Question

Coelho states: "I am not a self-help writer; I am a self-problem writer". What does this mean and how could this impact the writing style of the novel?

Answer 1

The full quote is I am not a self-help writer. I am a self-problem writer. When people read my books, I provoke some things. I cannot justify my work. I do my work; it is up to them to classify it, to judge.

So he is writing about his own problems and how he resolves them; rather than telling others how to resolve their problems. It allows Coelho to easily reach his readers.

Answer 2

It means he does not write to solve problems, he writes about the problem itself.