Lisa Tener

Book Writing Coach

How to Write a Book

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Harvard Medical School’s Publishing Course

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I recently received the brochure for the 2009 course, Publishing Books, Memoirs and Other Creative Nonfiction, which is offered March 26-28 at Boston’s Fairmont Copley Hotel. Several of my writing coaching clients have told me they’ll be there. Will you?

Even if you’re not a medical professional or health writer, I can think of a whole bunch of reasons for you to come:

1. It’s one of the most comprehensive courses on how to become a published author, including information on how to build your platform (and if you don’t know what a platform is, you really need to attend!).

2. You get to meet top literary agents in person with the opportunity to sit down and talk with them. They’ll tell you if they’re interested in your book and, many times, they’ll provide an author with ideas that would make the book more appealing to readers, agents and publishers–taking your book idea from interesting to marketable.

3. You can get expert feedback on your writing and your book concept during the Writer’s Workshop (you can request to work with your favorite writing coach if you want).

4. You can learn how to get into “The Zone” whenever you sit down to write (in the workshop taught by your favorite writing coach on Thursday and Friday).

5. You’ll learn from bestselling authors including, Herbert Benson.

6. You’ll hear cutting edge information from professionals in all walks of publishing: agents, authors, publishers, publicists, writing coaches and editors.

7. Copley Square (Hey, I went to MIT, so a trip to Boston is always a draw for me).

8. Shameless Pitches: Yet another opportunity to grab an agent or publisher’s attention.

9. You’ll learn secrets of compelling writing.

10.  Dr. Julie Silver, the course director, over-delivers (Many people take the course year one, put it into action and attend the following year to pitch to agents and publishers, and also to learn more–each year offers new gems).

I’ve often heard aspiring writers complain about how hard it is to get published. Those people just aren’t doing the right things to get published. Attending this course is the perfect antidote. Not only do you learn exactly what to do, but you make those contacts that are necessary to get published.  I know many people who attended the course and got an agent or publisher for their book within a year or so.

How Do I Organize My Book and Reach My Audiences?

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I am writing in response to Mary O’Connor’s comment/ question for the writing coach:

“What advice would give to someone with a fully formed book about addicted mothers of young children? I don’t know how to frame the format and include my personal story, my professional story and the macro effects of current policy on our culture and future.

“Hint – I want to testify before congress, but am not sure of my audiance. Thank you for this resource. I love it. Floundering in upstate Michigan.”

Mary, you bring up a very important point. You can’t write for EVERYBODY. What you can do, though, is picture your audience like a dartboard. Who is the core audience you’re writing for? They’re your bulls eye. What other secondary audiences would be interested in your book? They would form outer rings on the board.

Before organizing your book, or writing a table of contents, I would clarify the core audience, then maybe have a chapter each to address the needs of any secondary markets or audiences (or you can use appendices). Another option is to use sidebars in each chapter.

Let’s say, for example, if you decide your core audience is family members of the addicted moms, for lawmakers/policy issues, have blue sidebars [sidebars are those boxes that contain relevant text that is either too technical for many readers or might appeal to a subset of readers or provides an example story to illustrate points in the text]; for addictions counselors and professionals, yellow sidebars, etc.

Once you’re clear who the core audience is, ask yourself what they are most looking for and what format would be most useful to them. If the core audience is families of addicts, you might write more of a how-to book with memoir elements. The last chapter or two could include more societal/global issues. Or you can include sidebars with those issues in each chapter.

Make sure your first chapter or introduction captures the reader’s interest. Let the reader know what they’ll get out of your book and provide inspiring and motivating examples of people you’ve helped. Good stories always captivate-use anecdotes.

Now, if you’re asking, how do you decide who the core audience is, let me know and please provide a little more information on all your goals, and I’ll write up another blog post!

Does that help?

Still Dreaming

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I am still dreaming about my writing coach’s writing retreat. One week to go.

How does one prepare for a writing retreat? In the past, I’ve packed up all my notes on the book I’m working on, maybe some research to read over, and thought hard about what I would accomplish.

This time, my writing coach (me) suggested I try something new. I’m clearing my mind in preparation. I’m not even sure which book I’m going to work on. I probably won’t take any of my preparatory notes for my works in progress.

I admit, this is my book writing experiment. I have no idea how it’s going to work, but I just love the idea of starting with a clean slate and allowing inspiration to work through me.

As a writing coach, I’ve recently suggested to several clients that they intend ease in their writing process. I’m expecting absolute ease, fun and speed, as well.

Thinking of planning your own writing retreat? What do you envision? How will you prepare? I’d love to hear from you.

Which Book Should I Write?

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Hmmm...which book should I write?

People often come to me with more than one great book idea.  One thing I do as a writing coach is help them evaluate which book to write. Here are a few ways to evaluate for starters:

1. Goal based:

  • Identify Your Goals.
  • Evaluate each book project on how well it meets your goals.
  • If there’s a tie, of the two or three that meet your goals best, which do you feel most excited about?

2. Passion  based: On a scale of 1-10, ten being most inspiring, rate each potential book project. Which ones are a ten? If none is a ten, ask yourself, what’s missing? What could make this a ten?

3. Market based: Answer these questions:

  • Who’s your natural audience?
  • Who do you tend to work with or whom do you want to work with in the future?
  • What are their biggest challenges or problems (in their eyes and their own words)?
  • Which of your book ideas would help them solve these problems or address their challenges and offer the results or benefits they’re looking for?

I’ll often help them understand what factors might make the book more sell-able in the current market, but, ultimately, I also want them to look within. I often take them through a visualized journey where they connect with their muse. If their muse contradicts my advice? I say,  go with your muse.

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