Hey everyone.I'm currently in the middle of writing a self-help book that teaches practical reasoning as a way to care for oneself emotionally + mentally. The actual contents of the book are settled. But what I'm having most trouble with is the foreword, which is why I've come here. The issue is that I know my target audience is people whose mental health + life problems are deeply connected, but I don't know what would actually compel people to read it.Don't get me wrong. This isn't to say I've no idea what it's like to struggle mentally, or to say that I'm not confident in what I have to offer. But it's because I've struggled with mental issues in the past that I know having faith in what should be reliable in theory, no matter how proven, can seem hard. And at the same time, it's also because I was so focused on my own mental health that I didn't get a chance to see how others were drawn to hope in their own way.Also remember: It's about what would make you FEEL that way. If something concrete like evidence-based research or tenure would make you feel more secure, that counts. But remember that I'm not asking for what you expect for this book to have in order to be practical. That's already covered. I'm mainly just having trouble with the foreword, which of course, I'm writing to convince the reader to pick it uptl;dr my question is>What would compel you to believe a book could help solve all your mental problems where you wouldn't give that same faith to others?
-a charming book cover-unique and extensive aduthor backstory/experience-less psychspeak, or at least followed by potent simple analogies etc. (to prove fundamental understanding)so essentially grounded wisdom rather than sterile pathological stuff. I can get that info myself. what i want is applications and interpretations of such phenomena.
The book being freeThe book being widely shared and recommendedThe book's very title playing into my firmly held biases
>>34035832Nothing.Books are not going to help people, especially in an age where literacy rates are dropping, and nobody really gives a fuck enough to read.Words on a page will never be a fair substitute to real connection.
>>34035842Can you give an example of that last bit? Because a lot of pathological stuff and wisdom can often be the same thing
>>34035972yep literally just anecdotes that can reference/exemplify clinically observed concepts.e.g. easy to know ocd traits, but I'd like to read personal stories that encompass all facets; management, troubles, interpersonal stuff, etc etc
