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Posted on Apr 18, 2022

How to Write a Self-Help Book (That Actually Helps People)

✍️ This post was written by Kleopatra Olympiou, a writer from Cyprus and holder of an MA in Creative Writing from Durham University.

You’ve overcome an obstacle or problem and learned some important life lessons — now you want to write a self-help book and share your experience and wisdom with other people. You’re ready to give them the tools they need to grow and improve their lives. 

This post walks you through the whole process, sharing some tips from expert self-help editors on the Reedsy marketplace. Here’s how you can write your own self-help book:

1. Identify a specific problem your book will remedy

2. make your readers believe you can help them, 3. don’t forget that you’re telling a story , 4. give your readers specific actions they can take, 5. pick an appealing and informative title (and subtitle), 6. always cite your sources, 7. give readers something extra at the end.

To some extent, nonfiction books (with the important exception of memoirs and creative nonfiction) are about identifying a problem and offering a solution. This could mean practical, step-by-step advice or a deeper, more nuanced understanding of an existing situation that changes the reader’s perception. Self-help books are no different: your job as a writer is to zero in on a particular problem, and provide your reader a way to deal with it.

Accept that you need to limit your scope

Many self-help writers begin with a very general idea, like overcoming mental illness or becoming a happier person. Broad, abstract topics like this are great as a first instinct, but you’ll need to refine the scope of your book for the sake of your readers, your sanity, and your commercial potential. 

Abstract concepts are hard to comprehensively address in a helpful way that provides concrete insights and advice. They’re also notoriously difficult to sell to a traditional self-help publisher , who will be looking for something new and unique with a defined target audience. As of March 2022, there are over 70,000 titles in the Self-Help category on Amazon — so writing a generic book about “finding happiness” won’t quite cut it. 

Distill your idea

A good way to focus the scope of your book is to fill in the blanks of this imaginary pledge to your reader:

If you are ____ and your problem is ____, I can help you by ____.

This pledge helps you identify your audience, the problem they’re facing, and its solution. We’ll use ParentShift: Ten Universal Truths That Will Change the Way You Raise Your Kids by Wendy Thomas Russell, Linda Hatfield, and Ty Hatfield as a vehicle to explore all three. 

Understanding your target audience is crucial when writing any type of nonfiction. Not only will it help you market your book , but it will also be the driving force that shapes your book and helps you write it well . After all, how can you help someone if you don’t know who they are and what they need?

So ask yourself who will gain the most from the material in your book. The answer should be as specific as possible. Let’s look at  ParentShift: Ten Universal Truths That Will Change the Way You Raise Your Kids . 

And don’t just stop there, think about location, cultural context, and occupation: parents who work full-time might especially need fast solutions — with triple shifts, play dates and a mountain of housework to stay on top of, ten universal truths might be as much as they can handle. The more detail you have on your demographic, the easier it will be to target them. 

After you’ve located your target audience, figure out the precise aspects of their problem (or “pain point”) and identify the many shapes they might take. ParentShift , for example, immediately sets up a problem: you’re struggling with raising your children, you know it, and common parenting methods aren’t working for you.

When you’ve identified your central problem, make it visible in the title, subtitle, or blurb, so that your audience can tell that this book is for them right away. 

How does a book on terrible teens and toddlers solve the problem of mediocre parenting? Well, as ParentShift ’s blurb notes, it “challenges some of our most popular disciplinary tools and replaces them with more than a dozen ‘toolkits’ designed to help parents solve virtually any household without sabotaging their long term goals.” In other words, this book helps you analyze your problem in new ways, and shows you alternative courses of action. 

Presumably, this is the kind of insight that made you want to write a book in the first place, so we’ll assume you have a good understanding of your own ideas here — but just in case the thoughts are getting jumbled in your mind, try talking out your ideas with a friend to make sure they’re easy to understand and you’re able to communicate them clearly. Then put pen to paper, and repeat the process!

The success of a self-help book hinges entirely on your credibility and authority as a writer. After all, you wouldn’t wander down the street asking random people to help you improve your life, would you? That’s why you’ll often see beloved media personalities publish self-help books: they have an inbuilt audience of people who already trust them.

But how can you create trust with prospective readers if you’re not Russell Brand or Oprah Winfrey ? Two ways to do this involve sharing facts about yourself — the third, and sometimes forgotten one, has to do with style and structure.

Qualifications tell readers others can vouch for your knowledge

One way in which authors can show that they’re authoritative sources is by noting any relevant qualifications. For example, Brené Brown regularly cites her work as a researcher and psychology professor when examining the kinds of people who struggle to be vulnerable in her book Daring Greatly . But university degrees aren’t the only qualification that matters — take Matthieu Ricard, for example, whose book The Art of Meditation is infinitely more appealing because of the fact that its writer is a Buddhist monk, and so someone the reader trusts to know meditation well.

Personal experiences say “I’ve been there”

By opening up and sharing stories from your personal past, you show readers you’re speaking from real, first-hand experience — not just theorizing from a distance. For example, Louise Hay’s self-help classic, The Power Is Within You , followed her many years of work with HIV/AIDS patients and her own experience of cervical cancer, and focuses on how positive thought patterns can help lead to improved wellbeing. Were Hay not speaking from experience, skeptical readers might struggle to see why they should read her book — but by letting millions of readers walk a mile in her shoes, she gave them a reason to listen to what she had to say.

Persuasive style and structure matter the most

While it’s important that readers can see that you are worthy of their trust, resist the urge to turn your book into a LinkedIn page of your Expert Qualifications. 

Elaine O’Neill , a former Hay House Commissioning Editor, points out that self-help writers often miss a trick in getting readers to believe in them by neglecting style and structure: 

"One mistake that I find new self-help authors make more often than anything else is forgetting their reader. They believe they have to include everything they've learned into their manuscript, without thinking about what the reader needs to learn, and how to feed it to them bit by bit. Authors can show their authority by really knowing their reader inside out and speaking to them directly, by sharing their own recovery from the same issue. 

“You want the reader to feel seen by you, and once they do, they'll trust your expertise because you've been there — and you can see they are too.”

Didacticism never works

Fiction readers are notoriously intolerant of didactic narratives — self-help books are a slightly different story, because the writer is, by default, in the position of a teacher. That said, no one likes to be spoken down to, and a superior tone will not help you assert your expertise. You aren’t running for president of the Nobel committee — you just want a reader to like you enough to listen, so make an effort to communicate your knowledge in a style of language that speaks to them.

📚 Still not sure how to present yourself? Head to our list of the 50 Best Self-Help Books of All Time and check out how each of these authors presents themselves as an authority figure.

Self-help books rarely follow a single, overarching narrative arc . Typically, they’re guided not by a narrative but by an argument or thesis — with chapters structured around stories that help illustrate the points made. 

Structure intuitively for a great reading experience

How do you make sure your book is readable, compact, and flows logically from chapter to chapter? By committing to a detailed outline before you even start to write. In traditional publishing, you will almost always first draft a book proposal which will serve as an excellent plan. But even if you’re self-publishing , making a plan is well worth your time to ensure that every chapter is necessary and contributes value.

As with novels, good beginnings can make or break a self-help book. Your introduction should tell readers a little about you and why you’re writing a book. It should also give them a quick, at-a-glance summary of what will follow. Chapter 1 is where you’ll start getting to the meat of things, sketching out the complexities of the central problem. After that, it’s up to you how the rest of the book will be structured.

If this is a point you’re really struggling with, focus on getting all your thoughts out instead, and make a note of questions or concerns to bring up with your editor later. Speaking of editors, you can request quotes from some of the best self-help editors in the industry for free, right here on Reedsy:

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The best self-help editors are on Reedsy. Sign up for free and meet them.

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

Solidify through anecdotes and emotional storytelling

Ideally, you should structure each chapter of your self-help book around a specific point or insight — and the best way to illustrate each point is through a story or anecdote, whether it’s personal, hypothetical, or entirely fictional. Stories have the great effect of eliciting an emotional response or more active interest by involving a character that readers can empathize with or watch with curiosity. 

Need an example? Think of the way Christianity’s teachings are shared through the parables Jesus taught lessons with: the story of the good Samaritan is infinitely more memorable than “be kind.”

Storytelling also creates interest and suspense , keeping readers invested — take a look at Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People , the first chapter of which starts as follows: 

“On May 7, 1931, the most sensational manhunt New York City had ever known had come to its climax. After weeks of search, ‘Two Gun’ Crowley—the killer, the gunman who didn’t smoke or drink—was at bay, trapped in his sweetheart’s apartment on West End Avenue.”

Only tell stories that add to your message

Self-help editor Danielle Goodman emphasizes the need to only tell stories worth telling: “When it comes to self-help books, proof of concept is absolutely necessary. That’s why story-telling can be so powerful. It lifts your advice from the page and places it in the real world of real people, like yourself and your readers. 

“The main question to ask yourself when telling pieces of your story is: Is what I’m writing in service of my message? In other words, how does this story underscore what you want the reader to feel, understand, and act on? 

“Once you know the answer, be explicit in connecting the dots for the reader. Tell them exactly why you included this story and what you want them to get out of it. And if you can’t quite figure out why this story is important to your message, leave it out for now.” 

The self-help genre is often more abstract than, say, how-to guides or even memoir, so your book may run the risk of being too woolly in its advice.  And if you’ve ever tried to get travel directions from someone who sorta kinda knows the way to the library, you’ll know how frustrating vagueness can be.

Self-help editor Kate Victory Hannisian says that “one indicator that you haven’t made your self-help advice completely clear is a comment from editors or beta-readers like this: ‘Great, but how does someone actually DO that?’

“Sometimes the solution is to see if you can break that advice into bite-sized, actionable steps. Other times, adding specific examples and vivid anecdotes with a few well-chosen details can help make your advice real and relatable for your target reader, and thus more useful to them. Depending on the type of self-help book you’re writing, these examples may come from your own experience or other sources, but the key is knowing that it’s important to show, don’t tell — even in nonfiction writing.”

Free course: How to Master the ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ Rule

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To make sure your actionable points aren’t lost in the storytelling, you can offer a recap at the end of each chapter. Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein’s A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century re-iterates each of its chapters perfectly, summarizing the main takeaways in bullet points — but you can go a step further and offer a checklist of actions to take or questions the reader can ask themselves to diagnose their own needs.

Self-help titles are generally pretty formulaic, and nearly always include a subtitle:

 [Attention-Grabbing Phrase]:[Description of the Book] 

You can see this formula in action with self-help titles like:

• The 4-Hour Work Week : Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich
• The Self-Love Habit : Transform fear and self-doubt into serenity, peace and power
• The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook : A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive

So what do you need to bear in mind when you title your own book ? Let’s do a super-quick linguistic analysis of this genre’s common title elements. 🧠

a) Direct address

Many self-help titles address the reader directly with the second person pronoun ‘you’. As with fiction written in second person point of view , directly addressing your reader has an immediate and personal effect, especially if the title catches a reader’s eye on a store shelf or online. Here are a few examples:

• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
• Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven
• Declutter Your Mind by S.J. Scott ⁠and Barrie Davenport
• Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez

b) Imperatives

Authoritative statements are attention-grabbing in the same way that second person is: by being immediate. Titles that use imperatives put this most powerful of grammatical moods to use in order to command the reader’s attention. Can’t think of any? Here’s a few:

• Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark ⁠
• Stick with Exercise for a Lifetime by Robert Hopper 
• Find Your Artistic Voice by Lisa Congdon
• Keep Going by Austin Kleon

c) An inspirational tone

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
• The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
• Street Smart Disciplines of Successful People by Mark Mullins and John Kuhn

d) Search-optimized subtitle

When self-help covers feature these inspirational titles, they often need a subtitle to contextualize the contents of the book. These relatively prosaic second titles give a more informative description of what readers can expect. 

🚨Watch your capitals! Head over to our post covering established title capitalization rules to make sure your title is correct.

That much is obvious — what fewer people realize is that titles are often search-optimized, meaning that they are written to contain some important keywords or terms related to the topic being discussed. This helps the book be found by readers searching for those terms on Amazon. Take a look at the titles below, and notice the keywords in their subtitles — bolded for your convenience:

• The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
• Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
• Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention — And How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
• Tired as F*ck: Burnout at the Hands of Diet , Self-Help , and Hustle Culture by Caroline Dooner 

Confused? It’s got to do with the way Amazon’s algorithms work, as Reedsy co-founder Ricardo Fayet explains in his free book How to Market a Book . 

“If your book is ‘indexed’ for a keyword, that means it will turn up as a result when a customer enters that term into the Amazon search bar. For example, more than nine thousand e-books are indexed on the Kindle Store for “herbal remedies.” [...] The closer the match between your title, or a part of your title, and the search keyword, the higher your book will rank.”

Looking for more marketing insights? You can download Ricardo’s book for free below:

It’s unlikely that you’re the first person to ever write about your topic, or even give advice about your topic. That’s okay — different people can give different, and still useful, advice on the same issues, so don’t feel like your idea is “taken.”

The important thing is to acknowledge those who have informed your research, clearly giving them credit for ideas they have contributed. By all means add to these or expand them, but, as many a disgruntled undergraduate can attest, you should never present them as your own: that’s intellectual property theft at worst  — and at best, very uncool.

Instead, be gracious: cite your sources, describe their positions if they differ from yours, and situate yourself as one of the many voices in this dialogue. Take Cal Newport as your example — his introduction of previous contributions on the subject of technology being distracting is a masterclass in sketching out an existing discussion and clarifying your place in it:

“[This idea] is not new. [Nicholas Carr’s] The Shallows was just the first in a series of recent books to examine the Internet’s effect on our brains and work habits. These subsequent titles include William Powers’s Hamlet’s BlackBerry , John Freeman’s The Tyranny of E-mail , and Alex Soojung-Kin Pang’s The Distraction Addiction —all of which agree, more or less, that network tools are distracting us from work that requires unbroken concentration, while simultaneously degrading our capacity to remain focused. Given this existing body of evidence, I will not spend more time in this book trying to establish this point.”   — Cal Newport, 'Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World '

Consider this a bonus step, particularly useful to those writers who hope to make a living from their writing careers . Supposing a reader has finished your book, you know that you have an interest in common with them — so there may be more they can learn from you.

If you’re active on social media, teach a video course, or offer further resources on similar topics freely available on your platform, mention this in your book. Even if you have none of these things at the moment, you can offer a simple and free resource that complements your book, like a printable checklist the reader can download for easy reference. The idea is that you’ll point the reader to your website , and offer them a “ reader magnet ,” in other words allow them to download something in exchange for them signing up to your mailing list… which you’ll need to set up if you don’t already have one!

Why bother with all this? Because, as Reedsy’s Ricardo Fayet asserts in his free Reedsy Learning course on mailing lists, “your author mailing list is the one main tool you’ll use to build a long-lasting relationship with your readers, turning them into repeat buyers and unconditional fans. Every sale you make while your mailing list is not in place is basically a lost opportunity.”

Free course: Author Mailing Lists

Acquire more readers, sell more books, and make more money with the only indispensable tool in the book marketer's arsenal. Get started now.

When written with care, self-help books can boost their writer’s career, turn seriously profitable , and actually help people improve their lives. It’s a win-win if ever there was one, so take the time to polish yours and you won’t regret it. Good luck!

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17 Best Self-Help Authors To Help You Make Positive Changes

Find out the best self-help authors to guide you with your personal growth and development. Learn more in this article.

Self-improvement is a never-ending journey, and people worldwide agree that these best-selling self-help books can help you learn to live your best life, one good decision at a time. 

Self-help books have helped many people change their lives for the better, and it’s easier than ever to get your hands on reading material that can help you grow and change. Whether you choose to hit up Amazon or your local library, the authors below are known among businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and everyday people who want to improve their lives by writing the best self-help books. 

1. Dale Carnegie

2. brené brown, 3. jen sincero, 4. stephen r. covey, 5. eckhart tolle, 6. elizabeth gilbert, 7. james clear, 8. marie kondo, 9. mark manson, 10. napoleon hill, 11. tony robbins, 12. david schwartz, 13. paulo coelho, 14. don miguel ruiz, 15. robert kiyosaki, 16. viktor frankl, 17. rhonda byrne, the final world on best self-help authors, what are the best books for self-help on the market today, who is the wealthiest self-help author, best authors reading list.

Dale Carnegie’s  self-improvement books have helped extroverts and introverts alike learn how to make friends and live happier lives. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living helps people living with anxiety and worry. His book on honing one’s social skills, How to Win Friends and Influence People , has sold over 30 million copies. Carnegie is heralded as one of the best self-help authors of all time.

• Brand: GENERAL PRESS
• Language: english
• Hardcover Book
• Carnegie, Dale (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

With over four million copies of her books sold worldwide, social scientist  Brené Brown  is in high demand. Her studies on relationships, vulnerability, and shame have helped people dig into past hurts and how they affect their relationships today. In addition to steadily churning out books that top the charts, Brown is also a regular guest on podcasts and talk shows alike. Brown’s latest book, Atlas of the Heart , is expected to follow sales trends of her previous bestsellers, including Daring Greatly and Dare to Lead . 

• Brown, Brené (Author)
• 336 Pages - 11/30/2021 (Publication Date) - Random House (Publisher)

Successful people worldwide know  Jen Sincero  for her You Are a Badass series, which has sold more than five million copies. In 2011, Sincero sold most of her belongings and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, running her book proposal writing business from all corners of the globe. In addition to writing motivational books, Sincero also performs motivational comedy, captivating audiences with her kick-in-the-pants style of pushing people to move forward. 

• Jen Sincero (Author)
• 01/01/2021 (Publication Date) - John Murray Learning (Publisher)

Heralded as one of the best self-help books of all time, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey has sold more than 20 million copies. Published in 1989, 7 Habits has stood the test of time and continues to be a favorite among high achievers across various sectors. Covey completed an analysis of self-help books during his doctoral dissertation and found a hole in the market that he could fill. So he developed 7 Habits as a secular extension of his faith, helping people use relational skills that worked no matter their beliefs.

• Covey, Stephen R. (Author)
• 464 Pages - 05/19/2020 (Publication Date) - Simon & Schuster (Publisher)

Embracing the power of positive thinking has undoubtedly worked for self-help author  Eckhart Tolle  — he’s sold more than 2 million copies of The Power of Now , his self-help guide to help readers learn to live in the present moment. Born in post-war Germany, Tolle experienced periods of deep depression that later inspired him to develop his world-renowned self-help techniques. In 2008, the author partnered with Oprah Winfrey to host a webinar series, exposing millions of people to his teachings on appreciating the stillness and embracing life at the moment. 

• Eckhart Tolle (Author)
• Yogi Immpressions (IBD) (Publisher)

Known for her self-love manifesto,  Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 Eat, Pray, Love tale of travel and personal discovery captivated book lovers and movie buffs alike. The memoir was made into a hit film starring Julia Roberts in 2010. To date, the bestseller has found its way into the hands of more than 10 million readers worldwide. Gilbert grew up in Connecticut and went to college in New York City. Post-college, she spent time traveling to gain experiences that she could use for her writing. Her divorce sparked the globe-trotting journey that she shared with Eat, Pray, Love readers. 

• Great product!
• Gilbert, Elizabeth (Author)
• 400 Pages - 01/30/2007 (Publication Date) - Riverhead Books (Publisher)

With over 5 million copies sold to date,  James Clear’s Atomic Habits is at the top of the book list for self-improvement gurus worldwide. A freak baseball accident that caused brain damage caused Clear to take a serious look at his life — and move things in a different direction. Throughout his recovery, he began to realize how small, consistent habits could make a significant difference in one’s life and chose to share his experience with others in his books. James works to help his readers understand that solid systems are far more effective than goal-setting when it comes to long-term accomplishments. 

Are you interested in building a solid system for your content creation business? Check out our post on building a solid editorial calendar . 

• Clear, James (Author)
• 320 Pages - 10/16/2018 (Publication Date) - Avery (Publisher)

Marie Kondo’s three-book series on how decluttering can lead to a more fulfilling life has sold more than 4 million copies in the United States alone. Kondo states that she has spent more than half of her life thinking about ways to tidy and organize, and 2010’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is proof of her dedication to her craft.

By her mid-20s, Kondo’s self-made organizing business had a hefty waitlist. Kondo’s method — dubbed the KonMari method, a nod to the Japanese-style version of her name — invites people to choose to keep belongings that serve a purpose or spark joy and to respectfully discard items that no longer serve them. 

• Kondo, Marie (Author)
• 10/15/2019 (Publication Date) - Ten Speed Press (Publisher)

Mark Manson’s self-help books have sold more than 14 million copies globally. His no-nonsense style is evident in his books, Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck . Manson encourages people to subscribe to the less is more philosophy, encouraging them to focus on fewer tasks and people. In paying attention to fewer tasks, Manson encourages people to ensure that the tasks they focus on are done with excellence. In focusing on fewer people, Manson encourages his audiences to work to bolster the relationships that matter most. 

• Mark Manson (Author)
• Generic (Publisher)

Napoleon Hill’s 1937 smash success Think and Grow Rich taught people how to make money — the book has sold more than 30 million copies to date. Born in 1883, Hill helped his audience understand the importance of having — and working to fulfill — high expectations in life. In addition, Hill was the first self-help guru to introduce the concept of mastermind groups, in which executives and entrepreneurs with similar interests get together outside of their typical work environment to meet and swap ideas. 

• Think and Grow Rich
• Hill, Napoleon (Author)
• 378 Pages - 10/16/2008 (Publication Date) - TarcherPerigee (Publisher)

Known for his powerful personal development seminars,  Tony Robbins  is also rocking the self-help book market, with more than 15 million copies of Awaken the Giant Within  sold around the world. Robbins had a tough start to life, as he lived with abuse at home and developed a pituitary tumor that caused a 10-inch growth spurt in high school.

After leaving home at 17, Robbins worked as a janitor. Then, he began working for motivational speaker Jim Rohn and later began to run his own self-help and professional development seminars. Today, Robbins has a complete brand of coaching that offers trained coaches who work with budding entrepreneurs and others who want to move forward in business and life. 

• Anthony Robbins (Author)
• 688 Pages - 01/01/1800 (Publication Date) - Simon & Schuster Ltd; edition (2014-11-18) (Publisher)

With more than 6 million copies sold, The Magic of Thinking Big by  David Schwartz  has helped people around the world develop a more positive thought process. After studying at Georgia State University, Schwartz became well-known as a motivational expert.

The Magic of Thinking Big encourages readers to set high goals and believe in their ability to achieve them. In addition, Schwartz guides his readers through the process of using visualization to support their processes, as well as the importance of sharing good news with others to keep the positive energy flowing. 

Is it time for you to harness the power of positivity and take the next step in your writing career? Check out our post on the best writing contests.

• David J. Schwartz (Author)
• 276 Pages - 07/26/2015 (Publication Date) - Magdalene Press (Publisher)

Many have said that The Alchemist by  Paulo Coelho  is a story that can change your life — and 65 million people around the globe have experienced the powerful tale of how Santiago, a small-town shepherd boy, created his own reality.

Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Coelho rebelled against his family’s strict Roman Catholic values, resulting in his parents sending him to a psychiatric facility at a young age. Then, during a trip through Europe and Africa, Coelho walked the Santiago de Compostela, a 500-mile trek. Eight years later, Coelho wrote The Alchemist and became one of the top-selling self-help and motivational authors of all time. 

• Coelho, Paulo (Author)
• 208 Pages - 09/09/2014 (Publication Date) - HarperOne (Publisher)

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by  Don Miguel Ruiz  has sold more than nine million copies. Born and raised in rural Mexico, Ruiz did not start as a self-help guru helping others with life lessons. Instead, he was a practicing neurosurgeon before he became one of the best-known authors in the world. The Four Agreements offers readers steps that can provide long-term peace and transformation. Ruiz has also published The Fifth Agreement , co-authored by his son. 

• The Four Agreements Toltec Wisdom Collection
• Ruiz, Don Miguel (Author)
• 856 Pages - 09/01/2008 (Publication Date) - Amber-Allen Publishing (Publisher)

Bestselling author Robert Kiyosaki is a Hawaii-born Japanese-American who has become one of the most well-known personal finance experts. More than 32 million copies of Rich Dad Poor Dad have sold worldwide, and many look to  Robert Kiyosaki  for personal and business finance guidance.

Kiyosaki based his brand on his biological father, who was highly educated but struggled to earn a living, and his fictional other father, who was the richest man in Hawaii, despite being a high school dropout. Kiyosaki’s teachings have helped people worldwide rise above their circumstances and develop a sound financial future, no matter how they got their start. 

• Trade Paperback
• Kiyosaki, Robert T. (Author)
• 360 Pages - 08/16/2011 (Publication Date) - Plata Publishing (Publisher)

Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning has sold more than 10 million copies. The Austrian psychotherapist and psychiatrist believed that the purpose of therapy should be to help clients in their search for meaning in their lives. Frankl served as the chief of the female suicide prevention program at a psychiatric hospital before working as the chief of neurology at Vienna’s Rothschild Hospital.

Frankl’s wife and mother were killed in concentration camps during the Nazi occupation of Germany, and Frankl determined that people who had meaning in their lives were more likely to make it out of concentration camps than those who felt their lives lacked meaning. Later in life, Frankl taught at both the University of Vienna and at American universities. You might also be interested in our list of authors like Yung Pueblo .

• Frankl, Viktor E. (Author)
• 192 Pages - 04/25/2017 (Publication Date) - Beacon Press (Publisher)

Heralded by Oprah and other self-improvement superstars, Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret has sold more than 30 million copies. After a series of traumatic personal and professional events, Byrne discovered the law of attraction and researched how the law had served various populations over time. The Secret shares the law of attraction with readers, inviting them to stay focused on what they want in life. You might also enjoy these authors like Wayne Dyer .

• Byrne, Rhonda (Author)
• 736 Pages - 12/09/2008 (Publication Date) - Atria Books (Publisher)

While many self-help authors don’t get into writing to make money, personal development and motivation are lucrative markets. The authors listed above haven’t just transformed people’s lives — they’ve changed their own careers as well. There may be a stigma attached to reading books by self-help authors, but that is an old and outdated view.

Personal growth and development are something everybody should be encouraged to explore. The authors on this list, and the books they have written, are full of empowering and motivating ideas and concepts that can set you on the path to not just a brighter tomorrow, but a better you, today. 

FAQs On The Best Self-Help Authors

Today, some of the current top sellers in the self-help market include How To Win Friends and Influence People, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, and The Power of Now.

The richest self-help author is Tony Robbins, with a net worth of $480 million.

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Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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Ready, Set, Journal! 64 Journaling Prompts for Self-Discovery

Your journal creates an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and explore difficult emotions.

Many people keep a journal in their teenage years, either by choice or due to a school assignment. Perhaps it’s been years since you’ve considered putting pen to paper and expressing your thoughts and dreams. But journaling can have benefits for anyone at any stage of life.

For centuries, people around the world have turned to journals as trusted friends.

Reflecting on daily experiences, relationships, and personal values can help you get in better touch with your thoughts and feelings. It can lead to greater peace of mind .

“I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn,” wrote Anne Frank, who kept a now-famous account of her daily life and dreams for the future while in hiding during the Holocaust.

A journal also offers a safe space to express difficult emotions, making it easier to work through distressing thoughts that you might struggle to share out loud.

Are you interested in giving journaling a try? Do you feel a bit stuck when it comes to getting started? Try the 64 prompts below to kick-start your creativity and write your way toward well-being.

How to use journal prompts

You can certainly learn more about yourself by reviewing what you do each day, but journaling often goes beyond keeping a log of daily events.

Journal prompts offer specific themes and topics to reflect on, which can be helpful when you:

• want to make writing a habit but never know what to write about
• have a lot of conflicting thoughts to sort through
• feel as if you could write all day and want help narrowing your focus

Some prompts can even help you collect your thoughts on a recent conflict with a friend or partner. For example, writing about specific relationship challenges can help you get more clarity on your emotional needs and how to make sure they’re met.

Journaling generally proves most helpful when you do it regularly, though you don’t necessarily need to write every single day. If you’re short on time, you might aim for 3 days each week and pick one prompt to write about each day.

Evidence-backed benefits of journaling

In a small 2020 study , mothers of children with emotional or behavioral concerns wrote in a journal three times a week for 6 weeks. The results suggest that keeping a journal led to more optimism and gratitude , both of which can boost well-being.

A 2018 study suggests that writing about positive experiences for just 15 minutes a day three times a week may help ease feelings of anxiety and stress and boost resilience.

Research from 2002 suggests that when your writing focuses on exploring and making sense of what happened, writing about a traumatic or stressful experience can help you heal and recover. Although expressing your emotions also has value, writing only about distressing emotions may not offer the same benefits.

Journal prompts for self-discovery and self-reflection

We’ve organized these prompts into categories that focus on relationships, emotions, how you feel about work, and more.

Love and relationships

Having strong, supportive relationships can help improve overall well-being, protect against mental health concerns like depression , and boost resilience , which refers to your ability to weather life’s many challenges.

Writing about relationships with loved ones provides the opportunity to:

• explore the ways these bonds strengthen you
• express your gratitude for loved ones
• recognize when relationships no longer serve you
• explore what you want out of future relationships

Consider giving these prompts a try:

• Who do you trust most? Why?
• What are your strengths in relationships (kindness, empathy, etc.)?
• How do you draw strength from loved ones?
• What do you value most in relationships (trust, respect, sense of humor, etc.)?
• What three important things have you learned from previous relationships?
• What five traits do you value most in potential partners?
• How do you show compassion to others? How can you extend that same compassion to yourself?
• What are three things working well in your current relationship? What are three things that could be better?
• What boundaries could you set in your relationships to safeguard your own well-being?
• What do you most want your children (or future children) to learn from you?
• How can you better support and appreciate your loved ones?
• What does love mean to you? How do you recognize it in a relationship?
• List three things you’d like to tell a friend, family member, or partner.

Work and career

If you work full-time, you spend the majority of your waking hours on the job. That makes your career a pretty significant part of your life.

Having a fulfilling job can promote a sense of purpose and satisfaction with life. On the other hand, having a job that demands too much of you or fails to utilize your unique talents can wear you down and lead to burnout.

Taking some time to explore your current career can help highlight what you enjoy about your job and when it might be time to pursue a change.

Here are some prompts to consider:

• How do you use your personal strengths and abilities at work?
• How do your co-workers and supervisors recognize your strengths?
• How does work fulfill you? Does it leave you wanting more?
• What part of your workday do you most enjoy?
• What about your work feels real, necessary, or important to you?
• Do you see yourself in the same job in 10 years?
• What are your career ambitions?
• What three things can help you begin working to accomplish those goals?
• What can you do to improve your work performance?
• What does your work teach you? Does it offer continued opportunities for learning and growth?
• Does your work drain or overwhelm you? Why? Is this something you can change?

Self-reflection

Exploring your values, opinions, and personality traits in writing can teach you more about who you are as a person.

This in-depth reflection can strengthen not just the relationship you have with yourself, but also the connections you build with others.

Some ideas to explore include:

• What values do you consider most important in life (honesty, justice, altruism, loyalty, etc.)? How do your actions align with those values?
• What three changes can you make to live according to your personal values?
• Describe yourself using the first 10 words that come to mind. Then, list 10 words that you’d like to use to describe yourself. List a few ways to transform those descriptions into reality.
• What do you appreciate most about your personality? What aspects do you find harder to accept?
• Explore an opinion or two that you held in the past but have since questioned or changed. What led you to change that opinion?
• List three personal beliefs that you’re willing to reconsider or further explore.
• Finish this sentence: “My life would be incomplete without …”
• Describe one or two significant life events that helped shape you into who you are today.
• When do you trust yourself most? When do you find it harder to have faith in your instincts?
• What three things would you most like others (loved ones, potential friends and partners, professional acquaintances, etc.) to know about you?

Uncomfortable emotions

Journaling can help you express and begin to navigate difficult and painful emotions. That’s part of what makes it such a valuable exercise.

Burying unwanted emotions and thoughts can seem helpful at first. Pushing those feelings away means you avoid the pain and discomfort they cause, right?

Not always. In reality, avoiding emotional distress can intensify it . That pain lies dormant below the surface of your everyday thoughts until you can’t keep it back any longer. When it finally comes bubbling up, it may feel more overwhelming than it did originally.

These prompts can help you explore and process challenging emotions productively:

• What difficult thoughts or emotions come up most frequently for you?
• Which emotions do you find hardest to accept (guilt, anger, disappointment, etc.)? How do you handle these emotions?
• Describe a choice you regret. What did you learn from it?
• What parts of daily life cause stress, frustration, or sadness? What can you do to change those experiences?
• What are three things that can instantly disrupt a good mood and bring you down? What strategies do you use to counter these effects?
• What are three self-defeating thoughts that show up in your self-talk? How can you reframe them to encourage yourself instead?
• What go-to coping strategies help you get through moments of emotional or physical pain?
• Who do you trust with your most painful and upsetting feelings? How can you connect with them when feeling low?
• What do you fear most? Have your fears changed throughout life?

Note: If writing about painful emotions makes you feel even worse, there’s no need to push yourself. It may help to establish a regular journaling habit before you turn to more challenging topics.

Living your best life

Writing about the little things that add meaning to daily life makes it easier to notice just how much they boost your mood and overall well-being.

Recognizing what you enjoy most about life reminds you to keep making time for those things. It can also promote feelings of gratitude and contentment, as exploring what you love about life can help you realize that you may already have much of what you desire.

Here are some prompts to try:

• Describe your favorite thing to do when feeling low.
• What three ordinary things bring you the most joy?
• List three strategies that help you stay present in your daily routines. Then, list three strategies to help boost mindfulness in your life.
• How do you prioritize self-care?
• Describe two or three things you do to relax.
• What aspects of your life are you most grateful for?
• How do you show yourself kindness and compassion each day?
• Write a short love letter to some object or place that makes you happy.
• What place makes you feel most peaceful? Describe that place using all five senses.
• List 10 things that inspire or motivate you.
• What are your favorite hobbies? Why?

Personal growth and life goals

Getting in touch with who you are now doesn’t just help you recognize key strengths and values. It can also help unlock a deeper understanding of who you want to become and what you want from life.

As long as you live, you can continue to pursue change and growth.

Try these prompts to explore your dreams and outline potential paths toward change:

• What parts of life surprised you most? What turned out the way you expected it would?
• What three things would you share with your teenage self? What three questions would you want to ask an older version of yourself?
• List three important goals. How do they match up to your goals from 5 years ago?
• Do your goals truly reflect your desires? Or do they reflect what someone else (a parent, partner, friend, etc.) wants for you?
• What helps you stay focused and motivated when you feel discouraged?
• What do you look forward to most in the future?
• Identify one area where you’d like to improve. Then, list three specific actions you can take to create that change.
• How do you make time for yourself each day?
• What do you most want to accomplish in life?
• List three obstacles lying in the way of your contentment or happiness. Then, list two potential solutions to begin overcoming each obstacle.

Feeling stuck?

If you’ve never kept a journal before, writing on a regular basis might feel a bit challenging. Even with prompts to help prime your thoughts, you might find it tough to get started.

The best way to start is to pick up your pen and start scribbling away. Your journal is just for you, so there’s no need to worry about your handwriting, grammar, or spelling. The important part of journaling is getting your thoughts onto the page.

Some people find that it helps to start with a “stream of consciousness” approach. This means writing down whatever comes to mind on a topic, exactly as it pops into your thoughts, without stopping to worry about punctuation or complete sentences.

A few more tips to help you find your flow include:

• Find a quiet place to write. Outside noise and other distractions can disrupt your thoughts, especially if you’re new to journaling. If you can’t find a quiet space, try listening to instrumental music (anything without vocals) as you write.
• Don’t worry about getting it “right.” When it comes to journaling, you can’t really go wrong. If your writing helps you process emotions and learn more about yourself, that’s what matters.
• Write regularly. You might set aside 15 or 20 minutes to write several days a week. It’s OK if you can’t find time to write every day. Writing at a specific time each day, such as after dinner or just before bed, can help the habit stick.

Journaling can help ease stress and uncertainty and teach you more about yourself and what you want from life.

That said, writing may not always feel fun or easy. It’s normal to experience a little discomfort when writing about painful emotions and frustrating experiences. But venting this distress can often lead to healing and growth.

When your writing continues to bring up distressing feelings or memories, a therapist can offer guidance with exploring these emotions and experiences in more depth.

Last medically reviewed on April 20, 2021

5 sources collapsed

• Kim-Godwin YS, et al. (2020). Journaling for self-care and coping in mothers of troubled children in the community. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32248934
• Newman KM. (2020). How journaling can help you in hard times. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_journaling_can_help_you_in_hard_times
• Patel J, et al. (2019). Consequences of repression of emotion: Physical health, mental health and general well being. https://openaccesspub.org/ijpr/article/999
• Smyth JM, et al. (2018). Online positive affect journaling in the improvement of mental distress and well-being in general medical patients with elevated anxiety symptoms: A preliminary randomized controlled trial. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6305886
• Ullrich PM, et al. (2002). Journaling about stressful events: Effects of cognitive processing and emotional expression. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Philip-Ullrich/publication/11212874_Journaling_about_stressful_events_Effects_of_cognitive_processing_and_emotional_expression/links/0fcfd5090027dd0d0a000000/Journaling-about-stressful-events-Effects-of-cognitive-processing-and-emotional-expression.pdf

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The 7 Best Self-Help Books to Change Your Life

Find yourself in one of these versatile, mind-changing reads

Mary K. Tatum is a licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist and has worked in the field of psychology for over 15 years, with seven years in the private practice setting.

Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

Until proven otherwise, it’s safe to assume that—as the saying goes—nobody’s perfect. That means we have room for at least some improvement in our lives . And no, we’re not talking about getting a higher-paying job or a new haircut: we’re referring to inner improvement . This involves working on managing some of our less-than-desirable habits and traits—things like being unable to trust other people, having difficulties with interpersonal communication, or lacking self-confidence. 

That’s where self-help books can come in handy. It’s basically like someone has thought extensively about the general challenge you’re facing, and then walks you through steps to help you figure it out—or at least think about it more clearly. To be clear: self-help books are not a replacement for working with mental health professionals. If you’re dealing with a mental illness, seek out a credentialed person you can speak with in person (or over a video call). But for situations without a clinical element, a self-help book can make a difference.

To help you narrow down your options, here are the best self-help books according to the experts.

"A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle

Can be helpful to reivist certain passages, as needed

Discusses how to effectively process and find meaning in suffering

A lot of overlap with content found in the author's previous book

Many consider Eckhart Tolle one of the great thought leaders our time. Prior to " A New Earth ," Tolle wrote "The Power of Now," a best seller and must-read. The reason "A New Earth" makes this list is quite simple: it goes beyond teaching how to live in the moment and helps readers learn how to turn their suffering into peace. All types of suffering are addressed in the book, from anger and grief to jealousy and anxiety.

Tolle talks a lot about the ego and how to separate ourselves from it. His examples and recommended exercises are not just hocus pocus; they really work and are something anyone can do. Whether your suffering is rooted in jealousy, anger, grief, sadness, anxiety, or depression , Tolle will help you see life from varied perspectives, awakening you to your life’s purpose.

This book is great as a reference point, too. Those who pick up a copy will read it front to back then revisit Tolle's words over and over again. Others will keep it by their nightstands and flip to a chapter when they’re feeling some excess baggage creep in and could use some words of wisdom.

Price at time of publication: $18

"You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero

Engaging exercises

Accessible writing style

Not the most empathetic towards people with depression

Contains some microaggressions and fat shaming

Far too often, fear gets the best of us. Jen Sincero helps readers go beyond that fear in her New York Times best seller " You Are a Badass ." What sets this self-help book apart from the others are the engaging end-of-chapter exercises.

Instead of casting the book aside and letting it collect dust after you read the last page, you'll be inspired to go back and reflect on the previous exercises you responded to. The exercises also drive home the points Sincero makes through her writing. When you feel a dip in your confidence, going back to your entries will put a positive spin on your day and remind you why you should show yourself more self-love . Also make sure to check out Sincero's follow-up book, "You Are a Badass at Making Money."

Price at time of publication: $8

Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD, psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry.

Some self-help books include daily therapeutic activities and provide comfort and guidance to individuals who are suffering. I recommend individuals meet with a psychiatrist and therapist, and concurrently utilize self-help books to expedite their healing.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Sean Covey

Text is broken up using cartoons and quotes

Could be beneficial for both teens and parents

Updated in 2014, but still can feel outdated

Unnecessary references to dieting and losing weight

Many have read, or at least have heard about, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. Covey's son Sean followed in his footsteps, making a spinoff version for teenagers that uses the same principles to help young adults master formative areas of their lives.

To make this self-help book age-appropriate and downright fun to read, Covey breaks up the text with cartoons, quotes, brainstorming ideas, and stories from real teens to bring the book together. " The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens " covers   topics like  body image , friendships, relationships, goal-setting, peer pressure, bullying, internet safety, and so much more. Gift this book to your teenage son, daughter, niece, nephew, or grandchild. It's the perfect keepsake to pass down to future generations of teens too.

"What Are You Hungry For?" by Deepak Chopra

Helps readers understand their reasons for certain types of eating

More than simply a guide to healthy eating

Even though it’s not a traditional weight loss book, that component being included at all might turn some people off

Can feel like any other book on weight loss and our relationship with food

Deepak Chopra is the self-help guru of our time, and any one of his books could be recommended for various reasons. " What Are You Hungry For? " will help you see your relationship with food in an entirely new light.

While this self-help book could be considered a guide to help with weight loss, it’s really so much more. Chopra does talk about losing weight and also gives a pretty regimented recommendation on what to eat. But he also digs deeper into the reasoning behind our desire to seek this transformation, and fulfillment is at the center of this argument.

Since change isn’t easy for most, the book offers a lot of intention-setting tips to help readers determine the motives behind their goals. Attaching an emotion to the things you want in life, health-related or otherwise, makes it easier to stay the course when the going gets tough.

Price at time of publication: $16

"Declutter Your Mind" by S.J. Scott

Tackles negative thinking patterns—something a lot of people struggle with

Includes helpful, actionable exercises

May not feel as applicable to people who aren’t self-employed

Writing can feel self-promotional at times

The subtitle of this book provides great insight into the heart of the book: How to stop worrying, relieve anxiety and eliminate negative thinking. " Declutter Your Mind " is a book that is very hands-on with its reader and full of various exercises to engage your mindset. You will learn the causes of mental clutter, how to change negative thoughts to positive ones, strategies to help with rocky relationships, how to identify what’s important to you, the importance of meditation, how to goal set, and much more.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, worry, or anxiety, this powerful book will do its part in offering various techniques, tips, and tricks to cope with an overactive mind. Reviewers consistently note how much they enjoy the actionable exercises in the book and that the co-authors offer more than a sermon on the importance of living mindfully and in the moment.

Price at time of publication: $15

"Big Magic: Create Living Beyond Fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Great for creative people (or those who want to be more creative)

Accessible and conversational writing style makes it easy to read

Gilbert’s “tough love” approach doesn't always translate

Reads more as a memoir than a self-help book in parts

For one reason or another, some were turned off by Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling "Eat Pray Love". But don’t let that turn you away from reading her other material, in particular, " Big Magic ". If you’re an artist or creator of any type and have struggled with a blockage that prevents you from pursuing your calling to its fullest, you’ll want to give this a read.

From creating new habits (and ridding yourself of old ones) to overcoming fear and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, Gilbert hits the nail on the head as she dissects the obstacles a creative person may face in pursuing their dreams. Her honest, conversational, no-BS tone will light a fire in your soul and help you be upfront with yourself about what you want from life. A highlight of this book is the usage of real-life examples from regular men and women across the country who have endured in their creative feats.

Price at time of publication: $21

"The Wisdom of Sundays" by Oprah Winfrey

Full of what Oprah Winfrey considers “life-changing insights”

It’s like sitting in on a conversation between Oprah and major thought leaders

Print can be small and hard to read at times

Oprah is the queen of interviewing spiritual gurus, world leaders, therapists, doctors, and other thought leaders. " The Wisdom of Sundays " takes the best-of-the-best from these conversations and combines them into one uplifting read.

The book has 240 pages full of snippets from what Oprah refers to as "life-changing insights". Authors in The Wisdom of Sundays include   Shonda Rimes, Cheryl Strayed, Tony Robbins, Thich Nhat Hahn, Wayne Dyer, and so many more. Take your time with each individual page to make sure you don't skim over any of the wonderful and thought-provoking insights inside.

Price at time of publication: $28

Final Verdict

This one’s tricky, because a self-help book that one person hated could be the one that changed another person’s life. Having said that, if you’re new to the genre, you probably want to stick with a book with a broader appeal, like "Declutter Your Mind" ( view on Amazon ). While not everyone is looking to mold a highly effective teen, everyone does have something that makes them anxious, and this book provides a manageable way of identifying and addressing some of the ones that are holding you back. 

What to Look for in a Self-Help Book

Selecting a self-help book is, for the most part, a highly personal decision (with the exception  being cases when a book is so popular you feel the need to read it, even if you wouldn’t have done so on your own). Given that this genre is not one-size-fits-all—and that people respond to a wide range of styles, topics, and tones—finding the right self-help books for yourself can be a process of trial and error. But, to help guide you through that process, here are a few general things to look for when purchasing a self-help book:

Writing style and tone:

First, think about what kind of book that is likely to be the most helpful in your current situation, as well as the kind you’d actually like to read. These two categories don’t necessarily overlap. For example, you may think you want a clinical-sounding, research-backed guide through a particular condition or situation, but in reality, would find it so boring that you’d never pick it up. And a self-help book just sitting on the shelf isn’t helping anyone.

If you think you’d respond well to something funny, or that it would help hold your interest, look for a self-help book that injects humor into its pages. (And yes, highly qualified experts with fancy degrees can also be hilarious.)

Something your therapist recommends:

If you are working with some type of therapist or counselor , ask them for recommendations for self-help books. Not only are they probably very familiar with this genre, but they also have gotten to know you during your sessions, and may have a good idea of the type of book that you’d benefit from the most.

In addition to tone, self-help books also come in several different formats. “Some individuals fare better with more structure and guidance, while others excel with more creative and fluid feedback,” Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry explains. “Some people enjoy reading about concepts, while others prefer completing daily tasks and worksheets.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Like many things in life, what you get out of self-help books depends on the time and effort you put into not only reading them, but also doing the work. And no, that doesn’t necessarily include actual worksheets: the “work” also involves taking what you’ve read, sitting with it, processing it, and figuring out how you can use it in your own life (if applicable). 

“Self-help books can, in truth, be very helpful if an individual puts forth the effort to integrate the information learned from the book into their daily life,” Summer R. Thompson , DNP, PMHNP-BC, a mental health nurse practitioner at Community Psychiatry explains.

When someone finds the right self-help book and puts the time into reading it and doing the work, it can have a number of benefits. One is that they can “provide a concrete blueprint for an individual who has identified an issue in their life to navigate addressing it in a healthy manner on their own,” Thompson explains.   

In addition to providing a general blueprint for how a person can approach some of their biggest challenges, self-help books can add structure to individuals’ day-to-day life. “They can motivate individuals to try different strategies and venture into uncomfortable territory,” says Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry .

Beyond that, Magavi notes that self-help books can lead to more fluid and healthy communication at work and at home, and many allow individuals to remain introspective and practice self-compassion. “It helps individuals identify ways in which they can respond to inevitable stress in a more positive way, and reiterates the fact that they have the power to write their own story and determine their own emotional experience,” she explains.

What the Experts Say

“Self-help books have helped many men and women initiate the often-daunting task of processing their thoughts and assessing their insecurities and weaknesses. Self-help books allow individuals to try different techniques and find what works the best for them to assuage anxiety and confront tumultuous times with grace.” — Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry . 

“When looking at self-help books, it is important to look for books that provide clear and attainable goals in the context of the issue you are addressing. If a book makes recommendations that you do not feel are achievable in the context of your life, the book will likely not be very helpful to you and end up collecting dust rather than being an effective self-improvement tool.” — Summer R. Thompson , DNP, PMHNP-BC, mental health nurse practitioner at Community Psychiatry

Why Trust Verywell Mind?

Erinne Magee is a freelance writer covering health, wellness and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more.

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Yuko

As a seasoned health writer and editor with a special focus on mental health and well-being, Elizabeth Yuko understands how powerful stress-relieving activities can be for many people—as well as the fact that they’re not one-size-fits-all. With decades of first-hand experience dealing with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, she’s always on the lookout for new (and research-backed) products, techniques, and services that can help people cope with stress and other mental health challenges. 

By Mary K. Tatum, MS, LMHC Mary is a licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist with 15 years of experience working in the psychology field. She earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Bluefield College and a Master of Science in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She began in social work and then moved to drug rehab settings, working as a therapist, group facilitator, and clinical director. She specializes in family dynamic systems, trauma recovery, improving resilience, addiction recovery, and the psychology of successful business management.

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A Guide to Writing Self-Help

Self-help is a great genre with a built-in audience. You name the problem and there is sure to be someone struggling with it. You’ve zoned into one particular problem and you have the passion to help. Now, you need to know how to start.

How do you write a self-help book?

yIn this post, I’ll guide you through the basics, including how to come up with the right idea and how to structure your self-help book for the biggest impact on your reader. Let’s get started.

Here’s even more help to write your self-help book. Subscribe to receive this extra resource.

Download your bonus content:

Choose Your Topic Wisely

From setting goals to dealing with anger to learning how to become a rodeo clown, there are hundreds of self-help topics you can choose to write about. Name it and I can almost guarantee you that there is an audience. It’s human nature to want to improve, and if you can guide someone to their goal, they’ll buy your book.

Sure, you can write about anything-- but what should you write about? I know that you probably have something in your mind already, but if I may offer one suggestion:

Be specific. Don’t choose a broad topic, like weight loss. Zoom in further and go for a topic like weight loss for PCOS.

It’s important to narrow your audience down to a smaller group. Your title may not appeal to as many people, but your advice will be a lot more direct and potent.

Think about it: if your topic is too broad, you’ll go wide but not deep. But, for your self-help book to be most effective, it needs to be entirely focused on one type of person and one type of problem. Ask yourself, can my topic be more specific?

Here’s a hint: if you can’t imagine the one type of person who would benefit from reading your self-help book, you’re likely not specific enough.

Understand Your Audience

Having a good handle on the reader is important when writing any book, but with self-help, it’s absolutely essential. You need to know who’s reading your book so that you can help them overcome their problem.

As I mentioned earlier, being too universal in your approach will dilute your efficacy. You don’t want to dispense generic advice that can apply to every single person on the planet earth. Instead, you have to get a clear picture in your mind of the actual reader because that’s who you’re going to speak directly to and no one else. Ask yourself:

Who will read this book?

Start with the demographics of your target reader. What is the reader’s age, location, and gender?

Then think about the reader’s motivation. What will lead this reader to pick up your book? Frustration, curiosity, desperation?

Understanding your audience helps you write content that’s completely tailored to their needs. Think of your self-help book as a conversation between you and the reader. When you know who’s listening, it’s easier to speak directly to that person.

Start With Research

After asking yourself who’s going to read your book, think about what questions they’ll have about the subject matter. Make a list of these questions. Your list will be the basis for your research.

Before we continue, let’s address the pink elephant in the room: Do you need to be an expert to write a self-help book?

While having a doctorate from a prestigious university certainly won’t hurt, some of the best self-help books are written by those with a Ph.D. in the school of hard knocks.

To write a self-help book, you do need to have experience, whether it’s professional or personal. While anyone can write a self-help book on any subject they choose, if you want yours to be successful, you need to back it up with life experience at the very least.

And a lot of research.

Even if you know the subject inside and out, it’s always a good idea to research anyway. You’ll uncover statistics that back up your opinion or, in some cases, contradict it. You’ll find case studies, medical data, and interesting stories. You can use all of it to enhance your self-help book.

Readers love stats and they love personal stories. Interweave both into your book.

Start your search online. Head to Google and search for your topic. Don’t forget to look on Q&A sites like Quora along with relevant forums on the topic.

See What Else is Out There

While you’re researching, check out other books are already printed on your subject of choice. Ask yourself:

• What did the author do well in the book?
• What could the author improve upon in this book?
• How will my book be any different than what’s already out there?

Perhaps, it’s your unique backstory that makes your self-help book different than the rest. Have you overcome an uncommon challenge that sets your book apart? Find that unique angle after having sampled what’s currently out there.

Your unique take will help you sell your story to an agent, a publisher, and ultimately, an audience.

How to Structure Your Self-Help Book

Start with an outline.

Outlines are essential for self-help. Outlines keep you focused on what you need to say in each section.

There’s nothing worse than a self-help book that wanders off message. You may enjoy digressions, but I assure you that the reader does not. The reader wants you to stay on course so that they may get the help they need as quickly as possible.

By outlining, you’ll know what to talk about in each section so that you provide a more organized, thoughtful, and helpful presentation for the reader.

Here’s a very basic outline to follow in your self-help book.

Write an introduction to your self-help book. Explain who you are and how you’re qualified to write the book. Also, discuss why you decided to write this book. Did someone ask you to write it? Did frustration drive you?

Outline each chapter of your book. Start with 10 chapters as the minimum, and expand if necessary.

In Chapter 1 , explain the problem or the pain. Use this as your chance to connect with the reader through empathy.

In Chapter 2 , introduce the solution. Explain how you came to this solution and give reasons why it’s effective. Here’s the time to include powerful real-life examples, although you’ll also sprinkle these examples throughout the following chapters. While you should also include yourself as an example, don’t just focus on you. Show how others were able to use your advice to accomplish their desired goal.

In Chapter 3 and subsequent chapters , give a step-by-step solution. Each chapter should build on itself.

In the last chapter , tie everything up and end on a positive note. Encourage the reader to start implementing these actions immediately. Ideally, at the end of each chapter, you’ll give the reader an assignment to complete.

Not sure what to cover? Start by asking the top 10 questions that your reader will have about this topic. (Hint: you can use the same questions that you listed during research mode.) Then, turn each of those questions into a corresponding chapter.

Go in chronological order from beginning to end. What would be the first step towards completing the goal? What’s the next step?

Assume the Reader Knows Nothing

Assume that the reader has no background in the subject at hand-- other than recognizing that they have a problem. Take the reader from recognizing that problem to understanding the solution. You should start your book out as a 101 introductory course.

Give The Reader Something to Do

Feel-good platitudes can only take you so far. Keep your self-help book in the realm of practical advice. Don’t get too inspirational and fluffy. Readers are desperate to get unstuck, not to feel good about being stuck.

Include exercises at the end of each chapter or section. Exercises add an interactive component and create an opportunity for the reader to gain small wins throughout the book. Plus, exercises put the “self” in self-help.

Include Real Life Examples

You need real-life examples of people who’ve implemented your advice and accomplished their goal. Real life examples add credibility to your theories. It’s not a fluke if others (besides you) can do it, too.

Connect the Dots

Don’t assume that the reader is going to connect the dots. Help your reader understand how everything fits together. Explicitly explain how one thing leads to another.

Coming Up With the Perfect Title for Your Self-Help Book

Coming up with the right title for a self-help book can be challenging. If your title is too esoteric, no one understands what your book is about. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be so on-the-nose that it comes across as boring and, dare I say, generic.

Let’s take a look at the most common formulas of self-help titles. If you’re stumped, consider going with one of these formulas:

Make a promise

Show your reader what they will gain from your book.

I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna

Teach how to

“How-tos” are popular for self-help because it immediately implies that the reader will learn a lesson.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Make a list

Everyone loves lists.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change By Stephen R. Covey

Be descriptive

Quickly describe what the book is about.

The Purpose-Driven Life By Rick Warren

Inspire your reader to action.

You Can Heal Your Life By Louise Hay

Take a declarative stance.

Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Financial Destiny By Tony Robbins

Additional Resources

Before you go, check out these related posts:

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• 2 Reasons Why Every Writer Needs a Blog (and How to Rock One)
• 9 Easy Hacks to Make You a Better Writer

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100 Self-Help Writing Prompts

December 8, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Self-Help Writing Prompts

Here are 100 Self-Help writing Prompts; whether we’re cognizant of it or not, our inner emotional landscapes, thoughts, and focus profoundly shape our realities. Becoming more self-aware of these internal dimensions can reveal limiting patterns while also illuminating boundless potential for conscious growth. The writing prompts below encourage such self-inquiry across three key domains in a spirit of radical self-honesty, compassion and possibility. First, explore your current emotional states – what they may be trying to tell you as well as tools to nurture them. Then delve into patterns of thinking that may require examination and updating for a more empowered life. Finally, discover practices to anchor more intentionally into the gifts of the present moment with mindfulness. Together, these prompts offer potent springboards to manifest more joy, meaning and inner peace if engaged with openness. Each prompt is an invitation for self-discovery – no need to tackle them all at once. Simply see which pique your curiosity and let the writing be its own reward. 

25 writing prompts to help reflect on current emotions:

• How would you describe your overall mood right now? What events, thoughts or interactions contributed to how you are feeling?
• If your emotions could speak right now, what would they say? What do they need or long for?
• When was the last time you felt truly at peace? What were the circumstances and is there anything you can recreate about that moment?
• What do you wish other people understood about the way you have been feeling lately? Have you communicated this effectively?
• Which emotion or feeling tone is most dominant for you at the present moment – stress, sadness, joy, irritation, nervousness? What triggered it?
• Are you suppressing or ignoring any emotions right now? If so, why? What might happen if you gave them space to breathe?
• If you were to paint a picture of your inner emotional landscape today, what colors and imagery would you use? What title would you give the painting?
• Which areas of your life are in greatest need of more patience, compassion and nurturing right now? How can you give that to yourself?
• What false stories about yourself have your emotions been telling you lately? How might you replace them with kinder truths?
• What’s one small act of self-care you could do tonight to reset your state of mind before this day ends?
• Write a short dialogue between your happiest self and your most stressed self right now. What wisdom might they share?
• When in the last 24 hours did you feel most like your authentic self? What allowed you to feel that way and how can you recreate it?
• How much grief, sadness or disappointment have your emotions been carrying lately? Is it time to fully acknowledge then release some of that weight?
• If a close friend described the emotional state you are in right now, what advice or support would you offer them? Should you take your own advice?
• Which song or artist best encapsulates the emotional landscape inside you lately? What significance does this have?
• Have any under-processed emotional hurts from your past been affecting your mood and reactions lately? Perhaps now is a good time to heal them.
• What old rule about how you “should” feel or react is your inner critic judging you with right now? Talk back to your inner critic.
• If you made a list of things that still excite, inspire or energize you, despite your recent mood, what would it include? Reconnect with those things.
• When you picture yourself five or ten years from now, fully living your purpose and greatest passions – what positive emotional state do you envision yourself experiencing? How do your current feelings compare?
• Have you fallen into any “emotional loops” recently – repeating the same negative thought cycles and feelings again and again? How might you disrupt those loops?
• Of all the difficult feelings you are contending with lately, which one do you think you might benefit most from embracing rather than resisting? What would be the first step in that direction?
• What comforting words would the person who loves and understands you best say about the turbulent emotions you’ve been experiencing lately? Let those kind words sink in.
• Knowing that all emotions eventually shift and fade if we allow them, what do you feel your emotional state needs in this moment – expression, release, distraction, stillness, nurturance? Provide that for yourself.
• What is one simple comforting ritual, small act of self-care or grounding technique you could incorporate every day this week to give your emotions the support they need? Try one right now.
• Observe any emotions arising in response to these questions without judgement. Simply watch them, welcome them and let them move through you. Emotions too shall pass. Feel what you need to feel, then refocus on the present.

25 thought-provoking writing prompts to encourage self-reflection:

• What thoughts tend to preoccupy your mind when you have quiet moments alone? What do these recurring thoughts reveal about what’s important to you?
• Is there any negative self-talk you find yourself thinking lately? How might you reframe these thoughts in a more constructive way?
• What areas of your life tend to fill you with the most worry, dread or anxiety when you think about them? How might you shift to a more positive mindset instead?
• What vision or possibility for your future fills you with the most excitement when you imagine it? What’s the first step toward making it a reality?
• Is there something going on in your life that you intentionally try not to think too much about? Why and would it serve you better to give it more mental focus?
• Do you feel that your current thought patterns and mindsets generally serve you well or hold you back in some way? How might you improve your thinking?
• Do certain people or situations reliably trigger unhelpful thought patterns like self-criticism, resentment or envy in you? How could you better manage your reactions next time?
• Are your thoughts overly focused on the past, present or future? Would achieving a better balance improve your current mental state or quality of life?
• Is there a new interest you’ve been thinking of pursuing or return to an old hobby you once enjoyed? What’s stopping you from giving it more mental focus and commitment?
• Do you feel overwhelmed, scattered or distracted by all the demands requiring your mental focus lately? Would simplifying your commitments and to-do’s help relieve this pressure?
• If you incorporated 10-15 minutes of meditation or thoughtful introspection into your daily routine, do you think it would improve self-awareness and clarity of thought over time?
• Do certain people or groups hold beliefs that you disagree with? Can you think of any shared values or common ground you could focus on instead to develop more empathy between you?
• What ways of thinking or seeing the world come most naturally and intuitively for you? Why do you think that is?
• Who is one person who has radically shaped your thinking or the way you see the world? How so?
• If you set aside more time for creative thought and problem solving, what issue or challenge in your life might benefit most from this reflection?
• What limiting beliefs about yourself have been proven wrong time and again but still subconsciously influence your thoughts? How could you start dismantling them for good?
• Is there a new personal or professional skill you’d like to develop but doubt your ability to master? How might focusing your mental energies here an hour a week make real progress?
• If you woke up tomorrow with the infectious optimism, confidence and mental resilience of your best self, how might your thoughts and actions change?
• Could you benefit from being more open-minded towards views and opinions you typically disagree with or feel irritated by? Which people or groups in particular?
• Are societal pressures or expectations subtly discouraging or muting thoughts and ideas important to you? In what ways do you feel you need to reclaim your own authentic thinking?
• What core goal or priority always seems to fall off your radar because other demands dominate your thoughts? How can you right this balance?
• What old ways of thinking or unconscious beliefs still require honest examination regarding any prejudices or blindspots they enable? What first step toward greater awareness could you take?
• If you knew that by focusing your thoughts somewhere constructive for 15 minutes a day you’d attract amazing opportunities within 12 months, where would your focus go? What might you manifest?
• Who do you think possesses greater wisdom than you on how to live life better and what core insights could you learn from studying their thinking more carefully?
• Is there an area of your life where you think shifting your focus to a growth mindset versus fixed mindset could help you develop, improve and progress when you previously thought change was unlikely? What first step could you take from this more empowered place of possibility?

25 writing prompts to help focus on the present moment:

• What are 3 things you observe around you right now through your senses – sights, textures, sounds, etc? Describe them in vivid detail.
• Name 5 things you’re grateful for in this very moment.
• What is a worry that is distracting you right now? Recognize it, then intentionally let it go and shift your focus back to the present.
• What emotion are you experiencing most strongly at this minute? Where in your body do you feel it?
• Complete this sentence – “Right now, in this moment, I feel…”
• Set a timer for two minutes. Until it goes off, focus all your concentration only on your breathing, conscious of each inhale and exhale.
• Pick up the closest object near you. Examine it closely from every angle using all your senses. Find at least 3 new details about it you never noticed before.
• Walk slowly around your environment for 1 minute, deliberately noticing every sight, texture, sound and smell without judging or analyzing. Pay close attention.
• What’s one small positive detail or moment that you might have overlooked today among bigger events? Describe it appreciatively.
• Before going to sleep tonight, list 5 good things the day brought even if small (saw cute dog, nice sunset, ate favorite food etc).
• What quote, phrase or brief meditation could you repeat to yourself right now to re-center yourself and let stressed thoughts go?
• What do you love and appreciate about your body and its abilities in this moment? Name 5 things.
• Clear your mind completely for one minute by focusing intently on a fixed spot. If thoughts intrude gently return focus to the spot.
• Close your eyes and visualize your happy place – real or imaginary. Engage all your senses to fully immerse and savor the moment.
• Deliberately relax your body, unclenching tight muscles and putting any technology down. Breathe deeply for 2 minutes attending only to your breath.
• Pick an everyday object nearby like a pen. Pretend you’ve never seen it before and explore it with fresh curiosity noticing every detail.
• Silently say hello to this very moment and goodbye to yesterday and tomorrow. They don’t exist now. Only say yes or no I to what’s real – this instant.
• Forget daydreams and future worries. Come fully alive by looking for beauty or interesting qualities in your immediate environment right now!
• Pick any task or routine activity. As you do it devote 100% engaged attention to each action instead of doing it mindlessly on auto-pilot. How does it feel different?
• Have an impromptu 30 second dance party! Pick a silly song, turn it on fast, dance wild and silly – getting out of your head and into the moment.
• Write down “I am here now 1 2 3” Take slow deep breaths returning focus if distracted until you’ve written it 10 times staying fully present to each pen stroke.
• Notice tiny sensations against your skin – air currents, fabric textures, heat or cold spots. Appreciatively explore these subtle details you usually overlook.
• With childlike curiosity fully explore your tactile environment asking “what’s this?” about every surface and texture within your reach without analyzing or judgments.
• Slowly eat one raisin or other small piece of food. Before chewing explore how it looks smells and feels, noticing what you never bothered to perceive before.
• After finishing this list sit quietly for 5 minutes with back straight simply observing the flow of your natural breathing with accepting, intentional presence.

25 writing prompts to encourage more positive thinking:

• What are 5 small things that bring you joy or make you smile in your typical day that you can make more time for?
• What is one positive affirmation you could repeat to yourself whenever negative thinking arises to help shift your mindset?
• What did you feel most proud of or grateful for about yourself and your life this past week?
• What act of kindness, progress or success felt most meaningful to you in recent days, no matter how small? Reflect on what it took to accomplish it.
• Who is someone who loves, supports or believes in you? What are some uplifting and encouraging things they likely think or say about you privately?
• What upcoming event, milestone or decision are you hopeful about? Visualize the best case scenario and describe how it positively transforms things.
• What inspiring quote or uplifting lyric speaks to your current hopes, dreams or situation in an empowering way? How so?
• Even in challenging situations, what hidden blessings or reasons for optimism can you identify if you intentionally shift perspective?
• What quality, value or intention matters most to you right now? How will focusing on manifesting more of it make life richer and brighter?
• Observe your stream of thoughts for one minute. Label any negative thinking. Then deliberately shift your inner dialogue to something affirmative.
• What past adversity did you overcome? What inner resources, strengths and supports helped you survive and grow? Remember you still possess these.
• If you started or ended each day naming 3 positive experiences from the last 24 hours, how might this gratitude practice positively change your outlook over time?
• What limiting belief holds you back from more happiness and fulfillment? Why is it untrue given the evidence? Replace it with a more empowering alternative.
• What sparks the most enthusiasm, creativity and engagement for you lately? Make regular space for those passions.
• List any recent areas of progress, growth or achievement. Explicitly acknowledge your demonstrated ability to learn and improve. Affirm that you can continue developing new strengths.
• Recall a time others’ belief in you empowered success when you doubted yourself. List people who champion you now and what they see in you.
• Set an intention to appreciate three moments of everyday beauty or joy today mindfully without judgment. Record what they were and the mood boost you received.
• What personal qualities and values matter most to you when times get tough? Reflect on someone who embodies these well. What would they tell you?
• Suppose you shifted all self-criticism about your perceived inadequacies into constructive self-coaching. What would this supportive inner voice advise to aid your growth?
• Envision any dream as already realized. Immerse in the vivid details – sights, sounds, emotions. This mental rehearsal activates the reticular activating system to support your goals.
• You have persevered through 100% of your hardest days. What evidence proves you have the resilience and inner resources to overcome current and future challenges?
• Where could you infuse more creativity into your problem solving and see innovations instead of obstacles?
• What might someone who cared deeply for you advise regarding any destructive thought cycles or stressors dragging you down? How could you apply this compassion to yourself?
• What brings you feelings of meaning, belonging, transcendence or service to others? Do more of whatever fuels your soul.
• Visualize your life 5 years from now if consistently practicing positive thinking. Write about how this will transform your future for the better.

Whether you chose to dive deep with one prompt or meandered through several, embrace the self-compassion to celebrate any new awareness while releasing judgment over what insights have yet to manifest. Further revelation requires gentleness. These prompts are but signposts; the inner terrain they reflect is yours to cultivate lovingly in its own ripening. What matters most is your willingness. So take from these words what resonates and leave the rest. Perhaps return to them another day if called. But for now, intimately honor any emotions stirred, thoughts widened or senses awakened even subtly through engaging life’s journey consciously moment to moment. That is enough. May the spirit of inquiry and possibility sown through mindful self-examination continue to blossom hope, meaning and connection into full flourishing even beyond what conscious thought can fathom now. The essence of inner freedom exists beyond words – let these prompts but point the way.

We have many other writing prompts on our site that may be helpful. If you found this helpful, please leave us a comment.

Related posts:

• Creative Writing Prompt: Writing Prompts that end the world: Name that Virus
• Daily Writing Prompts for November
• 150 Romance Writing Prompts
• 50 fantasy writing prompts to inspire
• Apocalypse Writing Prompts 

About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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Essay on Self Help Is The Best Help

Students are often asked to write an essay on Self Help Is The Best Help in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Self Help Is The Best Help

Introduction.

‘Self Help Is The Best Help’ is a well-known phrase that means we should rely on ourselves for solving our problems. We should not always depend on others. This phrase encourages us to be independent and self-reliant.

Importance of Self Help

Self-help is very important. It boosts our confidence and helps us to learn new skills. When we solve our problems ourselves, we feel a sense of accomplishment. This improves our self-esteem and makes us more confident.

Self Help and Independence

When we practice self-help, we become more independent. We learn to do things on our own without depending on others. This independence can make us more responsible and mature.

Self Help in Studies

In studies too, self-help is essential. When we try to understand things ourselves, we learn better. We can remember the concepts for a longer time. This helps us to perform better in exams.

In conclusion, ‘Self Help Is The Best Help’ is a valuable concept. It helps us to be independent, confident, and successful. We should always try to solve our problems ourselves before seeking help from others.

250 Words Essay on Self Help Is The Best Help

‘Self Help Is The Best Help’ is a well-known phrase that means we should not always rely on others for our needs, but rather try to fulfill them ourselves. This concept encourages us to be self-reliant and independent.

Self-help is crucial as it boosts our self-confidence and self-esteem. When we accomplish tasks on our own, we feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. This feeling motivates us to do more and achieve more. For instance, when a student solves a difficult math problem on their own, they gain confidence and are not afraid to tackle similar problems in the future.

Self Help and Success

There is a strong connection between self-help and success. People who practice self-help are often more successful because they learn to overcome challenges on their own. They don’t wait for others to solve their problems. Instead, they take the initiative and find solutions themselves. This trait is highly valued in all areas of life, including school, work, and personal relationships.

In conclusion, ‘Self Help Is The Best Help’ is not just a saying, but a way of life. It teaches us to be self-reliant, boosts our confidence, and paves the way for success. So, let’s embrace self-help and make it a part of our daily lives. Remember, every big journey starts with small steps. Even the smallest effort we make to help ourselves can lead to significant changes in our lives.

500 Words Essay on Self Help Is The Best Help

Self-help is the best help. This simple phrase holds a deep meaning. It means that if you help yourself, it is the best help you can get. It’s about being independent and taking responsibility for your life. This idea promotes self-reliance and self-improvement.

Understanding Self-Help

Self-help is all about doing things by yourself without depending on others. It’s about taking action to solve your own problems. It’s like using your own legs to walk instead of asking others to carry you. This doesn’t mean you should never ask for help. It means you should try your best before seeking help from others.

The Importance of Self-Help

Self-help is very important for several reasons. It builds confidence and self-esteem. When you solve a problem by yourself, you feel proud. This makes you more confident in your abilities. It also makes you more independent. You learn that you don’t always need others to get things done.

Self-help also teaches you valuable skills. For example, if you fix a broken toy by yourself, you learn about how things work. This knowledge can be very useful in the future.

Self-Help and Success

Many successful people believe in the power of self-help. They understand that they are the ones responsible for their success. They don’t wait for others to make things happen. They take action and make things happen themselves.

For example, if a student wants to get good grades, they need to study hard. They can’t rely on their teachers or parents to do the work for them. The same principle applies in all areas of life.

Self-Help and Society

Self-help is not just good for individuals. It’s also good for society. When people are self-reliant, they are less likely to depend on social services. This can save money and resources. It can also create a stronger and more resilient society.

In conclusion, self-help is the best help. It promotes independence, confidence, and self-improvement. It’s a key factor in personal success and a healthy society. So, let’s all try to help ourselves more often. It’s the best help we can get.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Self Identity
• Essay on Self Improvement
• Essay on Cosmetic Surgery

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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Home / Book Writing / How to Write a Self-Help Book: The Complete Process

How to Write a Self-Help Book: The Complete Process

Life can be pretty hard. Almost as hard as writing a book. (Okay, maybe life is way harder than writing a book.) And since life is hard, it's normal for us humans to seek out the help of others. This is why the self-help genre has such a massive audience. 

In fact, self-help is kind of a misnomer. Because when we seek out a book to help improve our lives in some way, we're actually seeking the author's help. And this is perhaps the most important thing to remember as we dive into this article on how to write a self-help book. 

• Who should write a self-help book.
• What to do before you start writing.
• Steps for outlining and writing the book. 

Table of contents

• Should You Write a Self-Help Book?
• Narrow Your Focus to a Specific Problem
• Define Your Audience
• Choose a Title and Subtitle
• Step 2: Choose Your Publishing Path
• Spend Time Getting the Outline Right
• Research and Research Some More
• Write it Like a Long Essay
• Include Personal Anecdotes 
• Impart Your Style
• Include Actionable Advice 
• Self-Help Books to Read for Inspiration
• Writing a Self-Help Book: Wrapping Up

There's only one thing to ask yourself to determine if you should write a self-help book: Can you help other people with a specific problem that you have experience overcoming?

If the answer is no, then you may want to re-think writing this type of book. If it's yes, then this article is for you!

Many people think that they need to be an expert with a degree in psychology or some other field to write a self-help book. And while expertise certainty does help by lending you credibility, it's often not as important as personal experience. 

Formatting Has Never Been Easier

Write and format professional books with ease.  Never before has creating formatted books been easier.

We tend to learn by doing, and doing requires hard work, struggle, and perseverance. So if you've overcome a problem that many other people face (which is most problems), then you may have a unique perspective that could help readers improve their lives. 

But that's where the work of writing one of these nonfiction books begins. And before you start putting words on your screen, it's important to develop your idea. That way, when you start writing, no words will be wasted. 

Step 1: Develop Your Idea

The idea-development stage is incredibly important. This is where you really nail down your book's central thesis—the problem you're going to solve for readers. Because with so much competition out there, you need an angle that is both unique and attractive to readers, but that also fits into your experience and/or expertise. 

It can be tempting to cast as wide a net as possible with your nonfiction book. After all, you want your book to be able to help as many people as possible. 

Unfortunately, the wide net strategy backfires more often than not. This is because people want specifics in their self-help books. They'll purchase books that speak specifically to them. So if the subject matter is too broad or vague, they're likely to pass them up for something a little more specific. 

Everyone wants to be happy, but happiness means different things to different people. A book about being happier will be too vague. On the other hand, a book about learning to be happier for mothers in their thirties will speak to a specific audience by aligning your practical advice with their problem(s).

So when you're developing your idea, dive down as deep as possible. Find a niche audience that will benefit highly from your book, as opposed to a wide audience that will find your advice too generic to apply to them. 

Narrowing your book idea also has the added benefit of helping to define your audience. This can help you develop a picture of your ideal reader. And when the time comes, you can write the entire book as if you're talking to that one ideal reader. 

This is among the best practices for writing a self-help book. Instead of focusing on a huge group of disparate people, you can write to one person, which will allow you to write in a way that will resonate with your readers. 

Part of defining your audience is getting clear on the specific problem you're going to help your reader fix—and how you're going to help them do it. Once you have your problem, solution, and audience in mind, then it's time to think about your title and subtitle. 

You could arguably choose a title and a subtitle during any step in the writing process. But I find it's better to do it near the beginning. Because your title and subtitle will do so much to help readers find you among the thousands of other self-help books. 

Nonfiction book titles should directly relate to the problem you're trying to solve for the reader. Take the book Joy At Work: Organizing Your Professional Life by Marie Kondo. Both the title and subtitle speak to her ideal reader. If you're not finding joy at work, or you're struggling to get where you want to be, then the book will likely speak to you. And if you were searching on Amazon for phrases like “Professional self-help books” or “work self-help books,” then it would be more likely to come up because the words “professional” and “work” are both in the title/subtitle. 

This is exactly what you want from your title. 

One great resource for researching nonfiction book titles is Publisher Rocket. It can also give you a good idea if the self-help niche you hope to write in is overly competitive or not. It does this by pulling data from Amazon on four distinct categories:

• Keywords – Brings you information on phrases and words Amazon customers use to search.
• Competition – Analyzes the competition for a given keyword or phrase by looking at the bestseller rank for the top books that show up (among other data points). 
• Category – Presents useful data on specific Amazon categories to determine how easy or difficult the category would be to break into.
• Amazon Ads Keywords – Quickly finds relevant keywords and phrases you can use for advertising with Amazon ads 

You can also get this same information by spending some time researching on Amazon, but Publisher Rocket is much faster and more efficient. To learn more about how to do this, check out my article here . 

If you do nothing else, look at the top ten bestselling self-help books in your specific niche. Note their titles and subtitles, and let them inspire yours.  

Note: If choosing a title and subtitle at this point in the process seems like too much, move on with the next steps. Just keep it in mind as you do, and come back to it after you’ve written your outline.  

Deciding whether you want to self-publish is a big step. Your other choice is to seek out a book deal with a traditional publisher. And given how the traditional publishing system works with self-help books, you may want to shop around your idea first to see if there are any takers. 

Like many other nonfiction topics, self-help is a genre where you don't necessarily have to have an entire book written to get a book deal with a traditional publisher. In the self-help genre, you can shop around a book proposal instead of an entire manuscript . 

And writing a book proposal takes significantly less time than writing an entire book. For many aspiring authors who dream of landing a deal with a big publisher, this is an attractive prospect. The problem is, it can take years of shopping your proposal around before you learn whether a literary agent or publisher is interested in your book.  

If you don't want to wait years or simply want the freedom and control of self-publishing, then you can start the writing process. And it all begins with a thorough outline.  

Step 3: Outline Your Book

Before you can get to writing, you'll need to spend some time outlining your book. When it comes to self-help books, outlining is an essential part of the book-writing process. 

Every section needs to be pertinent to the thesis of your book—the problem you're helping the reader solve. While you should certainly share personal anecdotes, you're not writing a memoir. So writing an outline can keep you on track by making sure every chapter and section provides value to the reader by helping them understand how to overcome their problem.  

Most of these books start with an introduction, where you introduce yourself, discuss your credentials and pertinent life experience, and generally tell the reader why they should listen to you. This is also where you can prepare the reader for the structure of the book by explaining the layout and emphasizing how you aim to help them solve their problem. 

Doing an outline for a self-help book can almost be like writing a first draft. While every author tends to outline differently, you'll want to be as detailed as possible. Most of these books are somewhere around 50,000 words . Keep this in mind as you outline your chapters (you don't want them too long or too short).

While you're outlining your book, you'll want to do extensive research to support your solution. Personal experience counts for a lot, but it's important that what you're saying is grounded in reality with studies, research, other people's firsthand experience, and data. 

Not every self-help subject will lend itself to this, but many of them can and should be supported with research. This is yet another way to gain credibility in the reader's eyes.

Telling a reader that standing on their head for an hour a day will contribute to their personal development could stretch credulity. It may have worked for you, but most readers will want to see some evidence before they get a sore neck from taking your advice.  

Step 4: Write It!

After all that, it's time to write the book ! Depending on how much detail you put in your outline, this step could be just a matter of filling sections in and making adjustments. Or it could involve getting the meat of the book down. Either way, it's the fun part!

The basic structure of a self-help book is similar to that of a college or high school essay. You want to start (after the introduction) with the problem in the first chapter. In the second chapter, you'll give an overview and some real-life stories on how you're going to help solve that problem. 

After that, you can dive into the step-by-step guide to solving the problem before wrapping everything up once again at the end of the book. 

You really can't go wrong with this format no matter what self-help topic you're tackling. 

Humans naturally gravitate toward stories. We see our lives as stories, and it's how we make sense of the world. This is why sharing personal experiences and anecdotes in your self-help book is such a powerful thing. 

Not only is this a way to further demonstrate your credibility, but it's also a way to get the reader to glean valuable insight from your book. Stories help us internalize lessons. And that's just what you want your reader to do as they read your book. 

Additionally, personal anecdotes help you keep the writing personal, like you’re trying to help a good friend. Whether it be financial struggles, mental health issues, or some other problem directly related to the subject of your book, readers will identify with you. This can not only help them, but it can also help you when they spread the word about your work!

As the writer, it's up to you to make your book stand out not just in terms of its unique angle on a problem, but also in its style. And by that, I mean your style. 

Just as in writing fiction, the author's voice really does a lot to make the writing engaging. Of course, the specific style of your book will depend not only on your writing style but also on the angle you're taking with the whole book's presentation . 

Take The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. The title of this bestselling self-help book gives you a pretty good idea of what you're going to get inside. Mark Manson's comedic voice and irreverent tone make it both a pleasure to read and an entertaining look at how we've perhaps been thinking about self-help wrong all these years. 

While your book may not be so extreme as to have a curse word in the title, you certainly don't want the writing to be dry and impersonal. Be yourself and impart your style to the book . You can bet that people will respond to it. 

Giving the readers actionable advice in the form of exercises or steps that can help them is essential to an effective self-help book.

People don't want to just hear your success story (although that's part of it). They also want to hear what exact steps you recommend they take so they can get to where you are. 

Many authors do this by including a section at the end of each chapter with a recap of the points covered in the chapter, followed by steps of practical guidance that the reader can follow. 

After all, one of the main complaints self-help books get is that they’re not specific enough in their advice. 

As with any other genre, you need to know what works well in the self-help genre. The following are excellent examples of self-help books done right:

• How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
• You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero
• Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Dr. Wayne Dyer
• The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
• Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life by Marie Kondo

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Being a self-help author is wildly rewarding. Helping people is one of the fundamental joys of life. And making a career out of helping people is something many dream of. Luckily, there's never been an easier time to do it. 

Whether you want to go through traditional channels or self-publish, you'll have to make sure you have a great book that solves a specific problem for people. And to do this, it takes time, research, writing skill, and marketing savvy . The best part is, these are all things you can learn. 

Whether you're a life coach looking to expand your reach or someone with a unique life experience you want to share, I hope this article has provided you with a self-help template for your book-writing process! 

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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How To Write A Profitable, Life-Changing Self-Help Book

You feel it when you see others struggling as you have — the burden of knowledge and experience that could benefit them.

And the frustration of keeping that buried treasure to yourself is worse than the challenge of becoming an author .

You’re just not quite sure how to write a self-help book of your own.

But you’re ready to learn.

Writers and helping professionals often have a deep well of reflection and experience to draw from. And when we’ve benefited from books others have written, who can blame us for wanting to pay it forward?

There are thousands of readers who are hungry for the inspiration, motivation, and strategies you can offer them.

The self-improvement book industry is “an $800 million market that’s growing 6% per year,” according to Market Research.com .

I love this genre so much, I’ve authored over two dozen self-help books — several that were bestsellers, and one that became a Wall Street Journal Bestseller.

And the best way to get the same results with your book idea is to follow the steps laid out in this post.

How to Write a Self-Help Book

How many words are in a self-help book, how to structure a self-help book, 1. brainstorm your book idea., 2. outline your book., 3. start with a story., 4. have a conversation with your ideal reader., 5. brainstorm and choose a title and subtitle., 6. repeat to reinforce., 7. get permissions and cite your sources., 8. write your first draft., 9. get an editor., 10. revise your book., 11. find beta readers., 12. collect endorsements (and, if possible, a foreword)., 13. find a designer for your book’s interior., 14. find a cover designer., 15. publish your book..

Your book begins with an idea. Then, once you’ve decided to write a book about it, you need to get clear on the kind of book you’ll be writing and on the takeaways you want for your reader.

Writing a self-help book is writing for personal development — yours as well as your reader’s. It’s a unique genre in that, when done correctly, furthers your growth as well as that of the people for whom you write it.

All the more reason to choose this genre for your first book . But how big a project will this be? And how long will it take?

The average word count for a self-help book is 30,000 to 70,000 words . A 30,000 word book, after formatting for a 6″ by 9″ paperback, can run about 180 pages.

Some are shorter than 30,000 words, and some are longer than 70,000. Self-published titles tend to be shorter.

If you have any favorite self-help books, check their length, and ask yourself whether you thought they could have been shorter — or could have been improved with more content.

Your book will be long enough when it fulfills its purpose in as many words as you need (and no more), without sacrificing storytelling or helpful subtitles.

And its purpose should be clear from the words on the cover.

When you’re writing a self-help book, break your content down into the following steps to make it as clear and helpful as possible:

• Define the problem. Make it absolutely clear what problem you’re addressing, why it matters, and why you felt called to write a book about it.
• Give some history of the problem. Provide some helpful backstory to show the reader how the problem has developed, how it has affected others and how it continues to be an issue.
• Share what the reader needs to know before addressing the problem. There are usually some caveats related to the problem and its resolution. Show the reader what they need to know in order to get the best results from your book.
• Offer and describe an action plan. Here’s where you show your reader exactly what they could do to tackle the problem and improve their situation.

Here are some structural tips for keeping your reader engaged throughout your book:

Now that you have an idea of the kind of book you want to write and how to structure it, take the following steps to get your book from idea to publication day.

How to Write a Self-Help Book Step-by-Step

It’s one thing to have an idea. It’s another to take that idea and flesh it out so you know you’ll have enough content for a book.

Mind maps are useful for this stage, but so is simply making a list of the topics related to your book’s central problem, the myths or assumptions you want to counter, and the questions you want to answer.

In short, write down every point you want to make with your book. And make it clear.

Once you know all the points you want your book to make, it’s time to get organized.

An outline gives your book the structure it needs to flow and make sense. Writing from an outline helps you avoid straying from the points you want to make. It keeps you on task and makes it more likely that you’ll keep your book’s promise to your reader.

Essentially, you’re creating your book’s table of contents and then fleshing it out a bit.

What better way to lead your reader into your book than by telling a story that makes them feel understood or that gives them some insight into your book’s central problem?

Effective storytelling draws people in. Tell a good story, and your reader feels more invested in your book.

Stories take impersonal facts and humanize them, making it more likely that your reader will remember them and internalize your message.

Along with storytelling, you can engage your reader more effectively by addressing them with a conversational tone that is both friendly and respectful of your reader’s boundaries.

When you’re writing this book, pretend you’re having a conversation with someone who’s going through what you have. Be authentic as well as kind and considerate.

Put yourself in their place and use an approach that would make you want to trust the author .

Brainstorm a list of at least 20 titles . If possible, when you narrow down your choices to a top 3, get some feedback from readers in your target audience, as well as from people with experience crafting effective book titles.

Do the same for your book’s subtitle or tagline. The title and subtitle together should communicate your book’s promise to the reader with clarity and elegance.

Teachers have used repetition for centuries to help students remember the material — from Latin declensions to times tables and so on. And it never hurts to reinforce what your book is teaching by ending each chapter with a brief recap.

You can also ask related questions to get them thinking and tying the subject matter to their own experience.

Repeating the most important points throughout the book is another way you can use repetition to ensure your reader doesn’t lose the main benefits of reading your book.

Credit where credit is due. If you’re quoting published sources and you want to include a substantial piece of someone else’s content in your book, be sure to get their permission and to cite all your sources.

As for brief quotes from published sources, it’s usually enough to cite them. You can also provide a link on your book’s resource page to that author’s website or the sales page for the source you cited.

If you know roughly how long you want your book to be, and you have a fair idea of how many words you can write per day, you can set a deadline for finishing your first draft (total word count divided by daily word count plus a time cushion of a few days — because life happens).

Having a deadline can motivate you to do your daily writing, even on those days when you’re less inclined to sit down and do the work. And the sooner you finish that first draft , the sooner you can move on to the next step.

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That next step is finding a good editor for your book. If you can find one who specializes in self-help books or who at least has experience editing them, so much the better.

You’ll likely get better results from someone who at least reads self-self books and knows roughly what self-help readers expect. You want an editor who can tell you whether your book is delivering on its promises and whether it’s likely to hold a reader’s interest to the end.

Once your editor has worked their magic, it’s time to revise your book, which could involve substantial rewriting – all in the name of making your book something your readers won’t want to put down.

After you’ve done the work, your editor should be able to finish the job by copy-editing and proofreading your book.

Good beta readers, particularly those who have a genuine interest in your book, can tell you what they like and don’t like about your book. Those who are avid readers of self-help books will more easily spot the differences between your book and the ones they’ve read before.

Even if the feedback isn’t all positive, draw from it what you can use to make your book better. And don’t forget to reward your beta readers in some way.

Do what you can to collect endorsements from other self-help authors or from credible experts in your book’s subject matter. You can add these to your book’s sales page as well as to your paperback’s back cover.

Even your ebook can have a page or two dedicated to endorsements. If you can only get one or two, you can work them into your book’s description to put them front and center on the sales page.

If you can get a known authority to write a foreword for your book, even better.

Yes, if your budget is tight, you can certainly learn how to do basic formatting for your book. But if you can manage it, professional formatting will ensure that your book’s interior makes a good impression on your readers.

A formatter with experience in interior book design and an understanding of your genre can make your book’s interior look every bit as polished and pleasing to the eye as any traditionally published book.

Ultimately, that investment up front can have a huge impact on your book’s sales potential.

As with the previous step, it’s possible to learn how to design an appealing cover. But If you don’t have the time or inclination to learn how to design like a professional (and many authors do not), it’s best to pay someone who already can.

Nothing says you can’t learn how to design beautiful covers yourself. But for your first book (or your first self-help book), treat yourself to one designed by a recommended professional.

You’ve already spent weeks on your book’s content, doing what you do well. Why not leave the cover to someone who loves designing them as much as you love writing?

Once your book is written, edited, revised, formatted, and fitted with a beautiful cover, you’re ready to publish. Here’s where you’ll decide whether to work exclusively with Amazon (with KDP Select) or to “go wide.”

If you’re a first-time author, KDP Select is a great place to start. The more experience you have as an author launching and marketing your books, the more you’re likely to see an advantage in exploring other venues.

Now that you’re familiar with all the steps to becoming an author, where are you with your current work in progress (WIP)?

And what could you do today to get further along and closer to the big launch?

You’ll get there sooner if you have a daily writing habit. And the more you connect with other writers, the more motivated you’ll be to finish your book and get it out there.

When you’re ready for more, Authority Pub’s got you covered with helpful posts on publishing, launching, and marketing your book.

I can’t wait to see you share the news about the book you’re writing! And I’ll do everything I can from here to help you maximize your potential as an author.

May every day get you closer to a successful launch of your life-changing book.

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170 Self-Care Journal Prompts to Help You Reflect, Relax, and Recharge

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: September 2, 2022  - Last updated: July 31, 2023

Categories Self Improvement , Inspiration , Writing

Self-care is so important, especially in today’s world. It can be tough to find time for yourself, but you must make time to reflect, relax, and recharge. We’ve put together this list of 170 self-care journal prompts! These prompts will help you focus on yourself and your well-being. Journaling is a great way to practice self-care, so don’t hesitate to give these prompts a try!

15 Daily Journaling Prompts for Your Physical Health

Diary writing is a great tool for your physical and mental health.

It helps you keep track of your progress and habits and can help you identify patterns in your life that are detrimental to your physical health. For example, if you notice that you tend to eat too much in the evenings after work, it’s a good idea to write this down so you can try to change it.

• How are you feeling today?
• When was the last time you went for a walk outside?
• What did you eat today? How does your body feel when you eat these foods?
• When was the last time you exercised? What did you do, and what did you like best about it?
• What’re you grateful for in your body?
• What things help your body feel healthy, strong, and energized?
• What diets or exercise programs have helped you in the past, and what made them successful?
• In what ways has exercise improved your mood and mental health over time?
• Have you set any physical health or fitness goals for this year? If so, what’re they, and how will you know if/when you achieve them?
• Why do you want to lose weight/ build muscle/ etc.? What’ll you accomplish by doing so?
• What would you like to know about a healthy lifestyle?
• Are there parts of your body that you need to pay more attention to than others? Why or why not?
• What’s the first thing you do when you get home from work?
• What’s the most relaxing thing you do?
• When was the last time you took a bubble bath?

20 Daily Journal Entries for Your Mental Health

When you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or just a little off, it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. Self-care may seem like an overwhelming task, but it’s really about making small changes and taking the time to appreciate yourself.

• What do you want to accomplish for your mental health this week/month/year?
• When was the last time you took a moment to breathe?
• What’re three things you’re grateful for?
• What did you learn today?
• What was the last book that made you cry?
• Who do you admire most in the world right now? And why?
• What one thing are you looking forward to this week?
• If you had an extra hour each day, what would you do with it?
• How can you help someone else today?
• What would your best friend say about your mental health? (If he/she’s not here, imagine his/her response.) Does he/she have any suggestions for how you can improve it? Are there ways you could help them if they’re also having a hard time?
• Have your annual goals changed this month/year/stage of life? If so, what’s new and exciting about these changes?
• How can you be kinder to yourself today?
• What’re the things that make you happy?
• What’re things that make you feel relaxed?
• What music do you listen to when you feel stressed or anxious?
• How often do you do something for yourself that makes you feel good? (For example, going for a walk or drinking a cup of tea).
• Do you sometimes have bad days when nothing goes right? If so, how do you deal with them?
• Write your most important self-love journal prompt and explain why it’s the most helpful for you to practice self-love.
• What would it be and why if you could change one thing about your life right now?
• What’re three things that make you feel loved/supported?

15 Daily Journal Entries for More Mindfulness

Journal writing is a great way to practice mindfulness. It can help you get in touch with your feelings, reflect on your day, and identify what needs to change in your life. Keeping a journal is an easy way to practice mindfulness – and it’s also a great way to record all the great things happening in your life!

• What’re you doing right now?
• What’s the best thing or person surrounding you right now?
• What’s going on in your body right now?
• How is your breathing right now?
• What’re you grateful for right now?
• What would it be if you could add anything to your life right now?
• What’s your favorite thing to do in nature?
• What makes your heart smile today?
• How can you be more present in your life?
• What do you need to have more peace?
• How can you disconnect from your cell phone?
• What can you do to make today a little better than yesterday?
• Write down a positive interaction you had with another person (or something you did for others).
• What’s a good habit that makes you feel good?
• What do you like about the place where you live? Why is it important for you to live there?

25 Daily Journal Suggestions for Personal Growth

This will help you identify patterns of behavior and thought processes that keep you from achieving your goals – and then allow you to change those patterns if they’re holding you back.

• What was the biggest challenge you faced last year? How did you overcome it?
• What do you want to be doing five years from now? Ten years from now?
• Who’s your hero? And why?
• What’re the three things that make you feel most alive?
• When was the last time you felt deeply connected to another person, and how did that happen?
• What would you like to change about yourself (physical or mental), and how would you do it if money were no object?
• Who’s your role model when it comes to living a meaningful life? Why them?
• How has your self-image changed (especially since you were a child)?
• What motivates you to keep going when things get tough – even on days when nothing seems to be working out?
• What makes your heart sing with joy?
• What three things make you happy these days – even if it’s just little things like taking a nice walk outside or reading a good book before bed?
• Write down your resolutions for tomorrow – anything from “I’ll get my work done on time” to “I’ll go for a walk in the park during my lunch break” can be helpful!
• What’s something you’ve been struggling with lately?
• How can you make this easier for yourself?
• What would you say if you could have a conversation with your past self (younger self)? And do the same with your future self…
• What’s something that gives you confidence?
• Write about something that makes you feel vulnerable.
• List five things that make you feel safe and grounded, and write down why they’re important to you.
• What do you regret not doing in the past but would like to make up for it by doing it now?
• How do you want to grow as a person this year?
• What’s the best advice someone has given you? Why have you still take it to heart after all these years?
• Do you usually feel loved or judged when you spend time with someone?
• How does holding on to negative thoughts, feelings, or energy negatively affect your daily life?
• What past experiences do you still need to heal from to show me grace?
• How have you shaped your life in a positive way?

25 Journaling Calls for Professional Growth

Writing daily journal entries is an important part of professional development. It allows you to reflect on your work, evaluate your progress, and make adjustments as needed. It’s also a great way to keep track of your professional goals and celebrate successes.

• What made you want to work in your field?
• Where do you feel most challenged?
• How do you like your job right now?
• What’re the best things about your job? The worst?
• What would it be if you could change one thing about your job?
• What would you like to change about your career?
• What would make you happier at work?
• Where do you get the most energy in the morning? In the evening?
• Tell me about a time when you felt good at work and why you felt so good.
• What would it be and why if you could’ve one superpower at work?
• What’re three things distinguishing a colleague who cares about his/her well-being and the team’s success?
• What makes a colleague stand out who doesn’t care enough about his/her self-care or the success of the team?
• What would it be and why if you could change one thing about how your supervisor treats their employees?
• What was your first job?
• What’s helped you become a better leader or employee over time?
• What skills would you still like to learn?
• What kind of work environment would be ideal for you?
• How can you accomplish more in less time?
• Are you taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually? If not, how can you do better?
• How can you improve your work-life balance?
• How are my non-work relationships impacting your work life? Is there anything you can do about it? If so, what? (If no one negatively impacts your work-life balance, that’s great! But if someone is, you should think about it).
• What do others see as your strengths and weaknesses at work? Does their opinion match yours, and if not, why not?
• What accomplishments are you proud of?
• What was the most difficult situation you ever overcame?
• What’re your goals for the next year?

25 Diary Suggestions for Your Social Life

Family and loved ones are the people who love you unconditionally, who support you when you need it, and who make sure you don’t get too big for your britches. They’re the ones who know all your embarrassing stories and will never let you forget them.

Your loved ones are also the people with whom it’s sometimes difficult to talk about things that bother you. That’s why we’ve put together this list of sayings to help you get through any situation with a smile on your face – and maybe even get some good advice from those around you.

• What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re alone? Do it today!
• Write down the last time you went out with friends and what happened. What are your favorite movies/TV shows/books/genres of music/etc.? Why do they appeal to you so much?
• What do you think about your friends right now?
• What do you want to do this weekend?
• What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?
• What’s something you love about your family?
• Do you sometimes feel like your family doesn’t understand you or that you don’t understand them? Why is that?
• How can you live more in harmony with them?
• What do you do to take care of your family?
• How often do you call or text your parents? How often do they check in with you?
• What did your family do when you were growing up?
• What is the best way to communicate with your family and friends?
• What’s your favorite memory with a friend or loved one?
• If you could go back in time, what would you say to yourself to be kind to others?
• What did someone say to you when you needed it most?
• How do you manage to be a good parent and a good friend?
• How do you help your friends feel like individuals, independent of you?
• If a friend asked you for advice on how to be happier, what would it be?
• What would it be if someone asked you for advice on how to be healthier?
• What boundaries do you need to set with others and yourself to prioritize your goals and self-care?
• How can you embrace your true self, even if it looks different than what others expect?
• How can you express gratitude to others?
• If your closest friends were to write down your best character traits, what would they be?
• Who did something to help you or make your life easier this week, and how can you thank them?
• Do you feel like you need to expand your circle of friends? Why or why not?

25 Journaling Suggestions for Self-Care Activities

Self-care activities are important because they help you cope better with the stress of your daily routine.

• What do you need to do today?
• What can you do today to practice self-love and self-care in a way that moves you closer to your goal of seeing yourself and your body more positively?
• How much time can you set aside for self-care activities? For example, 1 hour/week, twice a month…
• What physical activity will you do today?
• What does your perfect day look like?
• Do you have a regular exercise routine? If so, what do you like to do?
• When was the last time you exercised, and how did you feel afterward?
• What’s your favorite sport?
• What’s your least favorite sport?
• What’s your favorite way to relax?
• What kind of massage do you like best?
• When was the last time you went to a SPA?
• Have you ever participated in a meditation class? How was it?
• How often do you meditate every day? Every week?
• When was the last time you’d had a real vacation? Where was it? What did you do?
• What do you like to cook?
• What’s your favorite healthy snack or meal that you feel good after eating (other than salad)?
• How often do you eat junk food or unhealthy snacks that aren’t good for your body or mind (like French fries)?
• What’s your favorite hobby?
• What’s the best diet you’ve ever been on? Why did it work for you?
• How can you improve your time management today?
• What physical activity makes you feel good?
• If you could spend more time doing one activity in the new year, what would it be?
• When do you feel most energized?
• What would you like to learn more about?

20 Daily Journal Prompts for More Self-Confidence

Journaling prompts are important for your self-confidence because they can help you realize that you have the power to improve your life and don’t have to wait for someone else to do it for you.

• How do you define self-confidence?
• Are you confident right now? Why or why not?
• What’re the biggest obstacles to your confidence?
• What do you think is the most effective way to become more confident?
• If you could tell someone who’s not very confident how to become more confident, what would you tell them?
• How do you feel when someone compliments you on your looks, fashion sense, etc.? Does it make a difference if it’s a friend, family member, stranger, or acquaintance? Why or why not?
• What’s one thing you’re good at?
• When do you have the most confidence in yourself and your abilities?
• What things have given you confidence in the past?
• What things have made you feel confident lately?
• What’s your favorite thing to do when you feel confident?
• What’s one thing you’re proud of yourself for?
• What do you like about yourself?
• What do others regularly compliment you on?
• Have you tried techniques that didn’t work for you to become more confident? If so, what happened? What did you learn from it?
• How has being more confident helped your relationships with others? How did it help your relationships with each other (if applicable)?
• What did you accomplish this week that made you feel good?
• How do you act when you don’t feel confident? Can you tell a difference between these two things?
• Describe who you are now in terms of who you want to be in five years (or less). What’ll have changed? How will it change? Why are these changes important to you?
• If someone were to write a book about your life, what would the title, subtitle, and chapter headings be? Why did you choose those titles/subtitles/chapters?

Do Self-Care Journal Prompts Work?

Journaling can be an effective tool for self-improvement, and prompts for self-discovery are a great way to get started. But like anything else, it depends on how much effort you’re willing to put into it.

If you want to use self-discovery journal prompts to help you manage your day, you will have to put in some effort. You must ensure you take time each night to write down how you feel after the day and what goals or tasks you accomplished. It won’t work very well if you don’t build this into your routine.

But if you’re willing to do it, it can bring you many benefits:

• Self-awareness: recording how many times a day you feel too much stress, anger or anxiety will, over time, help you become more aware of these emotions, so they don’t take control of everything else in your life. This can lead to better decision-making when facing difficult situations or stressful events in life.
• Set goals: If things are important but haven’t been done yet (like homework), it helps to track each goal promptly.

I don’t know if self-care journals will work for you, but I know they work if you use them.

Journaling is like anything else; the more effort you put in, the more you get out of it. If you write a few lines in your journal every morning and then forget about it, it probably won’t do you much good. But if you take the time to really think about what makes you feel good and what makes you feel bad, and then think about how you can feel better and how you can avoid feeling worse, then yes: I think it works.

How to Create a Self-Care Notebook

Creating a self-care notebook is easy! All you need is some paper, a pen, and a desire to care for yourself.

First, you’ll need pretty and fun paper (you can also use an app if you prefer to do it electronically). You can make it as simple or as fancy as you like – the important thing is that you feel good when you look at it.

Next, choose a pen that feels good in your hand. If it’s too heavy or not heavy enough, or too thin or too thick, you may get frustrated writing in your notebook. So be sure to choose one that feels good!

In your notebook, you will write down all the things that make you feel good and your negative thoughts.

• Make a list of the things that are important to you. These can be activities or things like “reading books,” “listening to music,” or “going for a walk.” You can also write down things like “getting enough sleep” and “drinking water.”
• Step 2: Think about what you need to do to make time for these things. Maybe set your phone to “don’t disturb” before bed, so you’re not tempted to check social media before bed. Or, make sure there’s always water in the fridge so you can stick to your hydration goal.
• Write down when these things happen and how long they take (e.g., “I read for 30 minutes every morning”). Then experiment with different times and durations until you find what works best for you!

What Should Be on the First Page of a Self-Care Journal?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you have a goal in mind but don’t know where to start. On the first page of your self-care journal, you should write down what you want to accomplish and then break it down into smaller, manageable goals. That way, when you feel overwhelmed, you can glance at your list and see exactly what needs to be done to reach the next milestone.

For example, if your goal is to “get organized,” break it down into smaller steps.

• Write a list of all the things that need to get done, so you feel organized
• Pick one task on the list to start with (e.g., clean out your closet)
• Break that task down into even smaller steps (clean out part of your closet; put all the things that no longer fit in another pile)

How Many Journaling Prompts Should You Make Per Day?

I’m a firm believer in quality over quantity. That’s why I think it’s important to take your time and work on one journal prompt per day/week to start with – and then go back and read through what you’ve written later. That way, you can see what was going on in your head and have a context for what you wrote down that day.

Trying one prompt a day can already be a lot if you’re just getting started with journal writing. But if that’s not enough… well, then that means you’re probably ready to do two or even three writing prompts daily. If you’re already journaling three or four times a day without any problems – and if you’re still enjoying all those prompts, you may add another prompt. Just make sure it’s good for you before committing to anything else.

There’s no magic number of journal prompts you should do every day. Most importantly, you feel like you’re making progress with your journal. Doing too many can feel like a chore, and if you don’t do enough, you may feel stuck and frustrated.

It also depends on which journal prompt you to choose. Some are easier than others. If you’re working through a long list of prompts, or if you’re using prompts from different categories (e.g., “positive” and “negative”), it may be better to spread them out over several days rather than trying to do them all in one sitting.

You May Find Yourself Working on the Same Prompt More Than Once

You may feel differently in a month or a few years.

Each time you revisit a prompt, it’s a new experience for your mind.

• Maybe you had a different problem to solve than the first time, so there are a new set of questions to answer.
• Maybe you’ve had other experiences that have affected your negative thoughts and feelings about the issue.

In other words: If you don’t write about something for a long time, you may write about it again at another time in your life and have completely different feelings or ideas than you’d before!

A Self-Care Journal Should Be Kept Daily

A self-care journal should be kept daily for several reasons.

Having an organized place to record your self-care goals is important, and a daily journal will help you stay on track. In your journaling journey, you will record what you did for yourself that day and how you felt about it. If something didn’t work out as well as you hoped, write down what you could change in the future.

You should also write down the time you spent relaxing or creating – or anything else that helps you restore your energy. This will help you identify patterns in your day that will help you make the most of your time when taking care of yourself.

It’s important to keep a self-care journal that you can work with daily. Many people start with a journal and then abandon it when they get busy. But if you’ve something you can use daily, it’s easier to stick with your self-care program.

A Daily Journal Helps You Keep Track of How Well You’re Taking Care of Yourself

Sometimes we forget how much time we spend on things like eating right or exercising. That’s why it’s helpful to keep a diary where we can see what our habits look like. That way, we can adjust those habits as needed – or just be happy about what we’re doing right!

I recommend keeping a daily journal of self-care because it has many benefits! It helps prevent burnout, which can happen when you try to do too much at once; it helps you remember how important self-care is; and it gives you a chance to reflect on what went well and what didn’t, so that next time (if there’s one) it’ll go even better!

Try to Keep an Organized Journal

Writing things down can help you feel more in control of your life. You’ll be surprised how much you understand yourself when writing things down.

If you’re still thinking about what would be useful for your self-care journal, here are some ideas:

You could write down the things that make you happy or the things that make you sad. You could write down everything in your life that stresses you out and then write down the steps you can take to deal with those stressors that cause anxiety. You could write down how you feel today or what happened in your day yesterday.

You can also use this space to record your goals and dreams.

• What do you want out of life?
• Or how do you imagine your dream life?
• What do you hope to achieve?
• What do you want to learn?
• What would be important to you before you die?
• How can we help each other achieve our goals?

This is where we can all work together, support, and help each other achieve our goals!

A self-care journal is where you can write down everything most important to you so that they’re waiting for you each day when you feel overwhelmed or confused.

You Can Use Colored Stickers to Organize Each Journaling Prompt Category by Section

For example, red for lists, blue for to-do’s, green for goals, and so on. That way, you can find what you’ve done in the past or what you need to do next faster.

If you use a digital version of your self-care journal, you can create folders in your email inbox or add labels to your emails. This will help you sort and prioritize your tasks.

Related Post

39 Gratitude Journal Prompts to Help You Appreciate Life

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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• Essay Database >
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Self-Help College Essays Samples For Students

25 samples of this type

Do you feel the need to examine some previously written College Essays on Self-Help before you start writing an own piece? In this free collection of Self-Help College Essay examples, you are granted a thrilling opportunity to discover meaningful topics, content structuring techniques, text flow, formatting styles, and other academically acclaimed writing practices. Exploiting them while crafting your own Self-Help College Essay will definitely allow you to finish the piece faster.

Presenting superb samples isn't the only way our free essays service can aid students in their writing efforts – our authors can also compose from scratch a fully customized College Essay on Self-Help that would make a solid foundation for your own academic work.

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Self-help groups specialize in putting people together for a common interest so that they can use their collective energy to achieve a goal. Most of the self-help groups are community-based and their prime reason is to ensure that they empower each individual member to achieve better social or economic living standards. This means that that the groups provide empowerment either through material or social encouragement. Meeting these goals requires a group to have a collective mindset and have good leadership.

Women of Virtue

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Expertly crafted essay on jesse jackson as a civil rights activist.

1. Topic: Jesse Jackson as a Civil Rights Activist 2. Introduction

Jesse Jackson is a politician, Baptist Church minister and a civil rights leader in America.

He was born in 1941, and he learned about segregation when he was young. Jackson and his mother would sit at the rear of the bus, and their elementary school did not have some amenities which the town’s elementary school for whites had. 3. His Civil Rights Activities

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In 1971 he founded Operation PUSH, People United to Save Humanity.

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How To Write A Self-Help Book That Transforms Lives: 8 Expert Tips

POSTED ON Apr 5, 2024

Written by Sarah Rexford

You're here because you're wondering how to write a self-help book that actually makes an impact.

And you're in the right place.

Learning how to write a self-help book effectively can help your author career thrive, boost an existing business , and change thousands of lives for the better. Because what is a self-help book if it doesn't help people!?

With so many self-help books in the market, writing one in a way that truly stands out is crucial to its success.

If you clicked on this article, it’s likely that you want to know how to write a self-help book because you have plans to pen one in the near future. Or perhaps you've already started writing a book. Maybe you only have a very faint book idea and aren't sure whether you should follow through with it (spoiler: you should).

No matter where you find yourself in your writing journey, you can use these tips for how to write a self-help book to level up your initial rough draft or manuscript. 

In this article, I break down how to write a self-help book into eight simple steps, using tips that deeply impact your readers and, ultimately, transform lives. While the success of your book can never be guaranteed, learning how to write a self-help book in a way that connects with readers is foundational.

Need A Nonfiction Book Outline?

This Guide to How to Write A Self-Help Book Will Cover:

What is a self-help book.

A self-help book is a book written to help people improve a certain aspect of their lives. What is a self-help book meant to help with? It could be anything from boosting your confidence to making a productive morning routine to organizing your house.

It doesn't matter what a self-help book is helping you with, as long as it helps and inspires you!

Why Should You Study How To Write A Self-Help Book?

The self-help book market is a thriving industry worth $10.5 billion as of 2020. That’s right, billion, not million. With these types of numbers, studying how to write a self-book is not just a good choice. It’s a no-brainer. 

Everyone has learned something in their life that they can teach to someone else – they just need to learn how to write a self-help book properly first.

So let’s dive into our top eight tips that will better your chances of standing out, impact your readers, and ultimately, reach your audience the way they most need it.

8 Actionable Tips for How to Write A Self-Help Book

If you want to learn how to write a self-help book, these are the tips you should follow:

1. Choose A Niche Topic

Self-help is a massive genre. You can find self-help books for anything from cooking basics to how to leverage your habits for massive success.

To stand out, you need to go deeper. You need a very specific subgenre or niche.

Writing about cooking healthy meals for a healthier lifestyle is not a bad self-help idea, but try taking it a step further: What about cooking healthy, vegetarian-friendly meals for busy lifestyles?

Instead of writing a general book about yoga poses, why not write one on easy-to-do yoga stretches and practices for post-surgery patients?

See the difference? In each of these examples of self-help books, one is broad, and one is focused.  

Whether you’ve already drafted your book or have just started writing, make sure you identify your precise niche to narrowly target your intended audience.

2. Layer In Your Unique Credibility

Never underestimate the power of your credibility. To continue with the healthy eating example, let’s say you chose to attend a four-year college, worked three jobs while taking full-time classes, and let your eating habits slip during those busy years. 

Now, you’ve graduated, have a successful career, AND have completely transformed your eating habits. You’re healthier than ever, and bonus , you have your undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences.

Your credibility isn't always just about your credentials. It includes your personal journey, experiences, and transformation, too.

Layer these details throughout your book to establish your credibility and create a stronger connection with your readers.

3. Use Personal Anecdotes (Sparingly!)

Let's build on the credibility bit, because it can overlap with your personal story a great deal.

Many self-help books are also books about a true story . Yours! This is definitely one way to write a book no one else can.

It would be simple to present yourself as the hero of your story. After all, you’re the one who had the experience.

But that would turn writing a self-help book into a memoir or autobiography . Instead, keep the focus on actionable advice. Choose to come alongside your reader, use nostalgic writing or personal anecdotes that don’t always show you as the hero, and share your story as supplemental fodder to the steps you ask your readers to take. 

Remember, a writing a self-help book is about helping your readers, not a personal memoir , so use your anecdotes only if they truly benefit your readers or will inspire them to take action. And if you're considering writing about perseverance, bear in mind that the same principles hold true for how to write about perseverance .

4. Focus On Structure 

When learning how to write a self-help book, structure is paramount. It drastically impacts how your readers digest your material.

First and foremost, you need to ensure you are sharing steps in a way that they can be followed. For example, when we write about how to write a nonfiction book , we begin with prewriting strategies such as mind mapping, outlining, and then writing a rough draft.

If we spoke about those steps in a different order, it would be difficult for our readers to understand which step to take next.

You may also want to include next steps, homework, or questions for discussion at the end of each chapter. Below are a few ideas for structuring and writing a self-help book:

• Follow a chronological timeline and take your reader on a journey 
• Open with the dream life your audience wants and then show them how to achieve it
• Focus on small goals throughout the manuscript that work together to lead to the ultimate goal 

Have fun with your structure and feel free to play around with various options. 

5. Know What Your Audience Knows

Understanding exactly what your audience knows (and doesn't know) about your topic is likely one of the biggest contributors to book sales and successful self-help book launches.

If you aren't meeting them where they're at and saying things that resonate with what they want, they won't pick up your book.

Work to avoid laying foundations your audience will view as juvenile or obvious. But at the same time, don’t push your audience too fast or make too many assumptions about what they know on the subject.

This may seem difficult to balance, but it comes down to deeply understanding your audience and their unique problems.

Related: How Much Money Can You Make From Writing a Self-Help or Business Book?

6. Repeat, Rephrase, Reframe

Most people need old lessons repeated to them in new ways more than they need to learn something new.

For instance, most people understand that establishing positive habits is crucial to a healthy, successful life. 

If you’re familiar with James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, you know he took this knowledge, repeated it, rephrased it, and reframed it in a way that landed him a spot on the New York Times bestseller list . Today, his estimated net worth is $8 million .

People thrive on repetition. 

Want to know how to write a self-help book that leverages this technique? Practice saying the same thing in different ways, and experiment with different verbs and nouns to keep your writing interesting.

Related: Improve Your Writing with This Free Tool

7. Provide An Achievable Goal

A list of tips for how to write a self-help book would not be complete without mentioning the importance of achievable goals . One aspect I believe helped James Clear succeed so massively with Atomic Habits was his focus on small, achievable habits. The emphasis on realistic goals is important for how to write a motivational book , as it helps readers feel empowered to take action and experience tangible progress, fueling their motivation and belief in their ability to achieve their larger goals.

The same goes for any self-help book, no matter how niche.

Audiences want to feel empowered so they can go live empowered lives. Self-help is about teaching individuals how to help themselves move forward. This means the goal must be achievable.

All goals take some level of effort, but you want to make sure you are pushing your readers toward something they can implement and start to see change from in the next 30 days.

8. Be Actionable

I've mentioned this multiple times throughout this guide, but it bears mentioning once more.

The goal of learning how to write a self-help book is learning how to write something that people can – and feel inspired to – take action from.

These steps should be ones they can take today, tomorrow, or this week. And should include clear directions.

For example, if your book focuses on harnessing creativity, what is a step they could take today? 

If you write about starting a side hustle as a stay-at-home mom, what are some helpful steps you could provide for already overwhelmed mothers?

Or, let’s say you want to provide teenagers with ways to start investing early. Most teenagers don’t have much financially, let alone thousands of dollars to invest.

How can they take one small action today that will impact their lives in a decade?

Share Your Influence, Leave A Legacy 

Everyone has a unique story to tell, and those stories have the ability to change lives.

You read this article not just because you want to learn how to write a self-help book but because you feel driven to help people.

When someone poses the question, ‘ What is your legacy ?', you are eager and ready to share your meaningful response.

You likely have some level of influence or credibility, or have transformed your own life in a profound way, which is why you chose to learn how to write a self-help book. The more you fine-tune how you write your book, the more potential it has for influence.

If you’re eager to start writing your book today, use the free resource below to help you start your nonfiction outline. This nonfiction book outline can help you reach your end goal (aka: a finished, impactful manuscript) faster.

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How writing a letter to your future self can help you set—and achieve—long-term goals, experts say

Creating and maintaining the kind of habits that will benefit you in the long-term can be a challenge. Just a month into 2024, 41% of Americans who'd made New Year's resolutions had kept just some or none of them at all, according to the Pew Research Center .

But there are practices that can help. Ari Wallach, executive director of Longpath , which helps foster long-term thinking in organizations and individuals, outlined a couple of practices for changing present-day behavior on a recent episode of the "Masters of Scale: Rapid Response" podcast.

One of them is to "write a letter to your future self," he told podcast host Bob Safian. "The research shows that it's not about receiving that letter but it's actually about writing that letter that changes how you think about yourself and your role in future shaping."

Mental health professionals agree that there's a benefit to this practice.

Writing a letter to your future self "helps people concentrate on their goals," says Gail Purvis, clinician in private practice and at Weill Cornell Medicine's department of psychiatry. That's because "putting pen to paper … emphasizes the importance of thinking about your future and what you want," she says.

The research shows that it's not about receiving that letter but it's actually about writing that letter. Ari Wallach Executive director, Longpath

The most effective way of doing this is not to set concrete goals, such as "by now you should have purchased a house and gotten married and had two kids," she says. Rather, Purvis would encourage people to approach their future selves with genuine hopes and compassion for them.

Try writing statements like "I hope the work that you have decided to do is meaningful and pleasurable to you" and "I hope that you have friends who love you" and who you love just as much. These kinds of statements won't make your future self feel guilty if certain goals have not been accomplished.

Wallach doesn't emphasize the importance of receiving the letter as much as crafting it, but Purvis says there's benefit to this as well.

Reading your letter down the line "increases a lot of self-awareness," she says, because it can help you get to know yourself better and see, over time, what you set out to do and what you accomplished. Ultimately, "the more you know yourself and the more you have compassion for yourself, the better decisions you'll make for yourself and for your loved ones."

Write that letter to your future self and keep it safe for as long as you want to wait to open it. You can also ask a family member to hold on to it, set it as an email that will get sent in the future or try using a service like FutureMe , which lets you write a letter and sends it for you.

Want to land your dream job in 2024?   Take CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview  to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. CNBC Make It readers can save 25% with discount code 25OFF.

Write a Self-help Book: A Beginner’s Guide.

• By Gourav Acharya
• Updated on March 6, 2023

What are Self-Help Books?

Books, written with the intent to help people solve particular problems or address issues, are known as self-help books. They instruct readers with tips, tactics, strategies, and methodologies implemented by the writer which helped him/her to solve issues similar to the reader.

The term ‘self-help book’ originated for the first time when Samuel Smiles wrote his best-seller in 1859 named ‘Self-Help.’ With time, Samuel’s book led to a niche of itself in book writing, now known as ‘self-help’ or ‘self-improvement’ books.

Writing a self-help book is not an easy task, but we have a step-by-step process for you to follow and get started on your journey to help people around the world. First, let’s look at some of the reasons people are buying and consuming more self-help books.

Why Self-Helps Books Sales Increased?

Over the years, the sales for self-help books have been increasing at a steady pace. There are many reasons for this:

• Growing demand for a legitimate source of help: Humans tend to believe that information put down in print or that has been published worldwide surely has to be ethical & trusted.
• Change in cultural, economical, political, and social landscapes: As our environment keeps rapidly evolving, so does our lifestyle. This tends to push people towards exploring topics like health, wealth, relationships, all of which are related to self-improvement.
• Insecurity is a significant contributor to the sale of self-help books: Many times we seek help because we feel inadequate about ourselves in some regard. Some people might be uncomfortable sharing their life problems with a human being and seek out a source of information that is not going to judge them.

Examples of Best-selling Self-Help Books

1. the alchemist by paulo coelho.

The Alchemist is the story of a shepherd boy Santiago, who embarks on a journey to search for an extravagant treasure. From his home in Spain, he travels to the Tangiers markets and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist. This adventurous story teaches us the power to listen to our hearts and notice signs, symbols, and omens along the journey of life.

2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Be it personal or professional problems; Covey has written an all-round approach towards solving them. With powerful insights and stories from his life that teach his principles, he carves a perfect pathway for living. He lays the path for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.  

3. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

This book takes you on an inspiring journey of understanding yourself. Tolle talks about reaching within your deep thoughts to discover truth and light that help you gain enlightenment. He teaches you how your mind can be your biggest enemy and how to control it. He goes further by showing readers how to live in the present moment.

4. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki’s book, ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad,’ is probably one of the most well-known around the world when it comes to wealth creation and management. Kiyosaki tackles the ‘financial literacy’ that’s missing in schools. Growing up, he had two father figures.  One who struggled paycheck to paycheck while the other was a multimillionaire; he named them ‘poor dad’ and ‘rich dad.’ It is a book for anyone who has a negative belief system regarding money or the world and wants to develop an understanding of how they can make money and work for themselves.

5. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Many people consider this book to be one of the most timeless pieces of self-help books ever written. Unlike the mass majority, Dale Carnegie believed that most successes come in life when we can communicate with people effectively rather than with brilliant insights. His book teaches skills that show you how to value people and make them feel appreciated rather than manipulated.

How to Write a Self-Help Book?

1. brainstorming ideas.

The very first step in writing your self-help book is to come up with different concepts. Ideally, you would want to explore problems that you have faced yourself and chart out a path to how you overcame them.

This is the most genuine way to go about the process. It enables you to discover your inner self and give people something that they haven’t read anywhere before.

Writing a self-improvement book is not just about universal tips and tactics, but also about your story.

If you don’t wish to tell your own story, that’s completely fine. You can write a fictional story that assimilates the values & principles for self-improvement that you want to share.

The important thing at this step is not to narrow down, but rather to explore as many possibilities as possible.

2. Choose your Topic

After you’ve noted all the possibilities, now comes the time to decide the final topic you want to write about.

But, the question would be, how do I decide? Here are some things that you might want to take into consideration:

• How much do I care about this topic? The last thing you want to do is write about something that does not resonate with who you are.
• What is the scope of this topic? Am I writing about something that caters to a large and broad audience? Or is it more for a niche audience?
• What are some other books related to the topics I want to talk about, and what different elements do I bring to the table? Why would someone choose to pick my book over others?

Introspecting yourself with the questions above can help you figure out the topic and direction that you want to move forward with.

3. Understand the Reader’s Expectations

The best way to gauge a reader’s expectation is to put yourself in their shoes. Imagine what it would be like if you were the person facing the problems that your book talks about.

Being able to relate to your target audience is very important. Hence, writing about something you have experienced yourself is the safest way to maintain your authenticity; this, in turn, ends up helping you write in a way that people can show empathy towards.

One of the best ways to understand your reader’s expectations would be to research within your social circles and ask people what they would expect out of a book regarding the topic you’ve chosen.

4. Research the Concept

Even though most of your book should be written with your own experience, it is beneficial to research what other people have written on similar subjects.

This enables you to amalgamate your perspectives with what other people have to say, giving you a well-rounded and informed opinion before writing.

Nothing is more dangerous than half-knowledge. As a writer, it should be your due responsibility to fact-check while writing anything objective.

5. Create an Outline

Once you have researched and gathered all the data you need, it’s time to create an outline .

All the pieces of information you’ve gathered is most likely unorganized. Giving it a structure is your next task before you can finally start writing.

Here is a basic and simple structuring guide that you could follow and expand upon as you begin writing:

• Start with the who, what, why, when, where, and how of your book.
• The common problem that your book revolves around.
• Integrate your story of how you’re related to this particular problem or topic.
• The various different approaches you took to overcome these problems or your realizations regarding the topic.
• Inculcate lessons you learned throughout your journey.

Use your story to glue all the elements together and create a smooth flow of events.

6. Write the Book

Finally, you actually start writing your book. Remember that it is not going to be perfect the first time around.

You will make mistakes. There will be errors. It is inevitable. It is all a part of the process.

A tip we would like to give you is not to edit while you write your material. There is an excellent reason why there are two separate positions for ‘writers’ and ‘editors’.

Both the skills require a different kind of effort. Hence it is wise not to multitask and mess up both tasks.

The last thing you want to do is write in the Grammarly editor. You will spend or waste most of your time looking at Grammarly suggestions wondering how you can improve, rather than focusing on getting the writing part done first.

7. Include Real-life examples

Real-life examples are nothing but instances in your life that will help the reader engage, visualize, and relate better with the concepts you discuss.

Stories are definitely the most powerful in engaging your reader. You want to keep them hooked to know and learn more about you.

This creates a strong bond between the reader and the author that you might not even be aware of as an author.

8. Choose the Title

Many would believe that choosing a title so late is counterintuitive. But trust us when we tell you that the most catchy, hooking, or meaningful title often comes during or by the end of the writing process.

We have a vision of what we want to write, but the end product is often slightly different from what you envisioned.

Some titles are very direct and to the point, whereas others are quite short and generate a sense of curiosity within the reader to know more about the book.

9. Get Feedback

The final step before publishing your book is to get feedback from different people, friends, family, colleagues, etc. It would also be useful to seek out someone from your target audience. Let them read the book and consider their review.

Use the feedback you get to make changes and improvements in the book. Even the best authors in the world will never skip this test run to see people’s reactions.

Your book is just like any product that will be launched in the market. It should be tested, sampled, and enhanced accordingly.

Remember not to take someone’s feedback too seriously. Whether good or bad. One person’s opinion doesn’t sum up your book. As mentioned before, do not fail to get your feedback from a good sample size with a mix of people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and upbringing.

10. Choose Publishing Options

Congratulations! Your book is now ready to be published. When it comes to publishing, there are many options that you can choose from: eBooks, hard copies, audiobooks, and more. Ideally, you would want to create your book in the most consumed format, an actual book, and the e-book version. You can later proceed with converting it to an audiobook.

We hope we were able to guide you in writing your very own self-help book. If you’d like any help with publishing services such as editing, book cover designing, formatting, and publishing your book, you can reach out to us.

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• 12 Steps to Write a Non-fiction Book
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How self-compassion can help activists deal with stress

PhD student, Clinical Psychology, University of Manitoba

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Sophie Olivia Hanson receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

University of Manitoba provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation CA.

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Why are activists, who are so passionate about their social justice work, so often burned out by those very causes? We don’t often think about activism as a form of labour, but it is. Research on the activists that make up social justice movements suggests that the pressures of activist work, can cause them to experience serious consequences to their own mental well-being.

In some cases they might be driven to leave activism altogether , hurting their activist movements as a whole.

To understand how activists can better manage the challenges of their work, our research examines how self-compassion could be used to help them alleviate stress and avoid burnout.

Activist work often isn’t successful at first: social progress takes a long time, especially in the face of systemic barriers . Activists tend to be very aware of the injustices they fight against and how hard it is to make change happen . In the face of these struggles, many activists can feel hopeless about the issues they are passionate about, causing serious mental distress.

Can self-compassion help?

Given these burdens, activists need support for coping with their painful thoughts and feelings. However, some activists suggest that these resources aren’t always available. Non-activists may look down on their efforts or be unsupportive and activists who belong to marginalized groups can experience discrimination even within their organizations . On top of this, some activists feel pressure to participate in social justice work without complaint even when they are seriously struggling.

It’s important to acknowledge that many of the negative experiences that activists encounter will need to be addressed by systemic changes. This could include a society that is more open to progress and more sympathetic to those engaged in social justice work. Progressive movements could also offer more support to their members, particularly those who experience prejudice themselves.

However, if movements are going to provide resources to their members for coping with the stresses of their work, we should consider what supports might be most helpful. Enter self-compassion — this term refers to our ability to respond to our own suffering with care and support, and is made up of three components.

Self-kindness is the ability to show ourselves warmth and encouragement rather than judgement during difficult experiences.

Common humanity is the knowledge that our struggles unite us with, rather than isolate us from other people.

Finally, mindfulness is the ability to be aware of our pain, without becoming overly entangled with it.

As there are many resources and interventions for self-compassion that have been tested and shown to be successful, this adds to its usefulness for activist populations.

Tips for activists

For activists struggling with the painful emotions that arise from their work, being self-compassionate might be a valuable support. This could involve treating themselves with kindness, remembering that they are united in their struggles with other activists and being mindful of their thoughts and feelings.

Using these strategies could help provide activists with the internal strength to continue their efforts while also making time for their own self-care.

In previous research, self-compassion has been connected to higher levels of hope and lower levels of hopelessness . These are both emotional states that activists link to their well-being and ability to manage the pressures of their social justice work. Possibly, by being more supportive of themselves, self-compassionate people are able to be more optimistic .

Additionally, the mindfulness aspect of self-compassion may help individuals to avoid ruminating about difficult experiences , in turn reducing feelings of hopelessness. Self-compassion and self-compassion interventions have also been linked to lower levels of burnout across various working populations.

My own thesis research in psychology has expanded on these findings by identifying a relationship between higher levels of self-compassion and lower levels of hopelessness and burnout among activists. This suggests that the relationship between self-compassion and mental health extends to those involved in social justice movements.

From campaigns about climate change and income inequality, to protests against anti-racism and war, activism plays a vital role in the world. It draws attention to those marginalized by unequal systems and casts light on often forgotten issues. It is important to recognize this work as well as the emotional and mental toll it can take on the people struggling to make change.

• Self-compassion

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Academic Test Guide

Essay on Self Help is the Best Help for Students

We are Sharing an Essay on Essay on Self Help is the Best Help in English for students and children. In this article, we have tried our best to provide a short Essay on Self Help is the Best Help for Classes 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 in 100, 150, 300, 500 words.

Essay on Self Help in 150 words

God helps those who know how to help themselves. One cannot have success in life if he depends on others’ help. He must try hard and work hard to attain his goal. If he does not have confidence in his own ability, others cannot help him attain success in life. If only one is sincere in his labour and determined to attain his goal, he can earn success in life. So the key to success is in our own hands, not in the dependence on others. If we read the stories of success in our world, We can see how the most successful men have helped themselves. They are all self-made men, never depending on others, But that does not mean that they have worked alone in this world and that they have refused to take others’ help. They have accepted help from others but relied on themselves.

Essay on Self Help is the Best Help in 300 words

`Self-help is the best help’ is a popular proverb. This is not only a proverb but also the outcome of human experience. There are two types of help. One is self-help and the other one is the help rendered by others.

The idea of self-help was conceived by man in the very early stages of civilization. The primitive man depended on his own help for securing food and meeting his various needs. Man learned by experience that when he does something on his own he can do it better than when it is done by somebody else for him. As long as a person does his work on his own he is his own master. He derives satisfaction from having done something by his own efforts. When work is done for him by others this satisfaction will not be there. In the beginning, the man depended upon his self-help. But with the progress of civilization, a man began to live on other’s labour. This transformed the innocent primitive man into a cunning civilized man. Man became lazy and corrupt. In course of time, he even tried to enslave others for his selfish ends. Thus came into existence the cruel practice of slavery. Today, though slavery has been abolished we can find a large number of people who depend on others’ labour.

Self-help develops self-reliance and self-dependence. One feels confident of his capacity. He knows what to do and how to do things. He is not a parasite on others. The example set by Japan in this regard is worth mentioning. Japan is a country that is wedded to this principle and used it as a means of her progress. The result is that Japan became an advanced nation. So self-help is the root of all progress.

But this must not make us selfish and narrow-minded. When a man thinks of himself he must also think of others. Man is a social animal. He needs the help of others. He cannot produce each and everything needed by him by his self-efforts. Therefore while a person tries to be as self-reliant as possible he should not be blind to the needs of other people.

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Critics See Kremlin's Hand in Charges Against Ex-K.G.B. Agent

By Sophia Kishkovsky

• Dec. 12, 2004

MOSCOW, Dec. 11 - Tatyana and Alyona Morozov hired a former state security agent to represent their interests in the trial of two men accused of transporting explosives used in the bombing of a Moscow apartment in 1999 that killed dozens of people, including their mother. Now they are trying to get him out of jail.

The former agent, Mikhail Trepashkin, who had worked for both the K.G.B. and its successor, the F.S.B., was sentenced in May to four years in prison for revealing state secrets during his investigation with liberal legislators of the apartment bombing and two others that killed 243 people in Moscow and southern Russia in 1999.

The bombings led to Russia's second campaign against Chechnya and secured President Vladimir V. Putin's rise to power.

Mr. Trepashkin now faces an additional charge of possession of a weapon, but his case has been taken up by the Foundation for Civil Liberties, and the Morozov sisters have joined the effort from the United States, where they now live. The group was founded and is financed by Boris A. Berezovsky, a wealthy businessman and an outspoken critic of Mr. Putin who is living in self-imposed exile in London.

Mr. Trepashkin and his lawyers contend that the case is political and that a pistol and nine cartridges that police officers said they found in his car were planted. His defenders say the case reveals the cracks in the Russian justice system and is the latest in a string of trials that have cast a shadow on the government.

On Dec. 1, Mr. Trepashkin was put on trial on the weapons charge. The next hearing will be on Wednesday.

"Not one of the witnesses gave evidence that showed they truly saw a weapon in the car," Yelena Liptser, a lawyer representing Mr. Trepashkin, said in a telephone interview after the first hearing.

He faces up to four more years in prison if convicted.

Alexander Goldfarb, the director of the Foundation for Civil Liberties, said he considered Mr. Trepashkin's case hopeless -- "the result of the trial is predetermined."

"But we won't begrudge any effort or means for his sacrifice to cost Putin dearly, so that the whole world will know who sits in the Kremlin and how he ended up there," he said.

In a statement circulated by the foundation, the Morozov sisters said, "Trepashkin, representing our interests, defended victims of the terrorist acts. For us, the reprisal against him is the continuation of terror and his persecutors are outside the bounds of the civilized world."

Many critics of Mr. Putin believe that Mr. Trepashkin's inquiry might have substantiated their suspicions of an F.S.B. link to the bombings.

The Morozov sisters hired him in 2003 to represent them at the Moscow City Court trial of the two bombing suspects, but Mr. Trepashkin was arrested before the trial.

In May, a military court found him guilty of divulging state secrets, related to his work in the security services long before the bombings, and of possession of illegal ammunition.

Ms. Liptser also represents Platon A. Lebedev, an oil executive who is the business associate and codefendant of Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the founder of the giant oil company Yukos. Both men are on trial on charges of tax evasion, fraud and embezzlement, in what many critics say is a politically motivated trial.

She contended that the government was fabricating charges against its opponents. "It shows that the system is trying to get rid of him," she said.

Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Travel and Tourism Industry — The History of Moscow City

The History of Moscow City

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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