Will 2021 Be the Year You Write a Book?

New Year, new you … new book?  

It’s that time when lots of us set New Year’s Resolutions or goals for the upcoming year. For many people, it’s a time for about working out and working off the Christmas indulgences, but with gyms shut over lockdown, you might find yourself with spare time on your hands. So, if you’re looking for a new challenge, 2021 could be the year you finallywrite that book. 

It won’t help you get back into your summer wardrobe (unless it’s a book on health or you get so into the writing that you forget to eat), but it will give you a tangible outcome. Not convinced? Here the benefits of writing and publishing a nonfiction book.

#1 Focus

It’s likely to be another tough few months with everything going on in the world, but writing a book gives you something positive to focus on and offers a great form of distraction from otherwise negative events. So, rather than watching the doom and gloom of the news, you can switch on your laptop and focus your attention on sharing your knowledge with people instead.

#2 Helping 

When we’re feeling low, research has shown that helping others can make us feel better about ourselves and our situation. By sharing your skills, experience, knowledge, and insights with readers, you’re helping to make the world a better place. You’re teaching and up-skilling people in a wide-scale way, often with broader reach than you could achieve by working directly with people.

#3 Authority

If you’re a business owner, freelancer, entrepreneur, or professional, publishing a book is one way to build credibility within your field. If it’s done well, a book conveys to people that you’re an expert on your topic and that you’re willing to share your knowledge, which helps people perceive you as a trusted authority on your subject matter.

#4 Opportunity 

Publishing a book opens doors. It might be opportunities for collaboration with like-minded people, an invitation to be a guest speaker on a podcast, or even a new career path. If you’re a business owner, it offers chances to upsell your products, courses, or consultancy services to readers. Often, success with self-published nonfiction is about the opportunities it creates more than the book itself.

#5 Legacy

At the very least, publishing a book means you can say “I’m an author”. In one sense, this should give you a personal sense of accomplishment, confidence, and pride. However, it also creates a great legacy for your family. Imagine being able to hand your loved ones a signed copy of your published book? Writing a book helps you leave a legacy in the world that will survive even when you’re gone.

#6 Income

This one comes bottom of the list because it’s a nice side effect of publishing a book, but it’s rarely the primary benefit, especially with self-publishing. Most self-published authors don’t make heaps of cash from their books, but a successful book does offer a nice trickle of pillow income—enough to buy the next few coffees at least.

If these benefits sound appealing to you, why not start writing your book this January? If you’re up for a challenge, check out our free e-book on how to write a book in 30 days.