Don’t Write the Wrong Book: Non Fiction Publishing Strategy That Works
In this week’s episode of The Social Media Takeaway (available on all the leading podcast platforms including iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube), I chat with publishing expert Allyson E. Machate. She’s worked with everyone from solo authors to publishing giants like Simon & Schuster.
We covered how to avoid writing the wrong book, how to choose the right format for your goals, and what you need to know about using AI in the publishing process.
If you’re thinking, “I’ve had a book idea for ages”, this episode is for you.
Don’t Start With the Book
Most people make this mistake.
They start writing without asking:
- What do I want this book to do for me?
- Who is this for?
- What’s the next step I want them to take?
If your goal is to grow your business, you need a book that leads your reader somewhere, into your offers, your ecosystem, your world.
Ally calls this “writing the right book.” One that serves your audience and aligns with your business goals, not one that just collects dust on Amazon.
The 3 Types of Nonfiction Books
If you’re writing to grow your brand or business, you’ll usually want one of these:
✅ Prescriptive Book Think how-to, step-by-step, or workbook-style books that deliver results. Great for coaches and service providers.
✅ Thought Leadership Book You share your perspective, challenge beliefs, and position yourself as a leader in your space.
✅ Memoir-Infused Still focused on teaching, but with stories and personal experiences woven in. Avoid making it all about you, make sure it’s useful for the reader.
Bonus: A short, focused book (25k–30k words) can work great as a lead magnet or positioning tool.
Can You Use AI to Write Your Book?
Yes but be smart about it.
⚠️ AI-generated books (where the tool writes it all for you) are getting flagged by Amazon. What will happen in the future is uncertain at the moment.
✅ AI-assisted books (where you use AI for outlining, brainstorming, or editing) are totally fine as long as the words and ideas are yours.
So if you’re using tools like ChatGPT, Otter.ai or Grammarly to support your writing process, that’s okay. Just don’t hand over the keyboard entirely.
Want Help Writing the Right Book?
Join her free webinar training, Don’t Write the Wrong Book, where she walks through a step-by-step process for writing a book that supports your goals.
She also offers a free book strategy call for aspiring authors via her website: thewritersally.com