Help! I want to write a book. Do I have what it takes?

Have you felt inspired to write a book you believe will truly help people—even transform them—but you’re not sure you have what it takes? Well, once upon a time, this writing coach was in the exact same place, writing my very first book proposal.

What’s a Proposal (and why do I need one?)

Read this blog post to get an overview of why the industry relies on this business document to make decisions about whether or not to green light a book project.

Resolved to Write a Nonfiction Book This Year? Let’s Do the Math!

We’ll do the math together to determine the number of words you need to write each day to complete your book in the year ahead. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that this number is within reach. You can pull this off.

How to Structure Your Nonfiction Book

Your book needs form. It needs organization. It needs…structure. But how do you land on the best structure? How do you create it, craft it, build it? While there’s no one standard way to organize your material—there’s no one way to structure your nonfiction book—I offer four approaches you can take to determine what will work best for your work in progress.

Validate Your Idea to Produce Your Best Project (Back to Basics)

Before you get too far—before you write too much—you need to be sure this idea is going to fly with your audience. You need to validate it so you move forward with a concept that, depending on your purpose, will truly resonate, connect, teach, persuade, inform, or entertain. This post looks at three ways to validate project ideas. 

How to Get Your Nonfiction Book Traditionally Published

A writer reached out to me with news that she’s writing a nonfiction book and wants to be published. “What’s the process?” she asked. I’m happy to explain. I’ll cover the main steps to becoming a traditionally published author without going into minute detail. This post gives you—and her—a broad overview.

Prepare for Publishing with Insights from Literary Agent Lucinda Halpern

Literary agent Lucinda Halpern prepares us to navigate the industry and prepare for publishing. With her insights, we’ll position our project—and ourselves as authors—to pitch agents and get noticed. She reveals what literary agents are really looking for when it comes to platform and clears up the concern about how much or how little to share of your book’s ideas on social media. 

Find Your Book Midwife, Say “Yes” Before You’re Ready, Pitch to Build Platform, and Authentically Engage with Readers

For author Clarissa Moll, hiring a writing coach was like finding her book midwife, and she urges writers to seek that kind of intimate, knowledgeable support and input for their own writing and publishing journey. In this interview, Clarissa shares her approach to writing, platform, and publishing.

Winning Book Proposals Need These 3 Things

A convincing pitch followed by a polished, professional book proposal will do the work of “selling” your book to these decision-makers. Its job is to convince these agents and publishers you have what they’re looking for. That’s why you craft a compelling proposal. In it, you’ll describe your project, of course. But as you do, your proposal has to pull off three big things.

Craft Your Book’s Big Idea (3-day on-demand challenge)

My gift to you: a free, on-demand three-day challenge to help you dial in your book’s concept and hook—ideal if you feel like your idea is sprawling or you can’t easily talk about what your book is about.

Your Compelling Book Proposal (YCBP)

My signature program contains everything you need to create a quality, compelling book proposal — and you can choose from one of three levels of support (a little secret…the middle option, called “Proposal Support,” offers 6 one-hour coaching calls with me along with the full program, and is actually cheaper than purchasing six one-off calls with me).

7 Steps to a Clear Book Idea

When people ask, “What’s your book about?” do you find it challenging to answer their question? Do you struggle to articulate your idea? When you clarify and validate your book idea, you’ll not only be able to clearly and confidently talk about your book—you’ll also be prepared to reach the right readers with your unique message. This $27 course walks you through seven steps to blow away the creative fog so you can express your book’s concept.