Finding Clarity: The Value of Writing a Discovery Draft

My student, a high school senior stared at the paper in front of him, then up at me, then back down at his paper before dropping his head in his hands with all the drama of an annoyed seventeen year old, and mumbled, “What do I even do with this? I don’t know how to…

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Saying Goodbye to Creative Projects

It’s time to say goodbye to a project that I truly enjoyed doing…until I didn’t, my podcast Dear Creativity, Let’s Write. I haven’t published an episode in over a year, but I’ve held onto it because it was a lot of work! Can I just delete that? Also, what if I’m inspired again to do…

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Who is your book for? How to identify your ideal reader.

This weekend, I had a book coaching session with my own book coach. We were reviewing my Book Blueprint – the foundational pieces that need to be in place for a book to work. I’ve been trained in this methodology and have spent many many hours studying it and working with clients on it, so I…

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5 Ways to Ensure Your Book Adds to the Conversation in Your Topic

This afternoon my 20-something son Facetimed me. We talk on the phone and text quite often, but I hadn’t seen his face since August. I got totally distracted as soon as he popped onto the screen and started chatting. “Stop,” I finally interrupted him in mid-sentence. “Do you have a mullet?!?“ “Yeah!” He grinned, turning sideways, so I…

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How to Organize Research for Your Book

If you’re writing a book, at some point, you’ll need to research, whether it’s a tiny factoid to supplement a scene or story, or a deep dive into psychological studies to build your argument. Conducting research is part of the job description. The challenge comes in organizing the information so that we can find it…

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The Benefits of Writing a Book (beyond the sales)

When we think of writing a book, we often think of the final product and holding that completed book in our hands. It’s also what clients and potential clients often want when we first start working together. So much of the marketing for writing a nonfiction book centers on the financial or business benefits potential…

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