5 Great Reasons All Activists Need to Write a Book

Most activists spend time promoting their cause or growing their movement using the standard tools found in an activist’s toolbox. They march, protest, boycott, write letters, post on social media, fundraise, or build community with hashtags or forums. They usually don’t consider publishing a book. Yet, a book serves as an extremely powerful tool for creating change in lives, communities, organizations, countries, and the world.

As Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” No matter the size of your cause or mission or the arena you’d like to transform, you can use your written words to create positive and meaningful change.

Not convinced? Here are five reasons every activist needs to write a book to support their cause, movement, or mission.

1. A book attracts new members to your movement.

When you launch your published book and promote it, that process attracts people to your movement who previously knew nothing about it. Share about the book on social media sites or with Google or Amazon ads, and your message travels across the globe quickly.

With a book, you can shift your messaging from pushing people to “join my movement” to gently suggesting “find out more about my cause here.” Plus, if you produce an ebook (rather than a printed book), you can give it away using free promotions. This tactic encourages people to download a digital book while it’s free, which can place your ebook on Amazon’s Top 100 (bestseller) list. That makes it more likely to be found by those interested in your movement. (You can run an evergreen free book campaign as well.)

2. A book helps promote your cause on a wider scale and to global audiences.

Make your book available in markets worldwide so global audiences discover it. As a result, your cause may move across oceans and continents.

Many book distribution services, including Amazon, offer global distribution. If your book is available in other countries, it only takes a few people sharing it in those markets to give your movement huge global visibility and an influx of international members.

3. A book explains the steps required to achieve change.

It can become tedious to continually repeat your cause’s “pitch” to interest people and get them involved. Additionally, you might find it boring to constantly tell others the steps to take so they make a difference in their lives or the world.

People feel your energy. You want to talk about your cause with excitement and passion.

Explain all the details of your cause in the pages of a book…once. Clearly state the steps necessary to create the change you desire, including specific actions that result in change…once. You don’t have to continually repeat yourself. Simply, hand people a free copy of your physical or printed book. (Be sure to bring copies with you wherever you go.) Or send them to a sales page to purchase.

4. A book generates discussion about your cause.

People enjoy discussions about topics they are passionate about. Your book can provide them with fodder for such conversations.

Readers love book groups. And those interested in a particular subject often join book clubs to discuss books on those topics.

You can create your book with this in mind. Include a chapter or appendix that encourages readers to form groups to discuss the book and create plans to implement the steps you recommend for creating change.

Or create a forum or group online (or off) where people can discuss the concepts in the book and related news or information.

5. A book becomes a unique, unforgettable “business card.”

You may have heard someone say, “A book is the best business card” or “Your book is your business card.” Indeed, someone is more likely to remember you—and your cause—by your book than a business card that gets lost in their wallet or on their desk. Even digital business cards can be difficult to track.

Consider publishing a paperback version of your book. Then, offer a copy of your book to anyone you meet who seems interested in your cause or knows someone who would want to learn more about your movement. People are less likely to lose the book, forget you, or fail to pass it along to a friend, colleague, or family member.

You can also get quite creative with a book. For example, you can leave copies for people to find at bus stations, on subway seats, or at the local coffee shop. You never know who might pick it up, read it, and join your movement—or tell many other people to do so.

What if you aren’t a writer?

As you probably realize by now, a book can serve as a supportive tool for promoting your cause. But maybe you don’t consider yourself a writer and believe writing and publishing a change-inspiring book isn’t something you can accomplish.

Or you may want to devote your time to what you do best—activism. That’s okay.

You don’t need to be a writer to write and publish a book. Here’s why:

• You can write a “messy” first draft to get your ideas on paper. Then, hire a great editor to polish your work into a publishable manuscript.
• You can hire a ghostwriter to write the entire manuscript for you.

Don’t use AI to write the book for you. However, you could use AI to research the book or put your thoughts into a cohesive outline.

Your book doesn’t have to be long. If the idea of writing a full-length book feels daunting, write a short book—5,000 to 20,000 words long. It will still communicate your message, offer action steps, and support your cause.

As for publishing, there are lots of experts who can hand-hold you through the process or teach you how to do it yourself. It’s not that hard. But beware of companies that charge a lot to help you self-publish, since most are vanity presses in disguise. You also can pursue traditional publishing.

Don’t be put off by the writing and publishing process, especially if you believe a book could support your activism by providing a powerful educational and promotional tool. Instead, write a book that can change the world.

Do you believe a book could help you support your cause? Tell me in a comment below. And order a copy of Change the World One Book at a Time. Also, please share this post with a writer who would benefit from reading it.

Image courtesy of mhyimge.