Have You Thought About Writing A Self-Help Book? Your Expertise is Needed

People are experiencing so many tragedies today. Turn on the news or read the breaking news on your phone app and see just how many people around you need some type of support and guidance.

• Do you know anyone who is suffering from depression? 
• Are you helping to comfort someone whose loved one or friend committed suicide?
• Are you helping someone overcome the traumas of sexual abuse?

 Someone has to be there for them, why can’t it be you?

If you have gone through these experiences yourself or you help others in your capacity as a social worker, grief counselor, or other professional, why not consider sharing the lessons you have learned by writing a self-help book?

You do not have to be a celebrity or a well-known author to write a self-help book. You may not have a household name but you may have just the thing that others are looking for that a famous person cannot provide for them. 

Writing May Be Difficult, But Remember You Are Helping Others 

Writing may not come easy to you, but keep in mind your goal of helping others. Unfortunately, writing about your experiences may evoke some tragic memories. For example, Laura Wade, author of The Lonely Girl Diaries, wrote a book based on the diary she kept during her separation—and eventual divorce. 

“Those memories are really hard for me to read even after all this time,” Wade said in a question-and-answer interview on the MANA Sunriser blog. For those who find themselves in a pending- or post-divorce situation, Wade advises that it might be hard to start over, “but you can do it.”

Helping Others “Beat the Odds”

Offering personal or professional advice lets others know that they are not alone; that there are others on the same path of change and recovery. 

Dr. Sharon Jean Ridella-Mehlos, author of Becoming Me Again: A Workbook for Sexually Abused Kids and Teens, uses her workbook to help young people get through the trauma of sexual abuse. Dr. Ridella-Mehlos, a clinical psychologist, also helps people deal with anxiety and depression. Dr. Ridella-Mehlos says she wants to “help individuals find ways to beat the odds.” 

What would you write about that could help others overcome their trauma? 

A Q&A WITH LAURA WADE, AUTHOR OF "THE LONELY GIRL DIARIES"

Laura Wade is the author of The Lonely Girl Diaries, a non-fiction work detailing her experiences when her husband of over 20 years left her for another woman. 

MarketingNewAuthors.com spoke with Ms. Wade about her work: 

MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA): Tell us about The Lonely Girl Diaries. What is the book about?

Laura Wade (LW): The Lonely Girl Diaries is about a woman who finds out her husband is cheating, and she is forced to live on the street.
When I started to write, I really thought it would be for a short time, and I wanted to have everything on paper so that I would always remember what happened.

MANA: What inspired you to write your book as a diary?
LW: When I started to write, I really thought it would be for a short time, and I wanted to have everything on paper so that I would always remember what happened.

MANA: What was the hardest part of the book for you to write?
LW: The hardest part was going back through my diaries and getting it on the computer. Those memories are really hard for me to read even after all this time.

MANA: Does writing energize or exhaust you? And in what way does it energize or exhaust you?
LW: Writing energizes me. At first, it was out of boredom; then, it was how I cleared my head. I still write, just not as much. The TV gets in the way, so I always write outside. That's why I picked the cover art. It looks just like me.  

MANA: In what way did you grow from your personal experience?
LW: Well, it's been five years, and I'm living life the best I can. My ex-husband told me that I would never make it. I love proving him wrong. I even have a new car.

MANA: What advice would you give to other women who are facing divorce and feel lonely?
LW: OK, my advice is don't live on the street. It is very dangerous. If you are in this situation, you would find someone to stay with and never let anyone tell you that you can't do it on your own. It might be hard starting over and saying goodbye, but you can do it. 

MANA: What do you want readers to take away from your book?
LW: Hopefully, people will see that I loved my husband even though he was terrible to me. Getting rid of toxic people is very important if you want to heal and move on. 

MANA: Do you have any plans to write another book? 
LW: Yes. The Lonely Girl Diaries is a series. From where the book ends is really just the beginning. Still, she has a lot to overcome. There is so much for her to see and do. She has lots of ups and downs.

LW: Thank you for this interview and for reading my book. 

Listen to an excerpt from The Lonely Girl Diaries below:

 

Go HERE to preview or purchase The Lonely Girl Dairies.