Jed Bickman
New Harbinger Publications
My Manuscript Wish List®
My Manuscript Wish List® Items
Publishing with New Harbinger
Our Editorial Mission – Real Tools for Real Change
Since 1973, New Harbinger has remained dedicated to publishing practical, evidence-based tools for mental health professionals, as well as self-help books for general readers seeking to improve their lives and reach their fullest potential. Our cofounder and publisher, Matthew McKay, is a clinical psychologist whose passion has always been to help others. Publishing proven-effective resources that help people create positive change is our ongoing mission and the foundation on which New Harbinger was built. New Harbinger is proud to be an independent, employee-owned company.
We publish concise books that are easy for every reader to understand. Our authors are respected and experienced clinical professionals as well as active, involved leaders in their areas of expertise. Our dedication to these standards—expert authors, reader-friendly books—has made us the publisher of choice for both general readers and mental health professionals looking for effective, reliable information.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions should be emailed to jed.bickman@newharbinger.com
Please, only credentialed therapists or doctors specializing in mental health. (LMSW, Psy.D., M.D., MSW, etc)
How to Write a Self-help Book
A self-help book must be complete. It must include all the information the reader will need to acquire the skill you’re teaching. For example, if the first step of systematic desensitization is to learn relaxation techniques, you need to teach relaxation techniques first.
To effectively teach skills, a self-help book must proceed step-by-step. Put the first step first, the second step second, and so on. Don’t leave out any steps.
Include only as much theory, history, and motivational writing as the reader needs to understand and acquire the skill at hand. A few sentences of inspirational or motivational writing can help, but keep your focus on the practical and factual. When you have the option of explaining a complex theory or giving a simple instruction, give the simple instruction. If you must discuss theory, give a brief, clear explanation.
Audience
Many of our books are double-targeted: they’re meant to be read by both general and professional audiences. The best way to reach both groups is to write your book directly to the client—to the person with the problem you’re writing about. Use simple language and a supportive tone. Mental health professionals buy our books for the same reason laypeople do—because our books are clear, simple, and complete. Professionals report that they prefer our step-by-step approach over the abstract material usually offered to the professional audience.
Assume your reader knows absolutely nothing about your subject. Explain every step so that a person who is completely uninformed can follow your directions. After each instruction or exercise, ask yourself, “Could I do this if I’d never been exposed to any of these concepts or methods before?”
Vital Info
Favorite sub-genres:
"Big Idea/Think", 'big think'
I’d like the next…
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson
The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health by Rheeda Walker
