What do audiences want/need to read more?
In mind mapping and outlining my book on bipolar disorder, I keep asking myself which aspect of the content should be fleshed out more: my personal story or the biological basis of the disorder. Option 1 might be more cathartic to write. (Was going to say “fun” but revisiting trauma is not that.) Maybe I could include a list of references to more in-depth reading on the biology of bipolar for those who want to dive deeper. Option 2 would be more in the style of Anticancer: A New Way of Life if any of you have read that. I would enjoy consolidating some biomedical info into one place for a clearer understanding of its causes/origins. I would include segments about my experiences, symptoms, and thoughts but that wouldn’t be the main focus of the book. Maybe there is more of a demand for this type of book? As much as I’d like to get all the twists and turns of my journey out there for people to read, I ultimately am doing this more for my target audience than for myself, which is why I would like your perspectives about which type of book would be more valuable to them. My target audience is the young adult who has just been diagnosed/had their first episode and now feels in a state of shock/overwhelm/fear and needs some answers and encouragement that their life isn’t over. Options 1 and 2 would also include tips/strategies for living better with the disorder. TLDR: the poll options are pretty self-explanatory!