I'm going to assume that the majority of my readers are writers, have written something before and are not completely new to the concept of writing (not to say publishing or editing or making money writing, etc.)

If you're feeling a bit down about yourself, wondering whether you really do have what it takes to "cut it", if you answer "yes" to all of these questions posed in this article, "you already have the nucleus of a powerful propensity for creating niche non-fiction in the shape of self-help and how-to guides."

1. Do you like to read, be it fiction or non-fiction?

2. Do you enjoy writing letters, reports, or whatever?

3. Do you have a better than average vocabulary?

4. Do you strive at every opportunity to enhance your personal word power?

5. Do you persist with crosswords until you've solved all the clues?

6. Do you have an enquiring mind? Do you have special interests?

7. Do you have expertise in any particular subject(s)?

8. Would you undertake research to confirm and expand on what you think you know?

9. Would you be prepared to share this knowledge with others?

10. Would you be willing to make time to write about it for pleasure and profit?

11. Are you comfortable about committing your private thoughts to paper?

12. Are you self-disciplined?

13. Are you relaxed about working on your own?

I know I like writing letters or reports or whatever, so I keep that in mind when I'm prepared to share knowledge with others but am unsure about whether I'm really qualified.