Anyone can write a book, but the success of that book requires a lot more than a good idea. Before you write your book, you need to ask yourself 3 critical questions to make sure you write the best book FOR YOU.

Question #1: Why do you want to write a book?

Are you trying to further your career? Change it? Become a full-time author? In order for a book to succeed, it needs to support your other personal and professional goals. Otherwise, you probably won't be able to dedicate the time and energy required to make it successful. Sure, you can write a book just for fun, but a strategy will keep you motivated and clear-eyed so that you can make the most of the process.

Question #2: Who are you and what do you have to offer as an author?

Do you have a unique life experience that would interest readers? Do you offer a certain expertise or knowledge from which others could benefit? Do you have a unique opinion or POV that others might share? WHO writes a book is just as important to its success as what it's about. Consider why someone would want to read a book that you wrote

Question #3: What can you write about that is unique?

How can you present your chosen subject in a way that will stand out? WHAT do you have to say that hasn't been said before? How do you approach your chosen subject differently from everyone else who has written about it? Why might readers find this approach compelling?

When combined, the answers to these three questions can help you figure out whether it makes sense for you to write a book right now and, if so, how you can position your idea—and yourself—in a way that will intrigue publishers and readers.

Not sure how to answer these questions? Think about some of your favorite books and try to answer them on behalf of their authors. Sometimes it helps to work backwards from someone else’s strategy in order to figure out you’re own.