Lisa Tener

Book Writing Coach

Writing Challenges

Writing, Editing and Style: How Important is Tight Writing and Structure?

by

 

Your Book Writing Coach

I recently finished reading a moving memoir I happened upon through a newsletter subscriber. It’s written by an artist and I felt as if I were visiting with an old friend, vicariously enjoying her friendships and journey of personal growth.

The writing wasn’t crisp or particularly well organized, but I enjoyed the book just the same for the way the author’s openness, attitude and artist’s perspective shined through every word and the extreme experiences she survived and even thrived in.

writing for healing
If you're writing for your own personal healing, editing may not be a crucial step. Photo credit David Donohue: http://www.fotosbydavid.com/

It got me to thinking about writing quality and what standards we might have for ourselves as authors. Does a book need to be tight, perfect and well structured?

That depends on your goals. If you write to heal your own life or you write to inspire others with your story, maybe not.

If you are building a business or a brand as a speaker, entrepreneur or consultant, it better be as tight and polished as it can be–so you give an impression of excellence all around. Quality of writing and even the craft will reflect on your brand.

book writing vision
Reflect on your big picture vision for your book. If you're building your brand, building your expert credentials or writing for a large audience, editing becomes crucial. Photo credit David Donohue: http://www.fotosbydavid.com/

And, if you want to reach the greatest number of people as possible–certainly if you want to write a bestseller–make that additional investment of time and editing resources.

So many of our writing decisions depend on our goals. Whenever you are making decisions about your book, go back to your big vision and specific goals and the decision will become clearer.

What are your goals? Share here…or ask any editing questions as well. I’m happy to answer.

How to Make Time for Your Book: Charge More Money

by

lisa tener writing coach
Your Book Writing Coach

During our first coaching session, a new client confided that she wanted to make her book a priority but her freelancing consulting job paid the bills–how could she reduce work hours, increase writing and platform building hours and pay her bills?

“Can you charge more?”

Turns out she could–her skills are in high demand. Not only did she make a commitment to charge more, but the next day she wrote me, “I wanted to share with you…I heard from a friend I used to work with a few years ago today. I haven’t talked to him in close to 3 years. Turns out he started a consulting practice and asked me if I was looking for a change. He tossed out a high level hourly in a range that would help out a lot.”

Amazing how quickly we can manifest when we just put it out there. If you’re having trouble finding the time and energy to write because of your day job, particularly if you are freelancing or a solopreneur, consider giving yourself a raise. And then reduce your work hours to make time for your book. Remember what a difference your book will make in your life and the lives of your readers.

Another nifty thing about raising your rates is that it will almost invariably attract high quality clients. Every time I raised my rates, I ended up attracting people who were writing especially interesting books, paid on time (or ahead of time), had achieved a great degree of success already and were ready, willing and able to apply themselves to be successful as an author.

I predict that your high-paying clients are likely to be many of your best as well.

How to Write a Self-Help Book: What Readers Expect

by

book writing coach lisa tener
Your Book Writing Coach

I’m teaching an informal book writing teleseminar this summer for Bring Your Book to Life graduates who are editing their first drafts and a few beginners. One person who wants to turn her workshops into a book asked what readers might be expecting and how to form her workshops into a book that truly resonates for her readers.

Here’s my answer–and your glimpse into your readers’ minds and hearts. Your readers are asking:

1. What pain or problem will this book help me solve?

2. What results/benefits can I expect?

3. Why are you the person who can help me with this?

writing for your reader
Imagine your reader in your mind's eye. What do they think? Feel? Need? Want? Give it to them. Photo: David Donohue http://www.fotosbydavid.com/

4. Help me overcome any obstacles or objections (“It’s too hard,” “I can’t do this,” etc.).

5. Give stories/examples throughout to illustrate, make it real for me, help me apply it to my life and show me that you have experience (i.e. establish credibility).

6. Show me how I can achieve this (a plan, exercises, steps, etc.).

7. Help me trust you.

8. Speak my language.

how to write a book
Make your book fun for your readers. Maybe even be playful. Photo: Erica Collins

9. Give examples I can relate to.

10. Make it straightforward, provide clarity and a sense of ease.

11. Give me confidence.

12. Make it creative, inviting or fun (or all three!).

Ask your questions or share ideas as a comment below.

Joining the James Frey: Is it Okay to Lie in Your Memoir?

by

James Frey's Fictionalized Memoir (or Memoirized Fiction?)

Oprah’s interviews with James Frey and the recent article in Salon about his first interview with Oprah drew intense emotions on both sides of the issue. Some say memoir is fiction anyway–who can really remember honestly exactly what happened in one’s life? So what’s a little tinkering with truth?  Others say James Frey is ruining it for everyone (everyone being serious writers of memoir) because as readers question the veracity of all memoirs, memoirs lose their power–why not just read fiction? And some say, “Who cares?”

I’m in the “I care” camp. While there’s no way to capture “the absolute truth” and certain conventions, like dialogue, are generally understood to be an approximation of a conversation colored by the memory and perception of the author, there’s a difference between getting as close to the truth as you can and out and out lying.

Frey told Oprah, “I don’t have a lot of respect for memoir. I think most writers of memoirs do what I do. You play around with things. You tell the best story you can.” Whoa, sounds like a bit of a sociopath to me. But it does beg the question new writers often ask me:

“What can I (and can’t I) do with the truth in my memoir?”

Here are my suggestions:

  • In general, don’t make stuff up about people and don’t make up characters–that’s fiction.
  • Which brings me to my next point. When is it okay to make stuff up? When you tell your readers up front. If you want to protect someone’s identity, have a note at the beginning of the book  saying that you changed some identifying information about a person–and change a few details so they won’t be recognized.
  • Too many characters? I’d say it’s okay to do what Shirley MacLaine did in Out on a Limb–she offered an author’s note at the beginning that said one of the characters in the book was fictional, but was a composite of several true friends of hers. The events were real, but in the interest of narrative she made these different friends all one character. Why is it okay? Because she told us up front! If she hadn’t, it wouldn’t be okay.
  • Verify whatever information you can–dates, weather, whether a particular song was even out the year that you’re writing about. Anything that doesn’t fit with the truth will call your whole story into question–so research the details you think you remember to make sure you’re as accurate as can be.

What if you can’t quite remember what happened? As you write, experiment. See if you can:

1. Interview others from your past who may be able to jog your memory.

2. Visit places that may help you remember details.

3. Start writing about the parts you do remember.

What if your story includes someone else’s? One of my book writing course participants wanted to include some of her mother’s story in her memoir. She interviewed her mother but there were important gaps. She told the story, spelling out that she imagined much of that chapter based on the information her mom had given her.

Why didn’t Frey sell his book as fiction? He tried and he couldn’t.

Does it pay to lie? It seemed so when Frey’s book made him millions. But now that he’s involved in lawsuits, it seems that Karma may catch up with the uber-creative memoirist. If you really want to make stuff up, do so–just call it fiction.

 

Why Aren’t You Writing? Afraid?

by

Your Book Writing Coach

When you start writing a book, your demons will come up. That’s a good thing. You get to clear them. However, you often have to name them before you can clear them.

Here are two demons that almost everyone grapples with–just two sides of the same coin: Fear of Success and Fear of Failure.

Over the past couple weeks, a participant in my Bring Your Book to Life Program found himself severely challenged in making progress on his book. We did some work with his “muse” and got powerful answers about how to get back to the writing flow he experienced earlier on in the course. But I had a feeling the Fear of Success and Failure Demon lurked somewhere as well.

I asked him about it and he said, “I thought of that. Yes.” We went back to his muse to unblock.

His answer to the fear was to ask two questions:
1. What’s the worst thing that can happen [if I fail]?
2. What’s the best thing that can happen?

The answer to question 1: “Nothing. I’m right where I am, which is not all bad.”

Holding published books by Write Your Book Clients. Is yours next?

His answer to question 2: “It’s tremendous. I’m in front of the room having fun, laughing, joking, teaching and improving lives. And getting paid to do it. The money is important but more important is helping people.”

I asked him to connect to the second image before he writes each day. To feel how good it feels and set himself up for that success. I also suggested he start the morning envisioning himself writing with ease–feeling inspired, the words flow, and he enjoys uninterrupted writing time.

What’s your worst case/best case scenario? How can you set yourself up for success? What are you envisioning to start your day or writing time?

Need Research for Your Book? Hire an Intern

by

Research can be one of the most time consuming parts of book writing–and  can put the kibosh on the whole idea. How freeing would it be to find someone else to do that research for you?

Here are a few things you need to know when hiring an intern:

1. Often, universities have an online form to fill out and students can read about your project. Check out some local colleges (although they don’t need to be local to do research, it may be helpful to simplify your parameters).

2. Some colleges even have “for credit” internships where you may not need a to pay for the assistance. However, you need to be sure you’ll be teaching the student through the internship: if the position requires them to do everything themselves without supervision and training, it probably won’t quality as a for-credit internship, nor should it.

3. Make sure you get references. A poor intern can take more time than doing the research yourself. A great intern is worth their weight in gold (I have a great intern!).

4. You might also ask colleagues if they know of a bright, skilled college or high school student.

5. If you’re paying the student, you may want to do a test run and give them a small project to see how they do with it. This can save valuable time for both of you, especially if it doesn’t work out, you won’t have invested too much. In a for credit internship, you probably can’t do the test run.

6. Here are questions to ask references:

– Would you hire this person for a job?

– What are their strengths?

– What areas do they need to work on?

– Did they complete projects on time?

– Did they show up for all meetings?

– Are they self-directed or do they require a great deal of supervision?

We have a wonderful student intern at Write Your Book, University of Rhode Island student Rachel Horwitz. You’ll be hearing from Rachel over the next week as she shares some gems from Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing course.

If you’ve hired an intern, any advice you would add? If you haven’t, any questions you have about hiring an intern to help research your book?

Write a Book
Courses + Programs
Services + Successes

Contact Lisa

Screen Shot 2020-09-07 at 10.05.50 PM