howtobecomeanauthor

Do You Have a Story To Share But Don't Know Where to Begin to Write and Publish a Book?

How to Begin Writing a Book

Saying that you want to write a book someday is being a waiter, not a writer. The only thing it takes to become a writer is to write. There is not a magic super sauce to writing.

People use many excuses not to write but they all come down to fear. When you face your fear and you just do it and begin writing, you will become a writer. It is about setting an intention, ditching perfectionism, not editing while writing, let it be information bulimia, don't worry about punctuation or grammar. As you go through the process of writing you grow your confidence and become a writer.

Even Stephen King and Jodi Picoult struggle when writing. Imposter syndrome is real for everyone.

Writing a Book is Like Creating a Sculpture

Debby likens the first draft of a book to a sculpture and the way Michaelangelo created it. He started with a block of marble. You begin writing and then your editor will relate to you and your story and be able to help you create a beautiful and impactful book. An editor relationship is a lot like a beloved and trusted mentor or doctor. They are all up in your business and have to approach your book with so much love and tenderness that you are comfortable opening up and sharing with them. One editor may not be right for everyone because of sensibilities, etc.

Learn how to find an editor, the 5 steps to brining a book to market, and so much more. 

About The Guest, Debby Kevin

Books have been a lifelong love of Debby's. She is passionate about helping others and herself to publish the very best books and get them out into the world. Debby works with really passionate people who have a big message and want to write a book to get their message out into the world. She helps them publish their books and get them in the hands of worldwide readers.

To access links and read the full blog post click here.

Do You Have a Story To Share But Don't Know Where to Begin to Write and Publish a Book?

How to Begin Writing a Book

Saying that you want to write a book someday is being a waiter, not a writer. The only thing it takes to become a writer is to write. There is not a magic super sauce to writing.

People use many excuses not to write but they all come down to fear. When you face your fear and you just do it and begin writing, you will become a writer. It is about setting an intention, ditching perfectionism, not editing while writing, let it be information bulimia, don't worry about punctuation or grammar. As you go through the process of writing you grow your confidence and become a writer.

Even Stephen King and Jodi Picoult struggle when writing. Imposter syndrome is real for everyone.

Writing a Book is Like Creating a Sculpture

Debby likens the first draft of a book to a sculpture and the way Michaelangelo created it. He started with a block of marble. You begin writing and then your editor will relate to you and your story and be able to help you create a beautiful and impactful book. An editor relationship is a lot like a beloved and trusted mentor or doctor. They are all up in your business and have to approach your book with so much love and tenderness that you are comfortable opening up and sharing with them. One editor may not be right for everyone because of sensibilities, etc.

Learn how to find an editor, the 5 steps to brining a book to market, and so much more. 

About The Guest, Debby Kevin

Books have been a lifelong love of Debby's. She is passionate about helping others and herself to publish the very best books and get them out into the world. Debby works with really passionate people who have a big message and want to write a book to get their message out into the world. She helps them publish their books and get them in the hands of worldwide readers.

To access links and read the full blog post click here.

Love to Read?
Want to be an Entrepreneur?
You can Marry the Two!
What Is A Book Coach And How
Can You Become One?

About Jennie Nash, Book Coach Extraordinaire

Jennie Nash is the founder of Author Accelerator, a business that has trained more than 50 book coaches to support writers through the entire creative process. Likewise, Author Accelerator also matches writers with the right coach that can give them the sustained editorial support they need to complete their book projects. Jennie’s book coaching methods bring back the powerful and time-tested concept of artistic mentorship, which has been largely squeezed out of the publishing industry, hungry for the next fast hit. She has spent 30 years on all sides of the publishing industry and is the author of four novels, three memoirs, and one self-help book for writers.

The Reasons to Write

There are several reasons to write: it’s fun, it’s therapeutic, is self-expression. Jennie has always had a more market focuses approach, writing to be read, writing to be published, writing with a goal or outcome in mind.

As Jennie was helping a friend write her book, she created the processes to guide a writer through their project.

Writing a book is an incredibly complex intellectual process and people tend to minimize the project management side of it. This something that can’t be taught in the classroom, it’s one on one work.

The process of creativity is what Jennie loves and teaches in her Book Coach Program.

What is a book coach?

Is a book coach the same as an author coach?  Once a book is finished by an author, they turn it over to an editor. The editor goes through it and improves it and makes it better.  A book coach helps the writer while they are writing, through the writing process. This includes accountability, giving feedback as they write, becoming an emotional sounding board as they work. A book coach and writer will work together for 6 to 9 months or longer.

Jennie uses the term book coach because she is helping people write books. Some people are writing coaches, and they may help people write blog posts. They may help someone write a presentation, but a book coach helps someone decide on a structure for a book, get the book written and determine the path for getting the book to market.

Publishing

The publishing industry is very complex and changes regularly. Publishing became democratized and the means of production was open to all writers.

Types of Publishing

Self-Publishing, Traditional publishing where you work with a publishing house and have an agent, and there are hybrid publishers. Hybrid publishers are somewhere in between and offer more options that are really attractive to people.

As a book coach Jennie helps her clients determine why they want to write a book, identify what their goals are, what they want to get out of it, and do they realize writing a book will actually cost them money, as opposed to helping them get rich. It’s important to understand that this is a product and see how it’s going to live in the world.

A Chance to Be Heard – A Book Coach Helps You Find Your Voice

Writing a book is raising your voice. It’s claiming space and saying I have something to say that is worthy of being heard. As a book coach, Jennie helps her clients understand this and determine how they want to publish because that is related to self-worth.

Writing a book is one thing, but when you get to publishing, it becomes about to bring a product to market, creating a brand, and so worth. A lot of writers get lost and overwhelmed at this point. A book coach can help with this process so that the writer doesn’t lose momentum.

Creatives often lose sight of the fact that they have to have a brand.  A book coach can help with creating a brand because creativity doesn’t stand in for a brand. The book isn’t a brand, the writer is the brand and must step up to control the perception readers have of them.

Photography

Branded photography is so important for becoming recognizable as an author. It’s important for them to be present to open doors for further opportunities such as speaking.

Book Coach vs. A Hybrid Book Publisher

What you are paying for is slightly different. A book coach will get you ready to get to the place where you need the services the hybrid publisher provides.

Hybrid publishers do what a traditional publisher does. They will provide a copy editor, someone who goes through the book line by line, and a proofreader.  If self-publishing, you have to find someone to do that for you.

The work a book coach does is more along the lines of designing what the book will be.

A hybrid publisher will be an investment upfront for the author where a traditional publisher will pay the author upfront. But it’s important to note that it is going to cost to publish a book. A writer must be willing to invest time, energy, and money into publishing a book. If you are going to succeed, you have to put in all three. When using a hybrid publisher, you are shouldering some of the risks with the publisher and pay the expense upfront, when self-publishing you are shouldering all of the burdens, and with traditional publishing, they are paying you, so they are taking the burden of risk on themselves, but the writer gets a smaller percentage of sales over time. With the hybrid model, you get more of a percent as books sell, and with self-publishing, you get all of the profits.

The big takeaway is that it will cost time, energy, and money. It costs all three before you know the book is going to be a success.

With that said, it could be a risk to hire a book coach, but at the same time, a book coach can help the process and help achieve success with the book.

The best time to invest in your book is before you start.

Becoming a Coach for the Book Coach

Jennie pivoted her business from being a book coach to helping others become book coaches.

At a time when Jennie needed more help, she decided to change her business model from being a book coach to coaching others. This gave her an opportunity to work with entrepreneurs.

As the list of book coaches who wanted to work with Jennie grew and grew, she decided to train them as book coaches and how to brand themselves as to the book coach they want to be.

Jennie now helps book coaches find their niche and helps pair the coaches with the authors they can help.

Age Shouldn’t Hold You Back

We can do whatever we want, whatever our heart desires, at any age. Jennie is doing something that she can do for many years to come and is enjoying her life so much.

Learn More About Your Host, Robyn Graham, Click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Join the Female Entrepreneur Insider Facebook Group HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

Learn more about Jennie and Connect with her:

Website: https://www.bookcoaches.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennie.nash/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennienashbookcoach/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-nash-Oa98716

Love to Read?
Want to be an Entrepreneur?
You can Marry the Two!
What Is A Book Coach And How
Can You Become One?

About Jennie Nash, Book Coach Extraordinaire

Jennie Nash is the founder of Author Accelerator, a business that has trained more than 50 book coaches to support writers through the entire creative process. Likewise, Author Accelerator also matches writers with the right coach that can give them the sustained editorial support they need to complete their book projects. Jennie’s book coaching methods bring back the powerful and time-tested concept of artistic mentorship, which has been largely squeezed out of the publishing industry, hungry for the next fast hit. She has spent 30 years on all sides of the publishing industry and is the author of four novels, three memoirs, and one self-help book for writers.

The Reasons to Write

There are several reasons to write: it’s fun, it’s therapeutic, is self-expression. Jennie has always had a more market focuses approach, writing to be read, writing to be published, writing with a goal or outcome in mind.

As Jennie was helping a friend write her book, she created the processes to guide a writer through their project.

Writing a book is an incredibly complex intellectual process and people tend to minimize the project management side of it. This something that can’t be taught in the classroom, it’s one on one work.

The process of creativity is what Jennie loves and teaches in her Book Coach Program.

What is a book coach?

Is a book coach the same as an author coach?  Once a book is finished by an author, they turn it over to an editor. The editor goes through it and improves it and makes it better.  A book coach helps the writer while they are writing, through the writing process. This includes accountability, giving feedback as they write, becoming an emotional sounding board as they work. A book coach and writer will work together for 6 to 9 months or longer.

Jennie uses the term book coach because she is helping people write books. Some people are writing coaches, and they may help people write blog posts. They may help someone write a presentation, but a book coach helps someone decide on a structure for a book, get the book written and determine the path for getting the book to market.

Publishing

The publishing industry is very complex and changes regularly. Publishing became democratized and the means of production was open to all writers.

Types of Publishing

Self-Publishing, Traditional publishing where you work with a publishing house and have an agent, and there are hybrid publishers. Hybrid publishers are somewhere in between and offer more options that are really attractive to people.

As a book coach Jennie helps her clients determine why they want to write a book, identify what their goals are, what they want to get out of it, and do they realize writing a book will actually cost them money, as opposed to helping them get rich. It’s important to understand that this is a product and see how it’s going to live in the world.

A Chance to Be Heard – A Book Coach Helps You Find Your Voice

Writing a book is raising your voice. It’s claiming space and saying I have something to say that is worthy of being heard. As a book coach, Jennie helps her clients understand this and determine how they want to publish because that is related to self-worth.

Writing a book is one thing, but when you get to publishing, it becomes about to bring a product to market, creating a brand, and so worth. A lot of writers get lost and overwhelmed at this point. A book coach can help with this process so that the writer doesn’t lose momentum.

Creatives often lose sight of the fact that they have to have a brand.  A book coach can help with creating a brand because creativity doesn’t stand in for a brand. The book isn’t a brand, the writer is the brand and must step up to control the perception readers have of them.

Photography

Branded photography is so important for becoming recognizable as an author. It’s important for them to be present to open doors for further opportunities such as speaking.

Book Coach vs. A Hybrid Book Publisher

What you are paying for is slightly different. A book coach will get you ready to get to the place where you need the services the hybrid publisher provides.

Hybrid publishers do what a traditional publisher does. They will provide a copy editor, someone who goes through the book line by line, and a proofreader.  If self-publishing, you have to find someone to do that for you.

The work a book coach does is more along the lines of designing what the book will be.

A hybrid publisher will be an investment upfront for the author where a traditional publisher will pay the author upfront. But it’s important to note that it is going to cost to publish a book. A writer must be willing to invest time, energy, and money into publishing a book. If you are going to succeed, you have to put in all three. When using a hybrid publisher, you are shouldering some of the risks with the publisher and pay the expense upfront, when self-publishing you are shouldering all of the burdens, and with traditional publishing, they are paying you, so they are taking the burden of risk on themselves, but the writer gets a smaller percentage of sales over time. With the hybrid model, you get more of a percent as books sell, and with self-publishing, you get all of the profits.

The big takeaway is that it will cost time, energy, and money. It costs all three before you know the book is going to be a success.

With that said, it could be a risk to hire a book coach, but at the same time, a book coach can help the process and help achieve success with the book.

The best time to invest in your book is before you start.

Becoming a Coach for the Book Coach

Jennie pivoted her business from being a book coach to helping others become book coaches.

At a time when Jennie needed more help, she decided to change her business model from being a book coach to coaching others. This gave her an opportunity to work with entrepreneurs.

As the list of book coaches who wanted to work with Jennie grew and grew, she decided to train them as book coaches and how to brand themselves as to the book coach they want to be.

Jennie now helps book coaches find their niche and helps pair the coaches with the authors they can help.

Age Shouldn’t Hold You Back

We can do whatever we want, whatever our heart desires, at any age. Jennie is doing something that she can do for many years to come and is enjoying her life so much.

Learn More About Your Host, Robyn Graham, Click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Join the Female Entrepreneur Insider Facebook Group HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

Learn more about Jennie and Connect with her:

Website: https://www.bookcoaches.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennie.nash/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennienashbookcoach/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-nash-Oa98716

Have you ever thought about writing a book and becoming a bestselling author? In today’s “Success Interview,” I was privileged to interview fellow publisher Jesse Krieger. Jesse helps aspirational authors write and publish books. In this podcast interview, we share hidden secrets that have made our own writing careers a success and help others do the same. Enjoy the interview as we go behind the scene to give you the tools, strategies, and principles to guarantee your book a success.
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A_h-4LBA1A0

Everyone Has A Story To Tell.

To Become An Author, Start By Tapping Into Your Story, Writing, And Sharing.

About Shelly

Shelly Pordea is a former teacher, turned author, and story coach. She helps clients with their creative process to tell their story, become an author, and publish books.

The Search for Home

Shelly likes to say, that homing in on little bits of our story will help us create a full piece of art.  I asked her how this statement correlates to her trilogy.

Her response was that Stephen King says every author’s first book is a memoir.  He and Shelly believe that we weave our story into everything we write.

Shelly found this was especially true and her entire trilogy was about her journey to find a home.

The Everyday Author

Every day authors don’t make a lot of money from their books. Like Shelly, many are ghostwriters and write articles for corporations, and coach others on writing and publishing.  Shelly focuses her coaching on people who want to start a new career and others.  She works to help you find the pieces of your story that create a full work of art, your work is your art. To find the through-line is to look back on your life and pull those pieces out.

Shelly recommends the book, “The Art of Work” by Jeff Goins.

People want to relate to someone who has a journey similar to ours. As humans, we are curious and want to know as much as possible about the person teaching them.

Trust

Telling your story, helps other people trust you.

Value of Stories

Telling stories of people gives value to others' lives. If thinking of becoming an author, start with your story and see how you can tell it in a way that resonates with others.

Where to Begin to Write Your Story?

What are the steps to writing your story? If someone wants to start on a journey to tell their story, where do they begin?

4 Steps to Take to Become an Author

1. Just write

Shelly is a huge fan of “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron.  Julia talks about morning writing. Just putting pen to paper and getting things out of your brain. Don’t make excuses, just write and you will come up with something.

2. Read – read-write, read-write, and repeat.

Research what people are looking for. If no one has done it before, chances are no one is looking for it. Take something on the market and inject your new spin on it to make it new and unique to you. One must be original when becoming an author.

3. Sweet Spot - Find your sweet spot that will work for you and others but you have to realize that not everyone will like it.

4. Coming up with a new idea is similar to creating your brand and differentiating yourself. It is about finding your sweet spot that will work for someone else.

Self-Publishing When You Become an Author

Where can you begin to self-publish?

There are pros and cons with self-publishing, and you do the majority of the work yourself.

Traditional publishing isn’t that much different, you still have to do a lot of things by yourself.

There are courses available to guide you, but you are doing the work yourself.

Start Googling information and see what works for you.

Get into a Facebook group about self-publishing. A lot of people will answer your questions for free.

Shelly offers a free download, “Write Your Story Now” on her website. You can also send Shelly an email directly from her website and she will answer your questions.

Self-publishing really isn’t that hard, it just takes time.

Other self-publishing resources:

Amazon publishing

Fiverr

99 Designs

Ingram Spark – hardback books and they distribute world-wide

KDP.com – tutorials

Know your standard of quality and your goals for the project before making any final decisions.

Number of Pages and Words

What is the target number of pages or words for a book?

Self-help books:  40,000 to 60,000 words which are about 150 to 200 pages depending on graphics included.

Novel: 80,000 to 100,000 words.

If self-publishing, there really isn’t a specific number, but if working with a publisher, there are standards that have to be met.  One should follow the standards when self-publishing to avoid calling attention to the fact that you are self-published.

Branding Question:

Advice for a multi-passionate entrepreneur, which is most creatives.

First and foremost, the person has to be the overarching brand. Your face must be present everywhere.

You are at the top, and then the areas of business fall underneath and should merge at some point, meaning, they all have to tie back into you at the same point.  The feel, the emotions, the relationships should be cohesive and consistent so that you are perceived as one person, one brand, who has branches of expertise.

Your story has to resonate with others and ultimately build an emotional connection with you.

Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Join the Female Entrepreneur Insider Facebook Group HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

Learn more about and connect with Shelly:

Website: https://www.thereativu.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shellysnowpordea

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellysnowpordea

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/shelly-snow-pordea

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shellypordea

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellypordea

Everyone Has A Story To Tell.

To Become An Author, Start By Tapping Into Your Story, Writing, And Sharing.

About Shelly

Shelly Pordea is a former teacher, turned author, and story coach. She helps clients with their creative process to tell their story, become an author, and publish books.

The Search for Home

Shelly likes to say, that homing in on little bits of our story will help us create a full piece of art.  I asked her how this statement correlates to her trilogy.

Her response was that Stephen King says every author’s first book is a memoir.  He and Shelly believe that we weave our story into everything we write.

Shelly found this was especially true and her entire trilogy was about her journey to find a home.

The Everyday Author

Every day authors don’t make a lot of money from their books. Like Shelly, many are ghostwriters and write articles for corporations, and coach others on writing and publishing.  Shelly focuses her coaching on people who want to start a new career and others.  She works to help you find the pieces of your story that create a full work of art, your work is your art. To find the through-line is to look back on your life and pull those pieces out.

Shelly recommends the book, “The Art of Work” by Jeff Goins.

People want to relate to someone who has a journey similar to ours. As humans, we are curious and want to know as much as possible about the person teaching them.

Trust

Telling your story, helps other people trust you.

Value of Stories

Telling stories of people gives value to others' lives. If thinking of becoming an author, start with your story and see how you can tell it in a way that resonates with others.

Where to Begin to Write Your Story?

What are the steps to writing your story? If someone wants to start on a journey to tell their story, where do they begin?

4 Steps to Take to Become an Author

1. Just write

Shelly is a huge fan of “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron.  Julia talks about morning writing. Just putting pen to paper and getting things out of your brain. Don’t make excuses, just write and you will come up with something.

2. Read – read-write, read-write, and repeat.

Research what people are looking for. If no one has done it before, chances are no one is looking for it. Take something on the market and inject your new spin on it to make it new and unique to you. One must be original when becoming an author.

3. Sweet Spot - Find your sweet spot that will work for you and others but you have to realize that not everyone will like it.

4. Coming up with a new idea is similar to creating your brand and differentiating yourself. It is about finding your sweet spot that will work for someone else.

Self-Publishing When You Become an Author

Where can you begin to self-publish?

There are pros and cons with self-publishing, and you do the majority of the work yourself.

Traditional publishing isn’t that much different, you still have to do a lot of things by yourself.

There are courses available to guide you, but you are doing the work yourself.

Start Googling information and see what works for you.

Get into a Facebook group about self-publishing. A lot of people will answer your questions for free.

Shelly offers a free download, “Write Your Story Now” on her website. You can also send Shelly an email directly from her website and she will answer your questions.

Self-publishing really isn’t that hard, it just takes time.

Other self-publishing resources:

Amazon publishing

Fiverr

99 Designs

Ingram Spark – hardback books and they distribute world-wide

KDP.com – tutorials

Know your standard of quality and your goals for the project before making any final decisions.

Number of Pages and Words

What is the target number of pages or words for a book?

Self-help books:  40,000 to 60,000 words which are about 150 to 200 pages depending on graphics included.

Novel: 80,000 to 100,000 words.

If self-publishing, there really isn’t a specific number, but if working with a publisher, there are standards that have to be met.  One should follow the standards when self-publishing to avoid calling attention to the fact that you are self-published.

Branding Question:

Advice for a multi-passionate entrepreneur, which is most creatives.

First and foremost, the person has to be the overarching brand. Your face must be present everywhere.

You are at the top, and then the areas of business fall underneath and should merge at some point, meaning, they all have to tie back into you at the same point.  The feel, the emotions, the relationships should be cohesive and consistent so that you are perceived as one person, one brand, who has branches of expertise.

Your story has to resonate with others and ultimately build an emotional connection with you.

Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Join the Female Entrepreneur Insider Facebook Group HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

Learn more about and connect with Shelly:

Website: https://www.thereativu.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shellysnowpordea

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellysnowpordea

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/shelly-snow-pordea

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shellypordea

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellypordea

Tora becomes a guest together with Ullis Karlsson her co-author in the new book Holy F*ck and Sacred Water. They chat about the feminine way to cocreate a book and the benefits of collaborating for the creative process and personal transformation and how the book would have been very different if written alone and in a more traditional way. What is a feminine way of writing and where is the balance with the masculine? How do we create the spark for a masterpiece?

Holy F*ck and Sacred Water book: https://amzn.to/30Xt96a

Further content information from this episode: https://www.livetheimpossible.today/090

Get the free Live the Impossible Playbook, here: https://www.livetheimpossible.today/

Oliver & Tora Zophias (Susana) mentoring programs: https://silverhoj.com/

Pam the Health Genie: https://www.pamlob.com/

Oliver & Tora Zophias (Susana) travel blog: https://www.conscioustravelfamily.com/

Jon Century our household Magic Musician: https://www.joncentury.com/music