Make a Difference as a Nonfiction Writer Sooner Rather than Later

Nonfiction writers make a difference. That’s what I love about this genre—the articles, blog posts, and books are written with the intention of contributing in some way. The authors want to be of service to their readers.

However, if you are anything like me, you might feel enormously frustrated by the length of time it takes for your published work, like books and articles, to get in the hands of readers. You want to make a difference now…not later.

And you know your audience wants…maybe even needs…the information on how to create transformation now….not later. They feel a sense of urgency, and, therefore, so do you.

But publishing a book takes time—sometimes years—even if you self-publish. Getting published in magazines also takes months and months.

So, what can you do to speed up the process of “authoring change”? It is possible to create change before your change-inspiring book or article is published. You can begin taking action now to share your message with your audience. In this way, you can make a difference now.

And that’s my challenge for nonfiction writers this month: make a difference in the following five ways, all of which can be done within days or weeks and don’t require permission from anyone—except you. Give yourself permission to begin authoring change this month. Take action on at least one of the strategies below and put your ability to communicate—in written and verbal form—to use.

July Nonfiction Writer’s Challenge

To complete this month’s challenge, use your writing ability to make a difference in one or more of the following four ways:

1. Post on social media
2. Publish blog posts
3. Send email
4. Share live videos
5. Start a podcast

Post on Social Media

Social media has many uses. For instance, you have probably heard that it’s a great place to build an author platform. It’s also a super tool for sharing your message and mission with people all over the world.

Even if you don’t have a website, you can begin posting long or short updates on any one of the sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. These updates need to be focused on your specific cause—not on what you had for lunch.

Continually share super content about how you would like to see people, organizations, or the world change, and you’ll begin to attract followers with the same interest in creating change. And they will start to comment on your updates and share them with other like-minded folks.

Before you know it, you’ll make a difference in many people’s lives. In fact, your first social media updates could receive a comment like, “I needed to hear this today,” or “Thank you! What you wrote changed my life.”

Publish Blog Posts

In much the same, you can begin authoring change by publishing blog posts that share your transformational message. As you do so, you will become known as an expert on your brand of personal, organizational, or global transformation.

If you want to be seen as the go-to person for information on climate change, increasing global consciousness, or reducing school shootings, you can achieve that goal by consistently publishing high-value posts on your topic. Why do you want to be seen as an expert and influencer? So those who see your blog posts and social media updates pay attention to you—and help you achieve your mission. You want them to change or to share your message of change.

And, if you share your blog posts on your social media sites, your expert status will increase more quickly because your work will reach more people. Plus, people will click through from your social media update and land right back on your website, where, if you have a gift for them to opt into, you can capture their email addresses. That means you can now share your message in another way…in an email.

Send Email

You may be thinking, “I don’t want to be another one of those people who send a ton of email and bother people.” In fact, you do want to send emails to your mailing list—notes filled with inspiring, motivational and valuable stories and information that support your efforts to get the people who receive those emails to take action.

An email mailing list may be your most powerful platform element, but it’s also a super way to reach out to those who have asked to be contacted by you and tell them how they can get involved in your cause. Email is personal—if done well—even when you do a mass mailing.

And by emailing those who have raised their hand and said, “I’m interested in your cause,” you keep them apprised of what they can do to support you and your mission as well as create change in their own lives, the organizations for whom they work, and in the world at large. You valuable notes to those on your email list allow you to make a difference in their lives each time you hit “send.”

Share Live Videos

Many social media sites offer you the opportunity to “go live” with video. You can do this on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and LinkedIn, for instance, and doing so provides a super opportunity to, once again, share your message.

Video is enormously powerful and popular today. People like to see someone in action, especially before they decide to take action on your recommendations. From a video, they can see your facial expressions, gestures, posture, and hear you speak, all of which helps them form an impression of you. If they feel they like you and can trust you, they are more likely to take the transformative action you recommend.

It’s not that hard to get started using live video—if you are willing to get yourself out from behind your computer. If you are brave—and committed to sharing your message, broadcast it, so people experience you as well as your passion for your cause.

Even if no one shows up for your live broadcast, know that it can be seen later. The recording will be available forever—unless you take it down. And the more often you “go live,” the higher likelihood that you attract viewers.

Start a Podcast

Podcasting may seem a bit more tech-heavy, but it’s another super way to share your message. Podcasts have become super popular in recent years, and many authors use them as another way to get their message heard.

In fact, podcasting allows you to “get inside” your audience’s heads in a unique way. Think about it… People often listen to podcasts with earbuds. Consider this your whisper in a potential reader’s ears—“Hey …it’s time to create some change together.”

If you feel put off by being in front of a camera or seeing yourself on video, podcasting might be just the thing! No one need see you…just hear you. Plus, if you consider yourself not writer, this is a chance for you to use your voice to get people involved in your mission. (You can even podcast your book.)

To take on this nonfiction writing challenge, give yourself permission to take action! Share your message in one of these five ways now. Make your difference today. (Not sure you are ready to write a book that makes a difference? Take this quiz to find out.)

Take this nonfiction writing challenge! Then, in a comment below, tell me what action you took to make a difference sooner rather than later.