Purpose-Driven Writing: How to Publish a Book That Makes an Impact

Introduction

What does it take to write a book that truly resonates with readers while advancing your career? In a recent episode of The Nathan Newberry Podcast, bestselling author and publishing expert Mei Mei Fox shares powerful insights about purpose-driven writing, the changing landscape of publishing, and how to successfully navigate the journey from concept to published book. With 25 years of experience helping thought leaders share their stories—including writing profiles of entrepreneurs and CEOs for Forbes—Mei Mei offers a unique perspective on what makes a successful author in today's digital age. Whether you're considering writing your first book or looking to enhance your thought leadership platform, her practical advice and industry knowledge provide a roadmap for creating work that makes a meaningful impact.

Finding Your Purpose: The Foundation of High Performance

For Mei Mei Fox, high performance is inseparable from purpose. "To me, [high performance] means putting in your best effort and trying hard," she explains, "and I think that in order to be high performance, the best way to go about that is to be aligned with your life purpose."

This insight comes from her extensive experience interviewing successful entrepreneurs and leaders for Forbes. "I got to talk to hundreds and hundreds of successful people...and every single time it is being purpose-driven that brought them success and brought them the high performance piece."

Mei Mei's own career journey illustrates this principle. Despite graduating from Stanford and landing a prestigious position at McKinsey and Company, she found herself unfulfilled because the work didn't align with her deeper purpose. "I have an underlying purpose to make a positive impact on the world and to leave the world a better place than I found it," she shares. This purpose, instilled through her family's lineage of service, ultimately guided her toward more meaningful work helping others tell their stories.

Her transition into publishing came when a friend asked for help with a book proposal—a project that unexpectedly turned into her first book deal with a major publisher. This experience led to a 25-year career in publishing before launching her own business, Your Bestselling Book, where she now helps purpose-driven leaders share their wisdom.

Key Takeaway

High performance isn't about pushing harder in any direction—it's about aligning your efforts with your deeper purpose, which provides the clarity and motivation to overcome obstacles and create meaningful work.

The Changing Landscape of Book Publishing

The publishing industry has undergone dramatic changes in recent decades, creating both challenges and opportunities for aspiring authors.

Traditional vs. Self-Publishing

Mei Mei highlights the shrinking window of opportunity in traditional publishing: "Less than 1% of authors now get book deals. It's really hard." This statistic represents a significant shift from earlier in her career, where credentials from prestigious institutions often guaranteed a publishing contract.

Today's publishers are looking beyond credentials to platform metrics:

• Size of email newsletter list
• Social media follower counts (in the hundreds of thousands)
• Relationships with influencers and podcast hosts
• Comprehensive marketing and PR plans

For those without massive platforms, self-publishing has emerged as a viable alternative. Technology has democratized the process, making it possible to publish professionally without the backing of a major publisher. "Self-publishing has risen and become more and more respected... the fact that you can put a book up on Amazon—you don't even have to print a copy," Mei Mei notes.

Which Path Is Right for You?

While traditional publishing still offers advantages—advances, credibility, potential for literary prizes and reviews—self-publishing provides greater creative control, higher royalty percentages, and a faster timeline to publication.

Traditional publishing typically takes at least 18 months from manuscript to bookshelf, while self-publishing can be completed in as little as 9 months. As Mei Mei puts it: "Nine months, like birthing a baby. If you hybrid publish, nine months... you can go from not a word on the page to holding a published, beautiful printed book."

Writing a Book That Resonates: Essential Qualities and Practices

What separates successful authors from those who never finish their manuscripts? Mei Mei identifies several crucial qualities based on her decades of experience:

Qualities of Successful Authors

1. Demonstrated success in some domain "You have had success in some domain... it does not have to be financial, it does not have to be educational," Mei Mei explains. The key is having wisdom and life lessons worth sharing.
2. Willingness to be vulnerable "This has changed too in the 25 years that I've been working in this business... People could write these books where they're 'blah blah blah, I'm so amazing.' You can't do that anymore." Today's readers connect with authenticity and vulnerability, not perfection.
3. Drive to promote yourself Publishing a book requires consistent self-promotion. "You got to be willing to hustle and promote yourself... it's going to be a lot of 'buy my book, buy my book, follow me, come see me speak.'"

Effective Writing Habits

For those committed to writing a book, Mei Mei offers practical advice on developing productive habits:

• Start with five minutes daily Drawing from James Clear's Atomic Habits, she recommends: "If you can sit and write five minutes a day, every day, you could write a book in a year." These short sessions often expand as you find your flow.
• Schedule larger weekly blocks "If you can set aside a couple of hours once a week, that's really helpful. You're just going to start to get to the next level of getting into the flow."
• Consider periodic writing retreats "A lot of people I see, they try to get to a certain level like a messy rough draft and then go take a writing retreat... spend two days just diving into it."
• Explore professional support Whether it's a book coach, editor, or ghostwriter, professional guidance can accelerate the process and improve quality.

Leveraging AI as a Writing Partner

In a refreshing take on emerging technology, Mei Mei embraces AI as a collaborative tool rather than a threat to authentic writing:

"It's not going to do the work for you, but it's your collaborator... maybe it can be my thought partner."

She offers a practical approach to using AI in book writing:

1. Write the first two chapters entirely in your own voice
2. Use AI to help fill out remaining chapters
3. Continue to infuse your personal stories throughout

This balanced approach preserves your authentic voice while accelerating the writing process: "You still need to put those personal stories throughout, but the AI can accelerate the process considerably."

Her perspective was influenced by a high school teacher who had students use AI to write papers about Shakespeare and then analyze the AI's performance. "He said he had never seen better engagement in his class."

Why Write a Book? (And Why Not To)

Before embarking on the book-writing journey, it's important to clarify your motivations.

Valid Reasons to Write a Book:

• To establish yourself as a thought leader in your field
• To distill your knowledge for coaching or consulting clients
• To create a "calling card" that opens doors to speaking opportunities
• To build a platform around your expertise
• To leave a legacy of wisdom for family, friends, and colleagues

Reasons to Reconsider:

• Financial gain: "If you think it'll make you rich and famous... it's not gonna do that."
• Romanticized notions of the writer's life: "I've talked to people who've said 'I just want to write this book so I can go to Italy and write from some villa along the seaside'... writing one book is not going to get you there."
• When another medium might better serve your goals: Sometimes a podcast, course, or other format might be more effective for reaching your target audience.

Conclusion

Writing a book is both challenging and deeply rewarding. As Mei Mei emphasizes, "Every author I've worked with says that writing—the process of writing the book—has been one of the most transformational experiences of their life." This transformation comes from the deep introspection required and the discipline of organizing your thoughts and experiences into valuable lessons for others.

The publishing landscape continues to evolve, with new opportunities emerging alongside traditional paths. Whether you choose self-publishing or pursue a traditional deal, the key to success remains the same: align your writing with your purpose, commit to consistent practice, be willing to share vulnerably, and approach the promotion of your work with the same dedication you brought to creating it.

For those ready to share their wisdom, there has never been a better time to write a book that makes a meaningful impact on readers while advancing your personal and professional goals.

Ready to Start Your Book Journey?

If you're inspired to write a purpose-driven book that resonates with readers, connect with Mei Mei Fox at WriteYourBestsellingBook.com or find her on LinkedIn and Instagram. As she shares in the podcast, helping others tell their stories that make the world a better place has been her lifelong purpose—and she might be the perfect guide for your publishing journey.

What story do you have to share that could impact others? The world is waiting to hear it.