May
2nd
Fri
2nd
Book writing: 3 ways to be practical
Readers love practical books. It’s something that all computer book publishers want to say in their blurbs, and want to see in reviews:
- “Relentlessly practical!”
- “No fluff”
- “Hands on instructions”
Books are practical when they show readers how to:
- Complete tasks — step-by-step instructions and functional references help here
- Make decisions — pros and cons, factors to consider help here
- Apply principles — tips and tricks, “10 ways to…” type lists are great at this.
Too many authors fill their books with information, without much thought about how to use it practically. The result is a chapter that feels like an essay, and a book that feels unreadable an inaccessible.
Always look for ways to help readers practically, and emphasise the practical implications of what you are saying. If readers don’t understand why something is useful to them, they won’t listen.
And always make sure you are helping the reader DO things, not just read about them.