Writing A Book To Complement Your Courses In 6 Steps

Let’s face it, teaching isn’t always easy. From explaining the same concept for the hundredth time to searching endlessly for quality course materials—the struggle is real.

But here’s the good news: creating a book to go along with your course can make your life simpler. You’ll guide your students smoothly, save yourself hours of repeated explanation, and heck—you might even end up as a mini-celebrity in your niche.

Stick around, and I’ll show you exactly how it’s done.

Write a Book to Complement Your Courses

If you’re already teaching online courses, turning them into a book can be a smart way to earn extra income and reach more students.

The global book market is huge—around $150–160 billion in 2022—so there’s definitely room out there for you.

And self-publishing is growing like crazy, up by 264% over the last five years, meaning you don’t need to wait around for traditional publishers to notice you.

Your students already trust and follow you; imagine offering them a neatly packaged resource that connects your lessons in an easy-to-follow format.

This not only helps your students but positions you as a respected voice in your area.

Check out some great online course ideas that could translate beautifully into books.

Define Your Book Concept

Before you jump straight into writing, spend some time defining exactly what your book will be about.

Think about your current courses—which topics do students struggle with, or show lots of interest in?

Those could be solid ideas to start with.

Be clear about who your readers will be, whether they’re beginners or more advanced learners, and what specific skills or insights they’ll gain by reading.

For instance, if your course focuses on creative writing, the book might offer tips and exercises specifically tailored for new writers who need extra encouragement between lessons.

And let’s face it—clear concepts sell better and get more positive reviews.

Plan Your Content

Planning your content means organizing what you’ll teach into chapters that learners find logical and easy to follow.

You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, and the same goes for your book.

Start by listing key topics covered in your course; then break those down further into smaller sections or chapters that flow naturally.

While deciding on structure, consider including extras that make sense in book form—like quizzes or checklists—to help readers assess their understanding.

For example, if you’re turning your photography course into a guidebook, you might include end-of-chapter challenges asking readers to apply newly learned techniques.

Creating a solid plan saves you from getting lost halfway through writing and makes sure the book offers real value to your readers.

If you’re looking for clear, actionable ways to structure your content, here’s a helpful piece on how to create a course outline that works well for books too.

Write Engaging Chapters

A good chapter grabs your reader’s attention and keeps them interested till the very end.

Don’t dump everything you know into one long block of text—break your chapters down into shorter sections and use clear, everyday language.

Think about your students and the parts of your course they find most helpful or interesting; that’s exactly the stuff to emphasize in your chapters.

Examples and stories keep things lively—so sprinkle in short anecdotes from your experience teaching or scenarios from real-life learners.

Let’s say your course is about healthy cooking; include quick recipes or tips that learners can immediately try at home.

And here’s a tip: keep paragraphs short, like this one, since most people read on their phones these days.

To make your chapters extra engaging, include visuals like charts or diagrams if they help clarify your ideas (and you can create lots of these easily by following tips for creating educational videos).

Get Professional Feedback

No matter how carefully you’ve written your book, you’re always too close to your own content to spot every issue or unclear passage.

This step isn’t optional, especially if you want your reader to have a polished final product.

You can find professional editors through platforms like Upwork or Reedsy, or ask trusted colleagues who know your subject to review your drafts.

What’s key here is that whoever reads your book understands your audience and topic, so their feedback is meaningful and practical.

Editors and beta readers might point out confusing sections, topics you skipped over too fast, or spots needing concrete examples.

Take feedback seriously, but remember it’s still your work—so use their suggestions to enhance your message rather than changing your voice.

Also, consider asking students themselves for feedback, since they represent the exact audience your book targets.

Publish Your Book

You’ve finished writing, revised, and polished; now it’s finally time to publish and share your work!

Thankfully, publishing a book today is simpler, especially with the growth of self-publishing which has increased enormously, by roughly 264% in the last half-decade alone.

Start by deciding whether you want just an ebook or a paperback edition too, because physical book sales remain strong, with about 788.7 million print units sold in the U.S. in 2022 alone.

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a common choice for self-publishers because it handles ebook distribution and print-on-demand for paperbacks without upfront costs.

If audiobooks entice you—and they should, since the audiobook market has hit around $4.8 billion globally in 2021—consider an audio platform like ACX, which connects authors to professional narrators who can bring your text to life.

Design a clean, appealing cover (or have one professionally made) since covers strongly influence sales.

Set competitive pricing—avoid pricing too high or too low—by researching similar books on platforms like Amazon or checking out pricing strategies used in online courses that resonate equally well for books.

Lastly, don’t forget to craft an author bio; readers want to know the real person behind the lessons!

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