often too late. To have any chance of breaking through the noise, your promotional efforts need to begin long before your book is available for purchase.
Steve Sarner laid out a clear pre-launch strategy that should start at least three months before publication:
- Build a "Beta Reader" Group: Assemble a group of 20 to 100+ people from your network to read an advance copy. This provides invaluable early feedback and, more importantly, prepares a team to post reviews on launch day.
- List for Pre-Sale: Get your book listed on platforms like Amazon for pre-sale up to six months in advance. This helps build momentum in the platform's algorithm.
- Engage Your Network: Use your email list and social media to share updates on your progress. Ask for input on potential titles or chapter ideas to make your audience feel like they have a sense of shared ownership in the project.
This proactive approach is essential for building the buzz required to overcome the odds and avoid becoming another book that fades into obscurity.
- The Best Stories Come from Unexpected Places
Finally, the most powerful and compelling books often originate from deeply personal, and sometimes difficult, life experiences. The unique story that only you can tell is your greatest asset as an author.
Author Barry Maher shared a remarkable anecdote about the origin of his latest novel. The entire story came to him after he underwent surgery for a brain tumor, during which he heard Lady Gaga singing non-stop in his head. While the music eventually faded, the story remained and became his book.
Other authors in the group found their motivation after overcoming significant trauma or facing life-altering events like cancer, as shared by author Tess Booker and Jim Boswell. These experiences, while challenging, provided the raw material for their most impactful work. They underscore a fundamental truth: an author’s most valuable content comes from their specific journey. As book coach Mick Smith described it, this is the "imago dei"—the unique part of you that can never be outsourced or replicated by any tool, including AI. It's the story that came from a brain tumor and a phantom Lady Gaga song; it's the wisdom forged in trauma and recovery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion: What's the Story Only You Can Tell?
Writing a book is a challenging, deeply human journey that requires far more than just words on a page. Whether your goal is to "pay it forward," create a new "calling card" for your career, or share the unique "imago dei" that only you possess, the process demands a clear purpose, an authentic voice, and the courage to draw from your most personal experiences.
Now that you know the real story behind the process, what is the one message that only you can share with the world?
