Writing a book is both fun and challenging! Part of the challenge is that we don’t always know if we are on the right track. Sometimes, as we write personal stories, it feels like we are stuck or we aren’t sure if what we are writing will resonate with the right people.

Here are a few suggestions for how to make sure you are headed in the right direction with your book, for before and during the writing process.

Before

Ask—Curious what people want to know about? Just ask. You can easily use social media to post polls on Facebook or Twitter and gain insight into your topic. Use hashtags or share the post in specific groups to reach a more accurate cross-section of potential readers. Even posting something on your wall should generate some sort of response, and people may tag friends who have ideas or questions about the topic or who could be great resources for you!

Research—Look at what has already been written about the topic and determine what you can either focus on or add to. Knowing you’re on the right track can be tricky if you have a rare topic, so learn about what others already had to say first. Remember that you may have something similar to say, but if you are writing about a different experience, you may have valuable information to input into the conversation.

Dig deep—When you plan your book, really focus on what you would have liked to know when you went through the experience before. Ask yourself questions like, “What would have given me a more positive outcome?” “What could have helped the situation come to a conclusion faster?” or other questions that would help guide people to a better solution, either with time, money, or something else measureable. Really focus on the feelings you had if you’re writing about something that would typically overwhelm someone. How can you help someone experience less stress or overwhelm?

During

Develop a plan—Outlining your book in detail will help you stay focused and get the reader from point A to point B without detours. Start by making a list of the chapters for your book, and then break down each chapter into mini-topic areas. Decide what stories or what parts of your story need to be told in each chapter. By the time you are done, you will know the exact path to take to reach your desired outcome.

Trust your gut—If you start writing something that just doesn’t feel comfortable, trust your gut. Stop and analyze why you’re uncomfortable. If you just feel vulnerable because you’re sharing info that not many people are aware of, baring your soul to strangers, then maybe it’s ok to plunge ahead. But if something is telling you that this part of the story doesn’t really belong in the book, consider whether you need to head in a different direction. Does that paragraph detract from the story? Are we focusing on details that aren’t important? Look over your audience, purpose, and genre statements that you wrote when you first started working on your book, and decide if you are sticking with them and answering the questions that your reader would be asking.

Share—As you write, don’t be afraid to talk to potential readers, friends, or people on social media about the path of your book. You might post short sections and get feedback. Mention some of the topics you are currently working on, and ask if that sounds like what people would like to know. Ask if they need to know more about that section or if you should take the work in a different direction. Beta readers are invaluable at the end of your work, too, so you know if you followed through with everything you hoped to cover and explain thoroughly.