Lisa Tener

Book Writing Coach

Writing Challenges

Pitch Your Book to Life Contest: Feedback on a Few We Missed and…

by

Lisa Tener book pitch contest
Your Book Writing Coach Lisa Tener

Whoops, As I reviewed the inspiring entries in our Pitch Your Book to Life Contest, I realized that a few did not make it onto the blog. So, here is my feedback on several more inspiring and terrific entries.

Title: The Cheater Whisperer: Inside the Minds of the Unfaithful
by Abby Rodman
Pitch: According to some statistics, nearly 80 percent of married men have cheated on their spouses. The percentage of women isn’t far behind. As a psychotherapist, I have years of specialized experience working with the unfaithful. Why do people cheat? What drives their behaviors? What makes it so hard for them to stop? This book takes a unique look at the struggles of the cheater and the existential crisis that inevitably comes with the decision to be unfaithful. Victims of infidelity will gain knowledge and perspective on their partner’s behaviors. This is an eye-opening look at the feel good/feel bad world of the cheater. It also explores why, largely due to technology, infidelity is America’s new epidemic…and why we need a cure.
Abby, this is a very compelling concept. I think I’d like to see the word “psychotherapist” in the title, because it gives us a sense of whose perspective. While The Cheater Whispereris somewhat catchy, there’s a way we’ve heard “whisperer” before—a one word title might be even more catchy and fresher. Also, the book shares why we need a cure, but does it offer some insights into cures? Readers may find that especially compelling.
come alive book
Photo courtesy of David Donohue

Title:  Come Alive Inside Out: A Practical and Fresh Outlook on Perspective and Choice by Karen Myers

Pitch: The problem today is people’s lives have become increasingly empty – they are doing more, ‘feeling’ less and struggle with finding meaningful purpose in their lives. Written for the spiritual novice and filled with personal anecdotes and resources throughout, this simple yet inspiring book guides the reader to unlock their inner power by ‘choosing’ how to view their life experiences while controlling what they can and letting go of what they can’t. Using her term ‘Perspective Specs’, Karen illustrates how readers can improve their ‘internal’ environment simply by modifying the lens inside themselves rather than seeking outside sources for the fulfillment they desire. Throughout the book, the reader is guided through stories whereby the ultimate choice is defining ALIVE as simply existing or defining it as full of energy, spirit and purpose. Through awareness and understanding that one’s perspective is a choice, readers are transformed inside out.
Karen, I like the title. I’d like to see the subtitle be more benefits oriented—what will readers get out of this book. Your pitch is more clear, but title doesn’t quite tell us enough. Also, being familiar with the stories in your book, I know there’s some great humor there–let that come across in your pitch.
Title: 143 Bridge Street
by Sheila Sullivan
Pitch: All American girl, an idyllic seaside community, surrounded by family and friends – suddenly and stunningly her life is forever changed by the discovery of her beloved mother dead. Her life moves on without her.A marriage and pregnancy produce the most glorious period in her young life yet postpartum depression and psychosis, hospitalizations, drugs and shock treatments lead her on a path seeking truth.She meets an irresistible handsome stranger on a bus, tattooed, redneck, an unlikely suitor that unpredictably triggers trauma that will lead her to the truth.
Sheila, this sounds intriguing. It certainly draws me in to want to know more. Is it fiction or nonfiction?
I think we’ve got everyone now. If you’ve entered the contest and you haven’t seen feedback on your book on the blog, please do let me know! Now it’s time for voting. Please vote, tell your friends to vote and please spread the word on Facebook, though e-mail. However, you can! Thanks. 

Write a Book? What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

by

Book writing coach Lisa Tener
Your Book Writing Coach

During a consultation with a newly enrolled Bring Your Book to  Life participant, Ariel  shyly admitted that she was a bit afraid I might give her a hard time for not getting started on the course materials before our session. After all, she’d been beating herself up for days. Wouldn’t I do the same?

Ariel committed to my book writing program and then her life seemed to fill with other commitments–a trip to Europe for work, trips to visit family members and, of course, all those little interruptions that make it impossible to get started–meal preparation, errands, a client project…you can fill in the blanks.

I assured Ariel that her experience was common. And we did some brainstorming. I encouraged Ariel to use her plane time to work through the preliminary course materials and enjoy the process of getting clear about her book concept and structure. She began to get excited about the upcoming trip and the way she could fit her book into her travel schedule.

meet your muse visualization for writers
Meet your writing muse to get clarity and overcome writing blocks. Photo by David Donohue.

I also introduced Ariel to my favorite client exercise: Meet Your Muse. I took her through a visualization from meadow to woods to a clearing and a small building where her muse was already waiting for her. For some people their muse is a totem animal–hawk, bear or even mouse. For others, it’s a wise being, an elder, a jester, their wiser self. And for still others the muse may be light, a color or just a sense of connecting with something bigger than their everyday self.

Ariel’s  muse told her the real culprit was her fear blocking her. She could feel those people in her life who’d told her she couldn’t–those judgmental adults from childhood she carried around within her psyche. I had her ask her muse to help her start to let go of that and she could feel the knot in her stomach start to unwind.

writing muse as hawk
Your muse may be a totem animal, wise being or just a felt sense of connecting with something greater than yourself.

Ariel’s muse hugged her and told her, “Yes, you can write this book. And you don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Ariel thanked me for creating a safe space where she could “mess up” and not be doing things perfectly and I pointed out that she was doing it perfectly. It turns out that the exact steps she needed to go through were the steps she needed to take her readers to go through in order to benefit from the advice in her own book. Her process was important not just for her (breaking through old blocks and belief systems and expanding into her own personal power), but important for the light it will shed on her own readers’ processes.

your writing muse
One client's muse was a bird that turned into a person when she spoke to it. Photo by David Donohue.

After clearing her fears, Ariel realized she could commit Tuesday and Thursday nights to writing. From years of experience I know that evenings can be challenging, even to a night owl, and suggested she first find some time to rejuvenate before the writing–a walk outdoors, a meditation, listening to my Meet Your Muse meditation (a free download) or playing some relaxing music. This activity could provide a supportive transition to come to the writing with renewed energy.

Meet your muse visualization for writers

If you’re experiencing any challenges that are making it hard to write, I recommend a similar process to Ariel’s. First do some practical brainstorming about what you can do and then go to your muse to tap into your creative inner wisdom.

Are you beating yourself up or allowing your process to unfold? Yes, there will be a time for deadlines, schedules, holding yourself to commitments, but perhaps first you need to create the space to work through something. I invite you to listen to this downloadable gift from me–my Meet Your Writing Muse visualization and experience a shift that can help you get your book written–a compelling and powerful book that makes a difference in the world.

And please do share what you’ve done to move out of fear, transform blocks and get writing, as well as any insights you’ve received from your writing muse.

How to Write a Book: Video Answers to Your Book Writing and Publishing Questions

by

 

book writing coach lisa tener
I'm here to answer your book writing questions--check out the new video answers!

When you’re writing a book, many questions crop up—from those first steps to get started to more specific issues like whether to collaborate with a co-author (and how to find one) to whether it’s worth getting an agent or traditional publisher. Over the past week and a half, I’ve answered 6 of your questions via video on my book writing page on Facebook.

Responses have been terrific! I look forward to posting a couple more videos and giving you some of my most effective tips for starting and writing a book on the “Birth Your Book” call, March 7.

In this video, I answered the question: “Is it even worth trying to find a regular publisher these days?”

In this second video, Sue, Emma, Fred, and Terry asked for my best tips for staying focused and making progress on their books.

 

book writing telseminar
Sign up today for our free teleseminar (you just might win a prize on the call!)

More videos coming! View all of them on our Facebook page: Lisa Tener: Bring Your Book to Life and please ask your book writing and publishing questions—either here or on the page and I will answer.

How to Edit a Nonfiction Book…One Step at a Time

by

book editing can be fun
Almost everyone’s eyes glaze over when I say the word “editing.” Even this guy! Photo credit: David Donohue: http://www.fotosbydavid.com/

Editing your how-to book or memoir is crucial for writing a compelling, clear and successful book. Yet, writers often feel overwhelmed when they even think about editing a book. While I highly recommend hiring a qualified book editor (get references), you will actually get much more out of the experience if you do some of your own editing first. Then your book editor can focus on the finer points of the writing.

To be clear, I am not talking about early stage developmental editing (structuring the book). Ideally, that should be done at the start of your process if you need help with it. Rather, the focus here is on clear writing, flow and wordsmithing.

You’ll probably do some editing chapter by chapter as you write the nonfiction book…and then several more rounds once the whole book is written and you receive feedback from readers in your target market.

Whether you are editing each chapter as you go along, or waiting until you finish a first draft of the entire book (either is fine), I suggest you go through several times and, in each pass, focus on one or two book editing issues:

 

editing to make your words paint a picture, David Donohue photo
Your words should paint a picture for the reader and bring your book to life. Photo Credit: David Donohue http://www.fotosbydavid.com/

First pass: Focus on clarity. Is the writing clear? Where might the reader get confused? Get reader feedback for this. In addition, you can have someone read aloud to you and it will often be clear where they are confused or misread something.

Second pass: VERBS: Eliminate as many generic verbs as possible and replace with active and action-oriented verbs. Verbs give your writing energy.  Do a FIND in Microsoft word for verbs like “is” “was” “had” “has” “could” “are” etc.

See if you can easily replace these with more energized verbs. Just about anything is more energizing than these verbs, even the word “feel” or “felt” though don’t overuse that one.  In some cases, you may need to change the structure of a sentence and make the subject the object or vice versa.

 

Editing is like this photo by David donohue: paint a picture with specific detail
Find one quirky detail to make a description come alive. Less is often more. Photo Credit: David Donohue: http://www.fotosbydavid.com/

Third Pass: Show vs. Tell: This edit can take a while. See where you spoon feed the reader rather than making the writing come alive so that the reader can draw his or her own conclusions. Statistics can paint a picture, as can descriptions that access the different senses. You don’t want to overdo descriptions–just pick the most pertinent–or even quirky–details. More on show vs. tell can be found on this post about secrets to compelling writing.

Fourth Pass: Tight Writing: Here’s where you ask yourself, “How can I say this more succinctly?” “Are there any obvious words I can just delete?”  “Where can I simplify?”

Fifth Pass: Read Aloud and Listen for Blips and Bumps: See if you misread any part of the manuscript. Also notice where you trip up or break the flow. Notice if anything just doesn’t quite sound right. Tweak.

Have any favorite book editing tips I left out? Any questions on editing a nonfiction book (how-to, self-help or memoir)? Please share as a comment. Thanks.

How to Fund Your Book Project

by

Scott funded his book through a Kick Starter campaign

Years ago, photographer Scott Indermaur told me of his dream of putting his photographs from the REVEALED Project into a book. Not easy getting a publisher for a photography book in this competitive market and economy.

And, of course, self publishing a photography book full of photos on high quality paper  is a much more expensive endeavor than self-publishing a how-to book.  So, that seemed out of the question, until Scott discovered KickStarter and put together his own funding campaign to underwrite the project and make his book a reality.

Last fall I received the request that went out to Scott’s entire list–and subsequently many of our friends–and I “invested” in his book. In fact, I will soon receive my free copy now that the book is fully funded. How exciting to be one of the people in this grassroots movement to get this inspiring book out there.

One of my favorites of Mimi's sculptures

Dylan Howard, who is filming a documentary about my mother-in-law’s art and her work for peace–Anne Mimi Sammis, painter, sculptor and host of PBS-TV’s Love to Paint with Mimi discovered Indie Go Go as a similar fundraising site for the arts. The documentary, which is being filmed in conjunction with PBS-TV in RI, has raised about 34% of its funding goal.

You may remember Mimi from the beautiful image of her painting of birches in winter that I sent out in my e-holiday card. Perhaps you’ll join me in supporting this project or another. And if you’re looking to fund your own project, check out KickStarter and IndieGoGo which make it easy for community to gather together and help you make your dream come true–and create the impact you know you can make with your book, film or art.

 

 

Inspired to Write: How to Keep the Juices Flowing

by

book writing coach lisa tener
Your Book Writing Coach

Writing Strategies for Staying Inspired

While preparing to teach Inspired to Write tomorrow, I’ve been thinking about the importance of support in keeping our writing juices flowing. It seems to me a challenge all writers struggle with.

I thought I’d share some of the writing strategies I use myself and those I use with my private clients and in my book writing classes.

1. Find a Buddy: About 98% of the population needs some accountability to get their book (or other writing project) done. Buddies can support each other to overcome any challenges, make suggestions and offers solutions that you may not be able to see yourself and inspire you to do the writing you committed to each week. You can even meet at a cafe and write simultaneously. And a buddy is free!

Writing with a collaborator offers many rewards.

2. Engage a Collaborator. Granted, this strategy is not for the faint of heart. Collaborating takes good judgement in choosing a collaborator, a commitment to clear communication and working out the often-inevitable human challenges that can come up when working closely with someone. However, it can also be incredibly rewarding. My first book was written with two collaborators. My course materials were originally written with a collaborator and the book I am currently working on is being written with a collaborator.

Why? Three reasons:

  • Often, you can write a stronger book when you have people with varying expertise and perspectives.
  • Having that level of being accountable to someone moves me to action.
  • It’s more fun and co-creative!
book writing program
Participants in My Bring Your Book to Life Program in Narragansett

3. Join a Writing Program or Take a Writing Class:  Here’s another strategy with multiple benefits:

  • A supportive community uplifts and inspires.
  • The feedback of a writing course provides multiple perspectives, increased creativity and new ideas, resulting in a better book (or article or blog post, etc.).
  • When you fall down, there are people to make sure you get back up. If you have a week where you don’t write, you have built in support to get back in the game.
  • Your classmates and teachers offer a refreshing challenge to any voices in your head that say, “I can’t” or “I’m not good  enough.” Your colleagues can help you see your strengths.
  • A gifted and knowledgeable teacher will help you hone your writing skills and ability.

4. Find a Mentor, Coach or Editor: This person can provide support, accountability and technical skills. They can also help you problem solve to overcome any challenges.

5. Connect with Your Muse: We all have that creative part of us and inner knowing that can support us through any creative challenges. If you find yourself losing touch with that part of you, sit quietly, close your eyes and take an inner journey to connect. If this exercise sounds fun, try this free guided visualization for writers.

If the idea of a writing class or book writing program inspires you, consider my Bring Your Book to Life Program.

 

 

Write a Book
Courses + Programs
Services + Successes

Contact Lisa

Screen Shot 2020-09-07 at 10.05.50 PM