Well-Read: Reading with Robin- Write Your Book in 2015
Saturday, January 03, 2015
New Year’s resolutions – everyone seems to have them. The trick is choosing something that you might actually be able to stick with. Declaring your resolution out loud or in print might be helpful in holding you accountable. I rarely, if ever, make resolutions much less announce them in a public way. However, there is one item on my list that has been there for far too long. If, like me, one of your 2015 resolutions is to finally start writing that book you’ve been talking about, a productive way to go about this is to enlist the services of a writing coach. A writing coach is someone who has the experience and proven track record and who can provide the tools necessary to set you up for the best possible outcome with your writing project.
Writing coach Lisa Tener
Meet Lisa Tener - I was first introduced to Lisa when I began my radio show, Reading With Robin over twelve years ago. She was on to talk about her book, The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger. Through the years we’ve been in touch on various projects and I’ve watched her career progress and have interviewed several of the authors she has coached along the way. Lisa is an award-winning book writing and publishing coach who has helped hundreds of first-time authors write, publish and leverage their books into a multitude of profitable, life-changing opportunities. Many of her clients have landed 5-to 6-figure publishing deals and appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, CBS Early Show and other syndicated shows. She is also a four-time Stevie Award winner.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTI will be interviewing Lisa at 8:30pm on Thursday, January 15th on her webinar Bring Your Book To Life in 2015: 5 Savvy Tips to Get Started Now! In preparation for our webinar I sat down with Lisa to ask her a few questions. I hope you’ll join us on the 15th and bring YOUR book to life in 2015!
Robin - When you meet someone and say that you are a book writing coach -what are some of the reactions you receive?
Lisa - Of course, lots of people admit they have a book inside them: "I've always wanted to write a book" or "Everybody tells me I should write a book."
Robin- What are some of the misconceptions people have about the writing process? There seem to be a lot of them.
Lisa- Perhaps the biggest misconception is that you have to be a super-talented or have a masters in English or MFA to write a book. Those things can help, but if you're writing self-help or how-to, it's really about taking the experience and expertise you have in your head and getting it onto the page. A good writing coach or editor can help you fine-tune it to make it compelling. I have a client who got C's in English and was told repeatedly by the nuns in school that she couldn't write. Her book has gone on to win multiple awards. There are just a few crucial rules to good writing. Most of them can come in during the editing phase. So if you have a compelling book concept and a yearning in your heart, don't worry so much about your writing chops. That's something you can get help with. I've helped many everyday people get their book published.
The biggest misconception about publishing, particularly nonfiction, (and one that not everyone has but which I do encounter frequently) is that if you have a compelling subject and write a well-written book, a publisher will pick it up, publish it and promote it. Actually those are two misconceptions that go hand in hand--1) that publishers will publish and 2) that they will promote. Publishers want to see that an author already has a platform-- that you already reach people through your blog, social media, website, traditional media, speaking engagements, etc. If you don't, how is the book going to reach an audience? You can have a compelling promotion plan, but if you aren't already reaching people, you're often not ready for a publisher. On the other hand, there are exceptions. Sometimes smaller, niche publishers are not as focused on platform.
Robin – What are the top three mistakes people make when embarking on their writing journey?
Lisa- 1.Writing without knowing who you're writing for: In general, especially with nonfiction (and especially with self-help and how-to books), it's important to know ahead of time whom you're writing for. Trying to write for too many audiences is also a related problem. You want to focus on a core audience; think of it as the bull's eye in a dartboard. Many others will read your book, but if you focus on the core audience, you'll have a strong voice and appeal to a focused target market. If you try to write for everyone, no one will know it's for them.
2. Writing without an outline: Writing without an outline is like holding a business meeting without an agenda. You waste a good deal of time. Your outline may change several times--and that's okay. You'll still find benefit to having a structure from the start. Are there exceptions? Yes, but not as often as you would think.
3) Underestimating your readers: Novice writers often convey information by telling the reader rather than showing the reader. Writing that a character, or even a person who is an example in an anecdote, is nervous is somewhat meaningless to a reader. Writing that the person had to wipe her sweaty hands on her skirt brings her to life. You don't even have to tell the reader that she was nervous. The reader gets to draw the conclusion, which makes it more real for readers.
Robin- What is something you wish you had known when you first set out to write The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger?
Lisa- This may sound a little trite, but I am grateful for every mistake I made. I learned so much from doing things "wrong" or having things go wrong--and that has helped me to help my clients write faster and better without making the mistakes I made. If I hadn't made those mistakes, I wouldn't be as good a book coach! However, I suppose if I could change one thing, I'd write better. Certainly in a decade, one becomes a better writer than one was 10 years ago.
Robin- What is something that a hopeful writer can do RIGHT NOW...a first step sort of thing.
Lisa- One of my favorite first steps is to write a vision statement. Whether you are writing a book, blog, article or something else, you can ask yourself these questions:
What do I want this project to do for my readers? What results do I want them to get from reading it? What do I want this project to do for my life? What opportunities do I hope to create? What financial results? What personal growth? What do I want this project to do for my community or the world?
I will be working on my vision statement right after filing this story. What’s yours?
Please join us at 8:30pm on January 15th for the webinar Bring Your Book To Life in 2015: 5 Savvy Tips to Get Started Now! Lisa will be holding a free writing workshop and sharing some of her best writing tips and creative exercises in Narragansett RI on Jan. 18. If you are interested in joining in please email Lisa.
ROBIN KALL is Rhode Island’s own book maven. From author interviews to events with best-selling authors, Robin shares her love of books wherever and whenever possible. You can connect with Robin on Facebook.com/readingwithrobin and follow her on Twitter @robinkall, online at http://www.readingwithrobin.com is updated constantly with all new author interviews and bookish information. Reading With Robin will be returning to radio on Friday, January 16th. Stay tuned for details.
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