Let's Talk Money!
money publishing writers Sep 17, 2020
The universe is divided into two kinds of writers
#1: Writers who don't care about making money with their books.
#2: And writers who do care.
The writers who don't care—the creatives, the artists—they have a story they HAVE to share … regardless of whether they make money or sell many books.
Many memoirists fall into this category. They have a lived experience that has meant so much to them that they have to get their story out of their head and their heart … and hopefully some people will read—and buy—their books, but making money is not why they write.
To be clear, it's not that these writers are opposed to making money, it's just that money isn't what's driving them. They'd write even if they didn't make a single dime. And many of them will spend many, many dimes to help them write the best book they can: on writing conferences, book coaches, self-publishing, and...
Newsflash: People Are Still Reading Books!
books genre publication Sep 08, 2020
Great news for authors! People are still reading books!
Here's the big picture based on data from 2019:
Printed books continue to dominate the industry
Audiobooks are the fastest-growing product in the publishing industry.
Self-publishing remains hugely popular.
What GENERATION reads the most books?
The answer may surprise you. It's MILLENNIALS, those born between 1981-1996, followed closely by baby boomers.
As the parent of two millennials, this surprised me! All the handwringing my peers and I did, worried that "technology" would be the end of reading.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS READING?
Gen Z: humor, Millennials: health and wellness books, Gen X: crafts and hobbies, Baby Boomers: cookbooks, and the Silent Generation: biographies and memoirs.
WHAT DO YOU READ?
If you are someone who is thinking about writing a book, may I state the obvious? You need to be reading in the genre that you are planning to write in. If you're...
So You Want to Write a Book? Join the Club!
accountability book coach nonfiction writers support Sep 02, 2020
An astonishing number of Americans say they want to write a book someday. The most often quoted statistic comes from writer Joseph Epstein who said that "81 percent of Americans feel that they have a book in them — and should write it."
How he got that number, I have no idea. I've even seen 90% thrown around as a statistic. Regardless of the precision, it's fair to say that a lot of people say they'd like to write a book someday.
Maybe you are one of them.
Let's consider why this number is so high. There's something romantic about saying you are an author. Exotic. Prestigious. People look at you differently. All of a sudden, you have risen in the ranks. You have authority. You may desire to raise your profile in the world—perhaps your goal is to be viewed as a thought leader, which will help you grow your business and make more money. Did your ears perk up at the mention of money? I'll be...
Deadlines Are Your Friend
accountability book coach procrastination Jul 08, 2020
The dreaded deadline
I'm working on two books with two book coaches and have two deadlines to meet in the next four weeks.
Part of me wants to scream "I CAN'T DO IT!" and plead for an extension. Part of me wants to retreat to the couch and binge-watch Queer Eye. And there's that part of me that knows this is the only way I will ever get the work done.
Speaking of work, I have a lot ahead of me. For Book #1, a memoir about self-trust, my coach is asking for a draft of an "inside outline," a tool developed by book coach Jennie Nash that helps writers marry their plot story arc with the protagonist's internal journey. For Book #2, a self-help book about grief, my coach is asking for me to revise my "Blueprint for a Book," another Jennie Nash tool that helps writers build a firm foundation for their books before they begin writing.
Why I have two books going on at the same time with two different book coaches is a story for another day, but suffice...
Memoir and The One Thing Rule
focus memoir memoir writers memoirists Jun 29, 2020
I handed my friend J some of my favorite books on memoir, including Mary Karr's The Art of Memoir and Beth Kephart's Handling the Truth. J was an accomplished writer already: she'd had a YA novel traditionally published and also had placed essays with national publications. But this was her first foray into memoir writing, and I could tell she was struggling.
"It's a memoir about my dad," she said, then listed several angles she was hoping to include in her book. Red flags went off in my head. I'd been down that road before with clients and also in my own writing process. There's a natural temptation to want to throw everything in, which often comes from one of two places: First, the feeling that this is your ONLY chance to share everything you want to say. And/or second, you really don't know what you want to say so you'll say it all!
The One Thing Rule
"What's the one thing you want people to walk away from your story knowing?," I said to J after listening to her for a while...
Writers Write Better With Support
accountability writing life writing support Jun 24, 2020
Finding support is the final step in my 4-Step Solution to Getting Your Nonfiction Book Out of Your Head and Onto the Page.
Writers are better with support, and this is especially true for writers working on a book-length project. Writing a book is a marathon, and writers are more likely to get to Mile 26.2 if they aren't going it alone.
Image: Two women sitting side-by-side looking at computer
Writers can benefit from various types of support.
Here we are talking about support on the writing itself, ie., feedback on the page.
Who to Seek Editorial Support From
Family and friends: Just say no! Although it's tempting to ask family or friends to read and comment on your work-in-progress, this is almost always a bad idea. Even if people near and dear to you have experience with critique, it's difficult, if not impossible, for them to be objective.
Writing groups and critique partners: These two options can be effective...
Writers Need Community
accountability community support writers conferences writers groups writing Jun 15, 2020
Writing is solitary and it can be lonely. You spend lots of time in your head, perhaps wondering if anyone will even care.
While you are the only person who can put your butt in the chair and get your words on the page, your writing life will improve if you can find your people.
This is Step 3 of The 4-Step Solution to Getting Your Nonfiction Book Out of Your Head and onto the Page: Seeking Out Community.
Here are some ways I have found my people:
Writers Conferences: In-person writers' conferences have been a huge source of writing community for me. Of course, they are mostly on hold now due to COVID-19, but when they return (and they will!), find one that speaks to your writing interests and fits your budget. When I was just starting out as a memoir writer, I attended the Southampton Writers Conference where I workshopped with luminaries such as Mary Karr and Roger Rosenblatt. As awesome as those experiences were, what was even more valuable were the...
What Makes a Writer
accountability schedule writing Jun 08, 2020
Full stop.
Writers are not people who simply talk about writing, dream about writing, think about writing, or plan to write.
They write.
A simple concept for sure, but for many aspiring writers, a ridiculously difficult one to execute.
Two weeks ago, I shared "The 4-Step Solution to Getting Your Non-Fiction Book Out of Your Head and Onto the Page," and last week, I dug into Step 1: Narrow Your Focus. I called out lack of clarity about a book's point as the number one reason people don't get their books written.
Truth be told: Step 2: Put Your Butt in the Chair is a strong competitor for that #1 slot.
If you don't put your butt in the chair, it doesn't matter how clear you are about your point. If you don't write, you aren't going to get your book written.
Why We Avoid Writing
Writing is hard. It's "creation," which means making something new. It's scary. It's vulnerable. It brings out our insecurities, our fears, our doubts.
What if my writing...
The Number One Reason People Don't Get Their Books Written
book coach clarity nonfiction books Jun 01, 2020
Last week I shared "The 4-Step Solution to Getting Your Non-Fiction Book Out of Your Head and Onto the Page." Over the next four weeks, we're going to dig into each of these steps in detail.
Step 1: Narrow Your Focus
Last week, I had a working session with my book coach and mentor Jennie Nash, which turned out to be a humbling, albeit clarifying experience. The reason I had scheduled the time with Jennie was to get clarity on which book I should pitch first: my memoir, which I thought was ready to go, or a self-help book, which was still in the early stages of conception. Another writer colleague had suggested I try to pitch the self-help book first since memoir can be hard to sell if you don't have a track record or aren't a celebrity.
Jennie had asked for my query letter, a synopsis, and the first 25 pages of my memoir. I sent them off to her, proud of my work. Those pages had passed through the hands of several beta readers as well as a...
The 4-Step Solution to Getting Your Non-Fiction Book Out of Your Head and Onto the Page
book coach nonfiction book writing community writing life May 25, 2020
How many times have you heard someone say they have a book inside them? Somewhere between 80-90 percent of Americans have said they want to write a book "someday." I'm guessing that number is closer to 90 percent for women between forty and sixty. Women in midlife have wisdom to share with the world. Maybe they're solopreneurs seeking to become thought leaders in their field. Or business strategists aspiring to amplify their brand. Or therapists who want to impact more lives.
But the truth is most people will never even start writing their book … and for those who do start, very few will finish.
In this post, we'll discuss the most common reasons people don't follow through writing their books despite their best intentions, and then we'll provide a 4-step solution to help you get your non-fiction book out of your head and onto the page.
At mid-life, you've lived and learned. You've...