It’s suggested that you check your potential competition before deciding on the focus of your nonfiction book.
You want to find out if there are other books out there like yours. What makes yours different? How can you make your book better or at least more desirable to a segment of this audience?
If you want a successful outcome, it is important that you use your most objective mindset during this evaluation. Put yourself in the heads of your proposed audience. What do they truly need/want and what can you offer that is enough different than what is already out there?
Is there a large enough audience that there’s room for another book on this topic? Can you come up with an interesting and/or useful slant for your book?
Perhaps you found no books on your topic. Ask yourself, is this an opportunity or a red flag? The correct answer is in the results of your additional research. Seek websites that might relate to this subject, as well as magazines, newsletters and organizations. Determine how many people are actually interested in this topic—would they read a book about tattoo removal, for example? (Would you believe I located several books on this topic?) What about midget racing for senior citizens, how to help your pre-teen break his nicotine addiction, parenting tips for children who are raising their siblings, distortion photography or how to spin your cat’s fur into knitting yarn?
Do the research to find out if one or two books on this topic is enough or if you can address this tight niche group using a fresh and worthwhile approach.
Do NOT get so attached to your book idea that you move forward with it in spite of obvious red flags indicating that the market is saturated for this particular book. You could go ahead with it knowing your target audience is very small. Or you could use your imagination to come up with something that would intrigue or interest a larger segment of people. Considering the tattoo removal book, for example—perhaps you could interview people who have invested in interesting tattoos that they ultimately had removed. You could call it, “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time!” Or include a section on piercings, as well, if no one else has done this.
As you can see from the wide array of books on so many different subjects, there are many ways to approach most topics. Don’t marry yourself to a specific idea and then close your mind to any other possibilities. This does not make good business sense and, in case you’ve forgotten, authorship is a business. If you look at it as anything else, you may not achieve the level of success you desire with your book.
Ebooks
On another subject—if you have an ebook or are considering producing one, be sure to download my FREE ebooklet, 50 Ways to Promote Your Ebook. It’s here:
http://www.patriciafry.com
To further enhance your library, order both of my latest books today:
Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author AND
Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. They’re at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. Or purchase them here: http://www.matilijapress.com