Are you a thought leader or C-Suite professional looking to write a non-fiction book as your business calling card? Learn how to transform your expertise into a book you can use as a networking tool to increase your reach and expand your online presence.
Avoid the biggest challenge that cost you the most time as an author!
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Hey Reader, If you're a gardener (or you like to keep your lawn looking nice---and I don't mean pristine; but your lawn looks good), then you understand the ongoing battle with weeds. I especially have that battle living in an area that gets almost as much water as a rainforeset! So I ended up spending hours in the garden this weekend, ripping out weeds and planting starts. But, like many endeavors, gardening is a process where you learn how to spend your time effectively to get the most out of your hard work. Which is why I setup my garden for success with information that gives me step-by-step instructions so I can get from Point A to Point B. It also helps to be organized! In addition to gardening, I recently attended the UFO Festival in my town of McMinnville, Oregon. It's second in popularity to Roswell's festival and started 26 years ago to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a siting UFO near town! Here's me, my daughter, Aliyah, and my granddog, Minnow (who is also dressed up---they are both characters from the game, Fallout, which is now a TV series). ππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎ π Did You Know? πππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎπππΎ πππΎ Our new Skool community has over 60 members! β Surfacing with this week's insights... π One stumbling block many new authors face is not knowing how to start writing their book. They have ideas, but they don't know how to organize them in a format that readers will understand. New authors aren't sure what to write in their book, how to write it for their avatar, or how to organize their information. A book is one of the most powerful business tools you will ever own. Itβs not just a tool; itβs your professional legacy. Books attract clients. They open doors that a business card wonβt budge. Today, those new (and returning) authors have a solution! I recently published "From Idea to Outline in One Weekend," specifically for professionals like you. Busy, experienced, full of ideas, and ready to finally write a book about it. Your book idea has been waiting long enough. Grab your copy today! π π βοΈ π π βοΈ π π βοΈ π π βοΈ π π βοΈA story for you... π A member of one of my professional writing groups talked about how they recently changed from being a "pantser" - a writer who doesn't plan and writes whatever comes to mind, to a "planner". What did they find out? That planning out their book was more effective and efficient. Planning out what they were going to write and when they are going to write was more effective than simply trying to write whatever came to mind. Can you still write if you're a pantser? Sure you can. But, stop and think about how a structure, even a simple one, would fasttrack your publishing goals. And here's the tough love friends: You absolutely need to have an outline when you write your book. Writing without an outline is like going on vacation without tickets or a plan on what to do when you get there. You wouldn't go on vacation without an idea of what you wanted to do, right? So why take that chance with your book? Here's what you need to know... π π― What is the difference between a pantser and a planner, and which one are you? A pantser sits down and writes whatever comes to mind, trusting that the book will take shape along the way. A planner maps out the structure first, knows what each chapter needs to accomplish, and shows up to every writing session with a clear target. Both can produce a book, but only one of them writes without wasting months circling the same ideas and second-guessing every page. π― How does having a simple outline change the way you write and how fast you finish? An outline removes the biggest time thief in the writing process, which is not knowing what comes next. When you sit down with a clear map of where your book is going, you stop spending your writing sessions staring at a blank page and start writing. Even a loose, flexible outline cuts the confusion that turns a six-month project into a two-year one. You can now spend more time editing and improving your book instead of spending that time writing in circles! π― What would your book look like if you stopped writing whatever came to mind and started writing with a plan? It would have a beginning, a middle, and an end that connects with readers. Your chapters would build on each other instead of wandering. Your reader would feel guided through your ideas rather than dropped into them. And you would finish writing. That last part is not a small goal. Most unfinished books are not the result of a bad idea. They are the result of not having a plan, and without one, not having a goal to achieve. π‘Final Thoughts: The pantser and the planner both want a finished book that's meaningful and reaches the right readers. The difference is that one of them has a roadmap and the other is hoping the destination shows up on its own. Well, my friend, hope is not a writing strategy. You do not need a rigid, color-coded, chapter-by-chapter breakdown before you write a single word. You need a basic plan to know where you are going and how you are going to get there. Start with a simple outline. Give each chapter a job to do. Know your beginning, your middle, and your end before you commit to the journey. That structure will not box you in. It will free you up, because when you know the shape of the book, you can stop worrying about whether it holds together and start focusing on making your book stronger because you can spend more time editing and less time not knowing what to write. Your readers are waiting for that book. Stop circling and start building it! π°πͺπ° Use this tool to save time on self-editing your book π°πͺπ° Did you know there's a simple tool you can use to reduce the time you need to self-edit your book? (This tool will also assist any professionals you hire so that your book's style is consistent.) Checkout episode #54 on how to create and use your Book Style Guide. It's an easy tool to create, but it's a game changer! πππ― πππ― πππ― πππ― πππ― πππ― πππ― πππ― πππ― π€ Client Testimonial of the Week A new author, Archer, wanted to submit his work to a contest to win awards and land a publisher for his upcoming book. He didn't have much marketing knowledge and wanted to find out what steps he needed to take to start building his digital footprint now to meet his goal of landing a publisher in the future, so we hopped on a Publishing Consultation Call. "Lynn has been terrific in helping me navigate the tough first steps of the publishing industry, and I recommend her for anyone looking to get a good start!" -Archer Cole Ready to take your book content to the next level? Join my upcoming cohort from July 6th to 17th for my course: Jumpstart Your Author Journey. This cohort is designed for authors who want direction in writing their book, without spending the next three to six months guessing what to write. What you get: *eight group coaching sessions with me to answer your questions around writing and finishing your book And, because this is my beta-workshop (it's the first time I'm offering it) you can get in for the introductory price of $97! Jump in now, because once the doors close, you won't be able to get in on this offer. πWant to learn more? Join my community, Self Publishing for Leaders. It's only free for the next 35 members, so get in now! Once you're in, click on courses and purchase Jumpstart Your Author's Journey today! π Learn a new perspective on your business πMy friend, Frederick, has a great newsletter called Prosperity Pathways. If you like my newsletter you will probably like this one too because it gives you the steps to create a sustainable pipeline for your business so it can prosper! Hereβs the link to try it out (itβs 100% FREE).β πΊοΈ Upcoming Coaching: Your Step by Step Roadmap to Self Publishing πΊοΈ Do you want to avoid the most common misconceptions that new authors have when it comes to publishing? βJoin my free community for access to my upcoming workshop, where I'll reveal misconceptions and why they aren't true. This is free, interactive, and designed to save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration! β¬οΈ Click your preferred calendar button below to automatically add this event to your calendar! β¬οΈ Your Publishing Partner, Lynn "Elikqitie" Smargis P.S. β Are you looking for a fresh set of eyes on your manuscript for a review? Grab a spot on my Self-Publishing Discovery Call calendar to find out how quick and easy this process can be! |
Lynn Smargis Ghostwriter
Are you a thought leader or C-Suite professional looking to write a non-fiction book as your business calling card? Learn how to transform your expertise into a book you can use as a networking tool to increase your reach and expand your online presence.
Hey Reader, Gardening, gardening, gardening. Lots of tomatoes, purple potatoes, string beans and sunflowers. I've been eating watermelon gazpacho with the fresh tomatoes and basil from my garden. One of my favorite garden experiences? Smelling the warm garden goodness of tomato plants and tomatoes on the vine in the summer! Now that we've talked veggie power, let's dive into this week's newsletter! ππ π ππ π ππ π ππ π You know what I noticed? π π π π π ππ π ππ π π That authors who receive...
Hey Reader, If you like a great dystopian story, with so many plot twists you're having to watch every recap to keep up with the story line, then I would highly recommend watching SILO on Apple TV. Not giving away any spoilers, but I will say this: The actress they chose for the main protagonist, Juliette, is phenomenal, as are many of the cast members. They are truly believable! Excellent plot, fabulous acting, and a world so immersive you'll find yourself thinking about it long after the...
Hey Reader, Gardening, and finding the right plants for your garden, can be tricky. Sometimes I feel more like a scientist doing an experiment than a gardener! Luckily, you eventually find out what works by trial and error, and gathering data. Using native plants is also helpful, but you need to figure out which plants work for your garden, how much you want to invest, and which plants are the most attractive. Then you have a short-list of plants you want to maintain, taking the guesswork out...