Lisa Tener

Book Writing Coach

Writing in the Zone

How Carol Lambert Got Unstuck, Finished Her Book Proposal and Signed a Book Deal

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Carol-lambertjpegCarol Got Unstuck

“Last summer I imagined being 80 years old and asked myself, ‘What regrets would I have?’ Not finishing and publishing my book. That would be a big regret.” Carol A. Lambert’s work on her book and book proposal had slowed down due to a couple of personal transitions.

“Life got in the way. My progress was slow, on and off.”

When she anticipated the potential regret of not finishing, Carol decided to make the book a priority again.

“I felt stuck, though, not as energized. Then I got an email to sign up for the free call Writing in the Zone.” That call inspired Carol to sign up for the series of the same name.

The 6 Elements That Got Carol Unstuck

women-with-controlling-partners
Carol’s book

Several elements of Writing in the Zone helped Carol overcome her writing challenges:

1. Passion: “Writing in the Zone helped me find my way back to my passion.”

2. Commitment: “I needed a committed way to make it happen. In the class, I made a commitment to the process, to Lisa and to my accountability partner. That worked. It helped me follow through.”

3. Structure: “The structure kept me on task. Weekly calls with my accountability partner also made it easy to stay on track.”

4. Community: “When my partner felt a lack of confidence and asked, ‘Who am I to write a book?’ I sent her the Marianne Williamson quote, ‘Who are you not to…?'” The mutual support, just 15 minutes a week, energized Carol.

5. Vision: “I loved the exercise of creating a vision statement. And hearing other people’s vision statements also helped me clarify mine.”

6. Momentum: “The focus on gratitude at the end of each writing session left me feeling inspired and grateful instead of disappointed. That was very powerful for me. Writing in the Zone got me unstuck and carried me through the rest of the process.”

In Carol’s case, after she got unstuck, “the rest of the process” meant completing a book proposal with brainstorming, guidance and feedback from me. We queried two acquisitions editors I knew and Carol received offers from both publishers. Both publishers were very excited about Carol’s book, Women with Controlling Partners and Carol and I are thrilled with the level of passion and resources that New Harbinger brought to publishing and promoting her book. publisher logo

November 2017 Update:

Carol’s book is now published and you can buy it here.

While I am not currently teaching Writing in the Zone, I will be teaching Bring Your Book to Life® in February and it’s not too early to sign up and begin the private work with me to get started!

Don’t Believe Stephen King

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on writing by stephen kingOn a consultation call today with a new client, she’d mentioned that her self-confidence took a nosedive today.  On reading, On Writing, by Stephen King–a fabulous book about writing well, by the way–she was crestfallen by his pronouncement that you’re not really a writer unless you write every day.

Rubbish.

First of all, are you solely a writer? Or do you have another business? Perhaps you are a therapist, doctor, lawyer, coach, entrepreneur or stay at home mom…Well, Mr. King is a full time writer.

Mr. King primarily writes fiction. You, most likely, are writing about your life, your work, your clients, a systematic approach to solve a particular problem.

Mr. King is prolific. Maybe you have one book in you, maybe more. You’re probably not going to write as many as he does.

Do you need to write regularly to be a writer? Consistently? Yes. Maybe every day, but maybe once or twice a week at times, then more consistently when you are focusing on the book.

You will likely have an editor to tease out the best in your writing–to help you dive deeper for the quirky and meaningful details that will make your writing come to life. You don’t have to be a perfect writer. You’ll get help along the way.

Mr. King has some of the best advice on writing–ever. And it’s not a bad idea to write every day if you can. But it doesn’t mean you’re not a writer if you’re not writing every day.

Lisa Tener book writing programOne piece of advice I shared with the writer during her consultation is that self-doubt will inevitably arise for you as a writer. You need practices to lift you, to keep you in touch with your source of inspiration, to connect you with your deeper wisdom in order to counteract what some people call the “inner critic.”  You don’t want to wait until the inner critic is upon you to develop this muscle for feeling connected.

In a few weeks, a group of writers–who are also business people, therapists, entrepreneurs, moms, coaches and other things–will come together for Writing in the Zone. Perhaps you will join us for this interactive 3-week teleseminar series. I’ll be sharing my 5 step system for Writing in the Zone consistently–a system that helps you connect with your inspiration and passion, and also provides a foundation to stay strong when the inner critic does strike.

This 5-step system will help you write with ease from a space of inspiration whether you write every day or write once or twice a week.

And if you need self-confidence, or there are other issues in your way, you’ll find tons of support–from me, from the community and from your inner MUSE, which I will help you connect with. I also just added an optional accountability element that works so effectively in my Stevie Award-Winning Bring Your Book to Life(R) Program to help you be productive and get the most out of the class.

You can read more here to discover if Writing in the Zone is for you. And feel free to ask questions here or e-mail me to explore. Class begins October 30. On the page that describes the program you will also find different options, including a private consultation with me. Share your comments and questions below…I’m happy to answer them–and I’d love to help you consistently write in the zone.

Julia Griffin on Writing Flow and the Power of Inner Connection

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Julia GriffinMy life, my work, my relationships and my writing have all reached new heights since I began working with Julia Griffin. I have recommended her intuitive services to many clients who have since reached new heights in their work, writing and lives. So, when she asked me to be part of the Power of Inner Connection Telesummit, I didn’t have to check my schedule before I said a big “YES.”

I’m absolutely thrilled to be sharing about Finding the Inner Muse and Writing in the Zone on July 23–and there are 22 more reasons (interviews) for you to sign up for this FREE telesummit that can add more love, beauty, connection and joy to your writing and your life. Here, I interview Julia Griffin about the telesummit, specifically what writers may find beneficial in it, and how she taps into a heightened state for writing.

Lisa: The Power of Inner Connection telesummit is about living life from a heightened state of awareness. Can you say more about that state and what it feels like?

Julia: Everyone has experienced the flow at least once—when life feels graced. Everything falls into place at the right time. There’s also a sensation of light and joy. Children experience this naturally.

Lisa: As a writer, how do you tap into that state consistently? Do you have a specific practice or practices that help? And when do you do those practices?

Julia: Tapping into an awakened state is a practice. Sometimes, it comes easily—other times, it doesn’t.

The state of flow is most easily accessed when I truly want to express the feelings and thoughts of my heart. Meditating on my heart as well as the unconditional love of the universe helps most in my practice. I also have to maintain faith in my ability to do so.

When it doesn’t occur easily, I stay at the computer until the words come.

Lisa: That’s so key. Sometimes it’s tempting to give up too soon, if you’re not tapping into that writing flow. What do you notice about your writing when you do write from that state of being?

Julia: The words transmit far more feeling, emotion, and sensation than when I write from my ordinary mind. I feel I’m reaching into a force much larger than myself, and I feel thrilled when I can touch it and form it into words. It feels ecstatic.

Lisa: I love when I can write myself into that ecstatic state. I believe that readers tap into that when you enter that state of writing flow. You have 23 speakers and topics for the Power of Inner Connection telesummit–can you share which ones are especially beneficial and powerful for authors or aspiring authors?

Julia: Mark Borax worked with Ray Bradbury. His words are both eloquent and poignant—as is his writing (do read his books.) Lisa – you share your insights about creating artistic works and finding the Muse. Lucia Rene speaks about the invisible world, the power of light in an incredibly beautiful voice that touches the soul.

Cynthia Segal expresses joy exquisitely. Cara Bradley shares her insights on stillness, a quality necessary for good writing. Simran Singh explains how passion moves us into the unknown. We move into the unknown—unexplored territory—when we tap into our souls while reaching for words. Donna Carey and Ellen Franklin explain sound in their unique, melodious voices and how it can open us to our true nature. Monica Strobel shares the power of positive words, which is helpful in writing and life.

Lisa: Wow, I can’t wait to listen to these interviews myself. What inspired the Power of Inner Connection telesummit?

Julia: The summit was initially an assignment in a class based on building a platform. We were encouraged to choose a topic that spoke to us—something that invoked our passion.

Connection, particularly spiritual connection, is important to me. It involves many aspects of consciousness, including emotions, physicality, communication, and the development of heightened awareness.

Once you’ve experienced that state, you want it for everyone. You want it for the world. Part of your life work involves sharing the concept.

Lisa: What made you decide upon a telesummit as a platform-building strategy, as opposed to some other strategies?

Julia: I love meeting people. I love the exchange of ideas that can take place in a conversation with an enlightened person or someone who understands the value of focusing on the positive side of life.

It’s simply the best! The idea of people joining together with a uplifting message also meets my criteria for a better world.

Lisa: Anything else that you’re particularly excited about regarding the Power of Inner Connection telesummit?

Julia: I feel happy about possible benefits for the listeners, the exchange of knowledge, and the possibility of opening up to the beautiful flow of life. Group energy is powerful, and I look forward to the connection.

Lisa: Anything you’d like to add about this state of inner connection—or the telesummit, in general?

Julia: The flow comes from universal connection. It’s available to all. It illuminates our lives with beauty, peace, and joy. It connects us with everything—the One and All.

We see and feel currents of energy, the light underlying everything. Everyone can experience awakening—if they want it. On a spiritual level, we say this current is transmitted by individuals who experience it often. By listening to the speakers, you can feel, replicate, and enlarge the current of the “flow.”

Lisa: As someone who’s worked with you personally, I can attest to how you are able to share your experience and help others access a heightened state of flow in life. I’m so looking forward to this telesummit which explores that kind of connection from many angles and offers tools to help us access it for writing, creativity, relationships and life.

Join the Power of Inner Connection Telesummit here. It’s free.

And, readers, please share your experiences of writing or living in a heightened state.

 

How to Make Money Writing, Teaching, Editing, and Doing What You Love , Part 2

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Book writing coach lisa tener
Your Book Writing Coach

As I prepare to offer a presentation at The San Francisco Writers Conference on The 6-Figure Author: 21 Principles to Make Money Writing, Teaching, Editing and Doing What You Love, I’ve been thinking a great deal on all the lessons I’ve learned to become a 6-figure writer and the people who helped me get there. I think it’s time I introduced you to some of the wisdom of a few of those folks, two of whom will be presenting at the San Francisco Writer’s Conference.

So, let’s assume you read my last post–also on how to make money writing, editing, teaching and doing what you love–and you understand how to price your services based on value–and how to increase the value of your skills and talents. What next? Next, I’d like you to focus just a little on marketing. I know, marketing is worse than a four letter word  to many people. Maybe you’re one of them.

Last year, I worked with a consultant who suggested I apply for three awards, one in the category “marketing.” I felt a little uncomfortable about it but she convinced me. Then, the craziest thing happened: I won Marketer of the Year – Media for my size company (small) from the American Business Awards. It was the GOLD Stevie Award. And, yes, I felt excited, but I also felt a little embarrassed. The worse-than-a-four-letter-word thing.

So, I had to take a day or two and get my head around what I know marketing truly is–and not the dirty word some folks have made it into. At the heart of marketing is service–understanding who you are serving, what they need and want, what keeps them up at night–and then delivering that to them, with a smile, with some panache, perhaps. Listening when your market–the people you serve–have something to tell you. And, yes, marketing is about helping them find you!

In that vein, I thought about some of the many people who taught me about marketing along the way. Here are five people I believe are great at marketing–and what they’ve taught me about serving and succeeding:

Linda Joy

Linda Joy: Linda taught me many things about marketing. One of them is to ask people to help you spread the word about your services. Ask your former or current clients, ask the people who referred them in the first place. You’re offering them not only a chance to help you, but a chance to help the person they refer.

 

julia3Julia Griffin: Julia is a mentor extraordinaire. She’s taught me about enjoying everything in life more–and having success in bringing my vision to fruition. Among the zillions of things I’ve learned from Julia is that less is more. It’s so easy to take on project after project, run yourself ragged and lose the ability to savor all the beautiful things about your life. One of the best things you  can do is to return to how you want your work to impact the people you serve. Spend time each day seeing your work making an impact for others. Tap into the feeling of what you’re helping your clients (or students) create–whether it’s a book, an article, a business memo or something else entirely. The more time you spend on this, the more easily the other marketing activities will flow–and the more effectively and efficiently you’ll achieve your vision–including a successful business.

Master Coach Jeanna GabeliniJeanna Gabellini: I’m taking Jeanna’s Healthy, Wealthy Launch class right now and I see how much fun Jeanna has in marketing her services. I’m sure–well, I hope–that you have fun writing, editing and/or teaching. Can you bring some of that same sense of fun to marketing? Take the edge off?

Rusty Shelton: Rusty was our publicist for The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger.  He was a dream to work with and our book got all kinds of national publicity–from a fabulous book review in the Chicago Tribune to a  quote in Glamour to a spot in USA Weekend–and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But his sense of service didn’t end when our contrRusty Shelton, Managing Director, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicistsact was over. He continued to send opportunities our way when they came up. As a result, I’ve become more than just a happy former client. I’m a huge fan and, of course, I recommend his services all the time–knowing that he will more than deliver for the authors I recommend him to.  Go the extra mile and people will do the same for you–and they’ll feel so good about recommending you knowing you will provide that same kind of value you gave to them.

Michael LarsenMichael Larsen: Mike was a “paper mentor” long before I met him in person. At the suggestion of literary agent Rita Rosenkranz, I purchased the second edition of How to Write a Book Proposal and–with my co-authors–got a book deal using his guidelines and examples. One thing Mike emphasizes every time I hear him speak is community. To be a successful writer, particularly in this time of ultra-connectivity, you need to connect–to writers, colleagues, mentors, clients and others. Communities will support your success–and that includes financial success.

san franisco writers conferenceSo, can you guess where I’m going with this? What better way to be in community than to attend a truly fabulous writers conference? Well, lucky you, there’s still space at the San Francisco Writers Conference where you can create community with other writers, bestselling authors, literary agents, acquisitions agents (publishers), business experts, publicists and all sorts of great and brilliant people who will be fellow travelers along your path. In fact, two of the mentors I mentioned above, Rusty Shelton and Michael Larsen, will be presenting at the conference (Mike is co-founder), so they can become part of your dynamic writing and publishing community!

Please do join me at the conference for THE SIX-FIGURE WRITER: 21 Principles for Making Money Writing, Teaching, Editing, and Doing What You Love where you’ll learn all 21 of my principles (and at least 3 bonus principles, because I keep getting more ideas!). You may also enjoy my half day pre-conference workshop on Thursday Feb. 13: Writing in the Zone:  5 Steps to Inspired Flow.

And, I want to tell you about all the amazing workshops, panels and opportunities to create community, but the easiest thing is really to go to the San Francisco Writers Conference website and see the schedule. Let me know if you’re coming! And please do share your comments below, particularly any marketing lessons you learned from your mentors or experiences.

Gratitude–A Powerful Way to “Write in the Zone”

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lisa tener writing coach
Your Writing Coach

In the  5-Step  system I formulated for Writing in the Zone, I suggest you end your writing time with giving thanks and feeling grateful for your writing session—the inspiration, the flow, the pages you wrote–whether you wrote 2 pages or 20–and even if you spent the time ruminating without writing.

The positive experience you evoke by feeling gratitude will set you up for success and flow the next time you write.

In Bring Your Book to Life class last Friday, Life Coach Bonnie Leonard shared that every evening she writes about 5 things she’s grateful for in her gratitude journal (in fact, this is one of the steps in her 9 week Reinvent Your Life Journaling Program). Not surprisingly, journaling about gratitude helps both her happiness and her writing.

5  Steps to Create Your Gratitude Journal

1. Find an inspiring book with blank pages. While a journal with a pretty cover image can work well, If you prefer, feel free to use a spiral notebook and decorate it with stickers or images to inspire you.

2.  Each evening, write about 5 things you are grateful for. They can be anything, but here’s one way to easily come up with your list:

*  A person you’re grateful to have in your life

*  A part of your body or body system that functions to support your well being (one day it can be your liver, the next day your circulatory system)

*  Something beautiful in nature

*  A lovely or useful object  in your home.

*  An event that happened that day–mundane or special–list any writing experience here!

3. While it’s fine to list things, you may also want to elaborate. The more you delve into the details of that specific thing, the more you will appreciate it.

4. Re-read your entry and allow yourself to feel the feeling of gratitude about each thing.

5. Each morning, re-read your list from the previous night. See if you want to add any additional things for the morning.

What are you grateful for in your writing practice? How about in your life? Share here and feel free to return to this page with more gratitude at any time. Putting it in writing adds power to the process. Sharing with others does, too.

Writing in the Zone…Again

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Are you writing in the zone?
Are you writing in the zone?

Last week in book writing class, management coach and HR consultant Carrie Beers shared how she found herself amidst intense turmoil at a time when she needed tranquility to foster her creative process. While having her home re-done, she’d temporarily “stored” boxes and piles everywhere, particularly in her office which seemed an uninviting place for inspired writing.

Carrie Beers finds inspiration through meeting her muse
Carrie Beers finds inspiration through meeting her muse

She remained determined to meet her commitments and work on a chapter of writing, but the environment seemed unlikely to support creative flow. And then…in the middle of all the chaos, she came upon her notes from my workshop “Writing in the Zone” which she had taken last year.

Carrie read through her notes and reconnected with her muse–that creative inner energy that seems all-knowing, wise and abundant. In the first workshop, her muse had seemed a bit more distant–vague–just a feeling and colors. But that subtle connection alone helped her to get in touch with the sense that it was finally time to begin writing her book.

cropped-road
Carrie took this photo on the way to class (though I can't seem to crop it right and do it justice)

In her office, surrounded by boxes, Carrie realized she needed to find a calmer space in her home to write. She retreated to her sun room and connected with her muse, a now familiar figure  in white, “always waiting for me, never walking away or towards me.”

Her muse encouraged her to quiet her mind. She handed Carrie a sea shell

a message in the sand from Carrie's muse?
a message in the sand from Carrie's muse?

and encouraged her to listen and let the book unfold.

I’m always impressed with the clarity and simplicity with which our muses convey information. Somehow, when the answers come, we don’t just get the understanding in our minds. Our hearts and very souls begin to own the answers. They become real, tangible and, therefore, easy to take root in our lives and our writing.

If you’re local enough (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut), I hope you’ll join me for a half day of inspired writing, learning my 5-step system for inspired writing, connecting with your muse in new, powerful ways, and making headway on a project or embracing a new project–maybe one you don’t even know about yet.

I’ll be teaching writing in the zone at All That Matters in Wakefield, RI on Sunday, February 28 from 12;30-4. If you can’t make it, feel free to ask any questions about writing in the zone on this blog–or tell me your writing challenge and I’ll suggest a solution!

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