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Here's a story I posted to Medium today.
What Your First Brief Book Doesn’t Need (But Everyone Thinks It Does)
A myth-busting list to ease your anxieties and get you moving
So, you want to write a book
You’ve got the spark. Maybe even a working title.
But almost immediately, your brain starts whispering:
“I probably need at least 60,000 words.”
“I don’t have a book deal. Who am I to write a book?”
“What about design? I can’t afford a professional layout right now.”
“I only have 300 followers. I need at least 10,000.”
“I need to wait until I have more time, more money, more… something.”
Sound familiar?
These thoughts don’t make you unqualified.
They make you a writer.
But here’s the good news:
Most of what’s holding you back is based on outdated myths.
Writing and publishing a book —
especially a brief book— is more accessible now than ever before.
Let’s bust a few of those myths wide open so you can get out of your head and onto the page.
You Don’t Need a 60,000-Word Manuscript
That’s the industry standard for traditional nonfiction. It’s not the standard for brief books, mini-books, or short books.
Brief Books are intentionally short — 50 to 100 pages in print, or 10,000–15,000 words. They focus on one clear idea and deliver fast, valuable insight to a specific audience.
Writing a 15k-word book that helps real people is more valuable than a 60k-word book that never gets finished.
👉 Start small.
👉 Stay focused.
👉 Deliver value. Done.
You Don’t Need a Book Deal
This used to be the gate with agents and publishers being the gatekeepers.
Now?
It’s all you, baby. You are the gate and the gatekeeper.
With platforms like Amazon KDP, Gumroad, Payhip, and Substack, you can publish and distribute your brief books without waiting for anyone’s permission.
Will you get a cash advance? No.
But you’ll retain control, creative freedom, and up to 70% of your royalties.
And guess what?
Increasingly, authors are choosing this path intentionally.
You Also Don’t Need a Professional Layout (at First)
Yes, clean formatting helps your book feel legit. But it’s not a barrier to entry.
Tools like:
- Atticus (a book writing + formatting app)
- Vellum (Mac only)
- Reedsy’s free formatting tool
- Amazon KDP’s templates
…can help you produce a clean, readable interior without requiring a designer's upfront payment.
Start with functionality. Make it pretty later.
And if you’re writing a digital-first book? A polished PDF or EPUB is enough to get started.
You Don’t Need 10,000 Followers
The idea that you need a huge audience to publish is one of the most persistent myths out there.
But here’s the truth:
You don’t need a massive audience. You need the right audience.
If 100 people buy your $9 Brief Book? That’s $900.
If 50 of those people book a $200 service based on the book, will it be profitable? That’s $10,000.
Focus on valuable content and genuine connection , not vanity metrics.
Platforms like Substack, Bluesky, Threads, and even Pinterest make it easier than ever to grow a focused audience around your topic.
You Don’t Need a Massive Budget
You can publish your first Brief Book for less than the cost of a fancy dinner.
Here’s a shoestring path:
- Writing — free (use Google Docs, Notion, or Word)
- Editing — self-edit first, then use ChatGPT, Grammarly, or a trusted peer
- Cover — free with Canva or BookBrush (or $5–25 via Fiverr)
- Formatting — free tools from Reedsy or KDP
- Publishing — free via Amazon KDP
You can complete the entire process for $50–$ 100.
If you reinvest your early book sales, you can upgrade with each project.
So, What Do You Need?
Let’s flip this around.
Here’s what your first Brief Book needs:
✔ A single, focused idea
✔ A rough outline
✔ A couple of hours a week
✔ A willingness to share your imperfect process
✔ A reader in mind who needs what you’re writing
That’s it.
Everything else is optional, upgradable, and learnable.
Ready to Write Yours?
Brief Books aren’t about pretending to be a bestseller overnight.
They’re about creating clarity for you and your audience.
So if you’ve been putting off your book because you thought you needed:
- A massive word count
- A fancy deal
- A pro designer
- A 5-figure audience
- Or a 4-figure budget…
…let this be your permission slip to start anyway.
And if you need help, I’m building mine right alongside you — one chapter at a time. 🧱📘
Let’s do this together
Do you have questions about how to get started without all the extra stuff? Drop them in the comments 👇 or reply to this email.
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Barry Baz Morris writes the Brief Books newsletter. He’s currently writing a 4-book series of brief books for aspiring brief book authors.
