#1 Thing New Authors Miss

4,400,000 authors will publish a book in 2023.

One big issue will plague many of them: identity crisis.

After working on over 100 books, the biggest miss I’ve seen is book positioning.

Positioning means how your work stands out from the pack.

It’s your unique angle or point-of-view.

It’s your book’s answer to the age-old question, “Who am I?”

I recommend you start with a book scope statement.

I’ll share exactly how to do this, a template to use, and some additional resources.

What is a book scope statement?

A book scope statement makes a clear promise to a target reader with a specific problem (or set of problems). 

Its goal is counterintuitive: be so clear on what your book promises people could decide they don’t need it.

How do I write a scope statement?

A killer scope statement starts with three lines of questioning…

One: What’s your book promise?

When someone decides to buy and read your book, what are they trying to achieve or accomplish with it? 

Why are they bothering? 

After finishing it, what’s different in their life, work, or worldview? 

This is your book promise.

Two: What’s your reader’s worldview?

What does your ideal reader already know and believe? 

If they already believe in the importance of your topic, then you can skip (or reduce) convincing them of its worth. And if they already know the basics, you can skip those, too.

This addresses your reader where they’re at and skips the boring stuff.

Three: How is your book exclusive?

Who is your book not for and what is it not doing? 

Leave some people out.

If you aren’t clear on who you’re leaving out, then you’ll end up writing yourself into rabbit holes.

You’ll either waste words on narrow topics only a small subset of your readers actually care about. Or dilute your message by including tons of content for people who aren’t in your target audience

Deciding who it isn’t for will allow you to clip tangential branches.

Simple Scope Statement Template

Here’s a simple template to write your book scope statement:

If you’re a [target reader] struggling to [problem], this book will help you [promise] and how to [fix problem].

Here’s my rough draft scope statement for the new book I’m working on.

Title: Unleashing Your Authentic Voice

Scope Statement Draft:

If you’re a Christian leader struggling to share your story and fulfill your calling, this book will help you unleash your authentic voice the way Jesus did, get clarity on your unique message and release the fear of peoples’ opinions holding you back.

Notice, this is simply a rough draft.

It will tighten up and change.

The main thing is that I’ve:

1. Made a promise my readers will want

2. Hooked into their worldview

3. Embraced exclusivity by writing for a specific group: Christian leaders

3 Tips to Strengthen Your Statement

As I go, here’s what I’ll do to strengthen it:

One: Skyrocket desirability

Is my promise desirable enough people will readily complain about, receive advice, give advice, and search for solutions to it? 

When someone encounters this problem/question/goal, is finding a solution a top priority or simply a nice-to-have? 

My goal is to tell them in simple terms why this book solves a top priority.

Two: Hair-on-fire

My book will have a few possible promises. But which one has more “hair on fire” urgency for my target readers?

I’ll lead with that.

Three: Build a specific reader profile

“Christian leaders” is a solid start for my profile.

But who do I mean?

Christian marketplace ministry leaders? Pastors? Parachurch leaders? Speakers? Podcasters? All of them?

Does one of these more actively search for (or give) advice and recommendations? 

Who feels this pain most sharply? These people will fuel a stronger, faster recommendation loop.

Where to Use Your Scope Statement

Your scope statement is a perfect answer to: “What’s your book about?” 

Plaster it on social media.

Use it in conversations.

Share it from the stage.

Share it with your email list. 

Help your launch team tell the right people about it to pitch podcasts, media appearances, influencer collaborations, or even request an endorsement.

Your Next Steps

If you want to go down the rabbithole further, Write Useful Books is a how-to treasure trove.

I’ll also be opening up an exclusive 12-week cohort where I’ll personally coach leaders who:

• Want to write your book yourself

• Want to know exactly what to do (and how)

• Want accountability to finish the dang thing

If you’re interested, reply to this email and I’ll get you more info.

Happy creating, my friends.

Remember, our world might be dark… but your voice is a light.

Please steward your story well by sharing.

Stop living with your book inside of you.