You want to write a book that changes lives. Awesome! But are you ready to make the positive and meaningful difference with your words that you desire?
You may know how to write and complete a manuscript. Perhaps you also know how to publish your work, but those skills and knowledge are not enough to move your readers to new action.
“Authors of Change” have additional knowledge and unique skills that help them produce books that powerfully motivate readers to take new action or join a cause. When you possess these, you are ready to “author change.”
1. An Understanding of the Change Process
You want to write a book that creates change. To accomplish that goal, you must understand the change process. Otherwise, you can write until you are blue in the face and not get one reader to do something you suggest in your book.
Learn what makes people change and how they change. Then, apply that knowledge to the writing of your manuscript.
2. An Understanding of How You Change
Readers are more likely to feel motivated to do something you suggest in your book if they “get” that you understand the challenges they face related to change. To address their concerns, you have to understand your own relationship to change. What do you find challenging about change, and how do you influence yourself to do something different?
When you understand how you change, you can share your insights. This makes readers feel understood and able to adopt your suggestions or join your cause.
3. Clarity on the Action You Want Readers to Take
Readers are more likely to take action if you give them a plan. Therefore, to write for change, clarify the steps you want readers to take. When you share those in a clear and logical manner—do this first, this second, etc.—readers will understand exactly what they need to do at each step of the journey to change.
4. The Willingness to Create Community
Most writers don’t want to put their time, attention, or energy into anything related to building an “author platform” or promoting their work. However, if you want to write for change, these activities are all the more important because you need people—readers—to adopt your brand of change.
To become willing to promote your book and cause, think of this activity as community building. You are attracting people who want to get involved with your mission or cause. They help you fulfill your purpose as an Author of Change. Promotion becomes a purpose-driven activity that helps you find readers willing to help you create change in the world.
5. The Ability to Craft an Inspiring and Motivating Book
To become an author of change, write and publish a book that inspires and motivates readers to take action. Sounds easy, but you must know how to use written words to persuade readers to join your cause, mission, or movement.
To accomplish that goal, learn to share your message or mission in a way that makes readers want to change or take action in the world. You need a specific writing skill set, a unique ability to craft a book that inspires and motivates readers. This includes the ability to connect on an emotional level with your readers.
Study Great Models
The best way to write a book that inspires change is to read other books that have accomplished this goal. You can use the structure and tone of the books to model your own. “Success leaves clues”— this quote is attributed to Brad Thor but has been repeated by Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, and many others because it’s true.
Research books about change. These can be novels, memoirs, or nonfiction books. Study them. Determine how the authors inspired and motivated readers with their words.
You also can find books you might classify as your book’s competition. Study them, too. Use all of these books as models that demonstrate how to use your words to make a positive and meaningful difference.
Don’t Write For Change Unless You Are Ready
If you begin writing for change before you are ready, you will find yourself frustrated. You’ll produce a book that doesn’t create the change you desire.
If you put the time and effort into understanding how to write and publish a book that has the potential to change lives, communities, organizations, or the world, your book will have the impact you desire. And that’s the goal—to produce a book that has a positive and meaningful impact on readers that ripples out and touches many.
Are you ready to write a book that changes lives? What do you still need to do to be ready? Tell me in a comment.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nina Amir, the Inspiration to Creation Coach, is an Amazon bestselling hybrid author. She supports writers on the journey to successful authorship as an Author Coach, nonfiction developmental editor, Transformational Coach, and Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC®)—the only one working with writers. Nina’s most recent book, Change the World One Book at a Time: Make a Positive and Meaningful Difference with Your Words, was released on January 6, 2026, by Books that Save Lives. Previously, she wrote three traditionally published books for aspiring authors—How to Blog a Book, The Author Training Manual, and Creative Visualization for Writers. Additionally, she has self-published a host of books and ebooks, including the Write Nonfiction NOW! series of guides. She has had 19 books on the Amazon Top 100 List and as many as six books on the Authorship bestseller list at the same time.
Nina also coordinates the SFWC’s Personal Growth for Writers track and the Writing for Change Summit. She also offers a conference scholarship for nonfiction writers writing for change.
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