5 Ways to Get Clarity on Your Expertise

Are you clear about what expertise you bring to your book topic? It’s important to have clarity on your expertise and unique contributions so that you can stand out in our noisy marketplace.

Did you know that there are over 4 million books published every year? The average author only sells 200 copies of their book in a year. The only way to get your book into the hands of people who want and need it is to be clear on what you are offering that only you can offer.

Ask Your Friends

Sometimes we have a difficult time seeing our own strengths and weaknesses. Ask those close to you what you are knowledgeable about or what you excel at. Perhaps you have unique experiences to share. Maybe you excel at your work. Your friends can help you figure out what to highlight.

Research

Think about what topics you are passionate about. What topic is so interesting to you that you could spend literally days or months researching? Maybe you already have pages of notes or a folder on your computer with information.

Buckminster Fuller “noticed that until 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately every century and by the end of World War II knowledge was doubling every 25 years. Some years later a report published by IBM anecdotally added to Fuller’s theory and predicted by 2020 knowledge would double every 12 hours fuelled by the Internet of Things”(Schilling 2013).

People can access all kinds of information, so think about what you will add to that information to make it novel, interesting, and helpful.

Be an Advocate

My children with special needs have turned me into a “Mama Bear Advocate.” I see how my kids and their counterparts struggle for services and acceptance and have to fight to live a life that most of the rest of us take for granted.

Is there something that bothers you so much you can’t help sharing stories, facts, and helpful information? Maybe you should write about that topic.

Do a Brain Dump

Sometimes we are trying to keep track of multiple things in our brains. I have found it helpful to do a brain dump…whether it is to make sure I remember everything on our family schedule, or whether I’m trying to figure out what to write about next.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and write down every topic that comes to mind. It could be one word, or a phrase, or a question. Don’t filter your thoughts. Just write, and don’t stop writing until the timer rings, even if you just write, “I don’t know what to write,” until something else comes to mind.

Once the timer rings, you can sort the information and figure out your next steps.

Find Your Passion

I enjoy helping people understand information and processes…those “lightbulb” moments when everything makes sense.

Is there an activity you enjoy so much that time runs away while you are doing it? Maybe you race through your work or other tasks just so you can do this activity.

Have you figured out what you are going to write about? I help entrepreneurs write, publish, and profit from their books. If you’d like to chat about your book project and how I can help you, choose a time that works for you and make an appointment at .