Book Writing & Publishing

🎙️ Feeling Overwhelmed Writing Your Nonfiction or Memoir? This Episode is For You!

Do you feel like you have multiple books' worth of material? Are you wrestling with imposter syndrome or struggling to organize a mountain of thoughts? 

My work with authors typically focuses on two key genres: transformative nonfiction and inspirational memoir (yes, I made up these terms).

Transformative Nonfiction aims to guide the reader through a specific journey. It's infused with personal stories that help the reader relate and feel connected to the author. 

Inspirational Memoir, on the other hand, shares the author’s personal experiences to inspire and resonate with readers, but in a way where the author is unattached to how (or when) the reader is inspired (or whether they're inspired at all!).

Feeling stuck? 

Start by identifying your core message and the first step in your journey.

Remember, it’s about sharing the steps of your story, not prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution. By focusing on...

I've recently had a key realization about book writing, especially when it comes to writing memoir and non-fiction. 

Many times, people think the writing process will allow them to quickly (and easily) unlock or unravel buried feelings or insights. But this misconception sets an unrealistic expectation and creates potential roadblocks. 

As is the case with therapy (ask me how I know), there’s no set timeline for completing a book, and the process is often more complex and time-consuming than anticipated.

So here's my $0.02 on how to best navigate the unexpected detours that often arise while writing a book you'll be incredibly proud to release to the world.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOK WRITERS COLLECTIVE

When it comes to book writing, "I'm waiting for inspiration/motivation" is often code for "I have no idea where this is going and it scares the sh*t out of me so I'll figure it out another day." 

But there are ways around (read: through) this challenge. 

In this episode, I offer some of my favorite tips so that you can get out of "waiting" and into writing!

Looking for more support on this adventure? Check out Write the Damn Book Already or The Book Writers Collective!

WRITE THE DAMN BOOK ALREADY

A program for writing powerful, thought-provoking nonfiction or memoir.

This is for you if you:

✍️ Want to write a powerful book, making sure you're avoiding common (and unnecessary) mistakes along the way 

✍️ Crave the support of a proven book-writing process as well as knowledgeable guidance and compassionate ass-kicking (when necessary) when the adventure feels “sticky” and you begin feeling unsure of what you’re doing, why you started, or whether it’s going to be worth it (hin...

A revelation hath...revealed itself. (It's 7:17pm, and my brain cells have stopped firing almost entirely.)

Last week, I posted about this revelation: that the process of writing a book is very much like a reverse hourglass (or, say, a stomach, if you're a "Grey's Anatomy" fan). 

[If you missed that post on figuring out what your book is about, you can read all about it here.]

It stinks that most writers don't realize where the starting place actually is (and that it's often important to spend more time there than one thinks).

I didn't understand this myself for many years! 

And the bottleneck this creates causes them to think they're doing something wrong when, in fact, they're just like everyone else writing a book! 

But today, let's talk about Part 2: What Do I Want to Say?

This is the BIG part of the reverse hourglass, or stomach, and it's where the bulk of the work/writing takes place. 

(Who's dying to hire me to illustrate their children's book. Anyone? Hello?). 

You k...

I often say, "We write (or talk) our way INTO what what we want to say."

It's somewhat similar to talking yourself into doing something—using words to explore how you feel or why something seems scary in order to get to the root of the what and the why. 

During a recent Book Writers Collective call, I realized, by talking my way into it, that when writing/publishing a book, we experience a "reverse hourglass" effect of sorts. 

For fun, I also envision it as a stomach (ironically, the body part most heavily churning with anxiety and trepidation during this adventure). 

Without knowing that the first step (of 3) is one of two bottlenecks, many of us get stuck there. Which is both unfortunate and unnecessary!

Allow me to explain via a delightfully friendly graphic. 

As you can see, the first step is one of two bottlenecks—points where you're most likely to become quit. 

And that step is...

...figuring out what the hell the book is about! 

Is it about a specific time in your lif...

Key Takeaways:

• It's important to give yourself permission to try different approaches and strategies when writing and publishing a book.

• Don't feel pressured to follow the advice of others if it doesn't align with your goals or preferences.

• Consistency and courage are key to finding success in your writing journey.

Introduction

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we discuss the importance of giving yourself permission to do what feels right for your book, regardless of the advice and opinions of others. Let's dive in and explore the power of embracing your own path.

Embracing Your Unique Approach

In the world of book writing and publishing, there is no shortage of advice and opinions on the "right" way to do things. From running ads to choosing the perfect marketing strategy, it can be overwhelming to navigate through the sea of recommendations. However, it's crucial to remember that what works for one person may not work for anot...