Lesson 3: Can you REALLY help me?

This is Lesson #3 in a special Substack series called “5 Steps to Transform Your Writing.” Hands down, this is the most useful tool in my editorial kit at Penguin Random House, and I’m excited to share it with you. In each day, I don’t just teach a principle—I show you an example from two New York Times bestsellers: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Atomic Habits.

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Hey friends,

Every time readers encounter your words, whether consciously or subconsciously, they’re asking, Can I trust this author? Can they REALLY help me?

Last week I outlined the importance of highlighting an urgent problem: a tension, ache, or need readers will readily resonate with. However, pulling them in with a visceral problem isn’t enough. You need to offer them a viable solution—some way of bringing relief to the problem that’s genuine and effective. Something that will bring real improvement. Hyperbole or surfacy answers won’t do. Readers are too smart for that.

So, to offer value, and a chance of transformation, you need a premise—a big idea that explains and solves what’s wrong. Every chapter must show how the premise is the solution to yet another facet of the problem the book is addressing.

What most writers get wrong

It’s easy to mistake a topic for a premise. For example, “Parenting” is a topic. “How to cultivate healthy digital habits in kids” is a premise.

In Atomic Habits, I’d summarize James Clear’s premise like this:

By following the four laws of behavior change (Make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying), you can form better habits.

Similarly, in The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, he could have settled for a general topic like “rest” or “emotional health.” But these are too broad—they’re not specific enough to offer practical, everyday transformation. Instead, he gets granular, pointing to five specific practices to help readers resist hustle culture:

If you adopt the lifestyle and practices of Jesus, making things like silence, solitude, sabbath, simplicity, and slowing your “rule of life,” you’ll experience the abundant life God intends for you.

Your turn…

In a single sentence, describe the big idea your book offers that explains and solves your reader’s problem.

Once you do, leave it in a comment and I’ll give feedback.

I’m rooting for you,

—Will

👉 Next Saturday, we’ll uncover the Promise—how to help readers imagine the “golden tomorrow” your book makes possible.

Other resources:
My book proposal course
My podcast
1:1 coaching inquires: hello@writerscircle.co

If you enjoyed this read, would you share it with someone who would benefit?

Will Parker Anderson is the founder of Writers Circle, a community to help Christian writers sharpen their skills and publish their work for the glory of Jesus. He is a senior editor at Waterbrook and Multnomah—an imprint of Penguin Random House.