What Type of Author Will You Be? Expert or Reporter?

When it comes to non-fiction writing, there are really only two styles to choose from - Expert or Reporter. That is not to say there are no gray areas (i.e. collaboration books) but in essence most authors become one or the other and often move from reporter to expert within their careers.

As a reporter, you are seeking out the best of the best, presenting it to your audience and inserting your own sense of flair and style to the content. There is value to this type of writing as you will become known as a key resource in your industry. You can begin to make a name for yourself and gain traction with this model. However, the potential for income will remain lower than that of an expert because people don't seek out reporters the same way they do an expert. You can move into this bigger role once you step up to the challenge of making your knowledge and advice known - and owning it.

N.Y. Times bestselling author, Lynne McTaggart is a perfect example of someone who successfully went from "reporter" to "expert." An award-winning journalist, McTaggart suffered from a mysterious illness for five years resulting in her trying myriad forms of conventional and alternative treatments and discovering what works and doesn't work. This led to the launching of her international website and newsletter What Doctors Don't Tell You, which is described as the best health journal in the world. Over the past 20 years she has been researching medicine and its shortcomings, along with quantum physics, and the result has been two best-selling books, The Field and The Intention Experiment. Today she is a much-in-demand expert and speaker who is on the cutting edge of consciousness and healing. In fact, in Dan Brown's new blockbuster, The Lost Symbol, the lead character is partially based on McTaggart and she receives recognition in the novel for her global, Web-based study, The Intention Experiment, which is aimed at discovering how human intention can affect the world.

To write as an expert does not mean you have to know everything about your industry or your topic, but you must be able to speak from walking the talk. You must have experience in actually doing, sometimes failing, and succeeding. You don't necessarily need dozens of repeated successes for many years, but you will need to convey your markers for success. You will be seen as an expert when you can add value to others by explaining and guiding them through the process of attaining a goal based on your own journey. You can share the lessons you learned, mistakes you made, and how to best streamline the process for them.

So how do you make the move from reporter to expert?

1. Find your niche: Think about what you do well, what comes easily to you and what others struggle to duplicate. That is your level of expertise and your value, now commit to it in written form.
2. Train the trainer: If you have a great deal of interest in a subject and don't have years of experience in it, educate yourself. Seek out the guidance of a mentor, attend workshops, and look into what is being offered at your local community college.
3. Stare fear in the face: One of the main reasons people do not make the move to put their expertise down on paper is fear. Fear of being rejected, fear that it will not be good enough, and fear that they will fail. Aren't those the same fears we overcome when we plan to do anything for the first time? Acknowledge your previous accomplishments and then take two steps to the right and get out of your own way.
4. Break it down: Start taking small steps in asserting your expert status by writing blogs, newsletters, email campaigns and e-books. Pay attention to the feedback and following you start to receive and that will be a good indication of whether or not you are on the right track with your 'expert' content.

Unless you were born with a highly developed psychic sense, chances are you won't be able to predict your future as an author. You can, however, give yourself a fighting chance when you select subject matter that you are passionate about. Write your book with a mission in mind - whether it be to solve a problem for yourself or create solutions for thousands of others. I believe that books, just like their authors, come into this world with a purpose and when they are properly nurtured and nourished can serve the world for the greater good.

What type of author are you? What insights can you share with our community? Post your comments here.

About Arielle Ford:
Arielle Ford has launched the careers of many NY Times bestselling authors including Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Neale Donald Walsch & Debbie Ford. She is a former book publicist, literary agent and the author of seven books. To learn how to get started writing a book please visit: www.HowToWriteMyBook.com

 

Comments

[Jahnavi]

10:59 AM on 03/13/2010

Thank you, Arielle for this encouraging statement: "I believe that books, just like their authors, come into this world with a purpose and when they are properly nurtured and nourished can serve the world for the greater good." I feel very connected to my purpose in this world and I aspire to serve the world for the greater good. As a devout (23-year) practitioner of meditation and yoga, and a serious student of perennial wisdom--I consider myself an expert in my field (of spiritual knowledge). My goal is to present spiritual wisdom in a way that is relevant to our world today--to uplift humanity and help us re-awaken to our divine, loving nature and our intrinsic connection to all. I definitely have a mission in mind. I have been on my spiritual journey for many years now and I hope that something I have learned along the way will be of value to others (and so, I write).