Lisa Tener's Blog: Lisa Tener's Writing/Publishing Blog, page 42

Reflections on Passion and Platform

I just received this in my inbox from a client who wanted to set up a call about platform building: “I’m so immersed in my book, at the moment.  I spent the day editing, from your suggestions, the first four chapters. I’ve fallen in love with my book, once again. ” Developing a platform as an author is important, especially if you want a traditional publisher to publish your book, or if your goal is to reach a large number of people. However, many times people go about building their following or author platform by doing what everyone tells them–”You[...]

The Truth About Author Platform

Sometimes people feel demoralized when they hear they need a huge platform to get the interest of a large traditional publisher. So I thought I’d provide some myth-busting, clarity and hope on the subject. Are publishers looking for big platforms in general? Yes. But… 1. There are always exceptions to the rules: don’t rule your book out if you don’t have the platform. 2. Get creative: I’ve helped clients think creatively about leveraging other businesses, connections or opportunities they hadn’t considered, helping them attract an agent and clinch book deal, even as a first time author with what looked like[...]

The Secret to Selling Books

When it comes down to it, selling books is pretty simple, really: - Write a great book–one you’re passionate about and get professional help to make it shine. Work on it until it does. - Connect with readers–to do that you need to know who they are and where they hang out. You need to truly connect–by being you, being real and leading meaningful conversations. And you can do that before the book is even written. - Leverage technology in a way that works for you. If you hate twitter and facebook, find another way. If you do the things[...]

Where Do We Do Our Best Writing?

A traditional favorite spot is the beach, though I have yet to write on the beach this summer. I’ve been thinking lately about where we find our inspiration and do our best writing. Some of the places that have worked for me this summer: - A dock on the river under a tree: It was cool and the sounds of nature and human activity provided inspiration. I was also accompanied by two of my favorite writing friends, Tracy Hart and Ginger Moran. - In bed in the morning: When I still have a toe in the dream state, the writing[...]

Why Taking a Summer School Class… to Write a Book…Is All About…FREEDOM

Guest Post by Ginger Moran At this time of year it is good to enjoy friends, family, and food. And, if you don’t have dogs who are afraid of them, the fireworks are a lot of fun. I like to reflect, too, on what those fireworks are about–a festive echo of the first shots fired in the Revolutionary War, a war that costs many thousands of British and American lives and changed the world forever. It wasn’t easy. Was it worth it? You’d be hard pressed to find an American today who says no. Writing a book is about freedom.[...]

Inspired by Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco at the URI Ocean State Summer Writing Conference

You’ll be seeing a few posts from me about URI’s Ocean State Summer Writing Conference. There was just way too much great stuff for me to squeeze into one post. One big highlight was the Keynote by Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco, who spoke about the big moment his agent called to share the news and the ways that being inaugural poet has affected his life and his mission. Half way through his talk, before he even shared about his mission to bring poetry back into our lives and our schools I realized how much poetry meant to me in the[...]

Ayad Akhtar Shares Advice for Writers at URI Ocean State Summer Writing Conference

What a treat to attend the University of Rhode Island’s Ocean State Summer Writing Conference as both participant and panelist this past week! Dr. Mary Cappello‘s moving introduction of the first keynote speaker, Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright and Novelist Ayad Akhtar, included a twenty-year-old piece of homework she had saved from when Ayad had been her student at URI. She’d been moved by the depth of his work diagramming a poem–in far more depth than the assignment had called for.  Akhtar’s advice for writers included: - Write Every Day: Find a word count to live by. Akhtar pointed out that[...]

Should I Have a Co-Author? Pros and Cons of Collaborating on a Book

Today, I received two e-mails from two different Bring Your Book to Life Program participants asking whether they should have a collaborator write a chapter in an area where the author does not have as much expertise. As I wrote to the second author, I realized that I’d heard–and answered–this question more than once and perhaps many of my blog readers could benefit from my answer, so here it is: I’m convinced that my first book–The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger– would never have been published were it not for my co-authors. Peaco Todd helped me see a bigger vision[...]

Tapping into Divine Guidance for Book Writing, Publishing, and a Selling Experience that is Fun and Massively Profitable: An Interview with Jeanna Gabellini

Lisa:  Welcome! This is Lisa Tener and I am so excited to have with me Jeanna Gabellini who is going to teach us about tapping into divine guidance for book writing, publishing, and a selling experience that is fun and massively profitable. Jeanna: We’re going to have fun. Lisa:  I always tell authors, “If you’re having fun, your readers are having fun. And if you’re not, they’re probably not.”  Let me share a few words about Jeanna: Jeanna is a master business coach who assists high-achieving entrepreneurs and their teams to double and even triple their profits by leveraging intention[...]

Join Me for These Exciting Book Industry and Writing Events in Boston, NY and RI.

The virtual world is quite amazing. After all, two people who have hugely impacted my life and business, I’ve never even met in person:  my super Virtual Assistant, Geri Lafferty amd my good friend and teleseminar conductor/mentor Joshua Home Edwards. Still, there’s something important about going to live events and meeting people in person and I’m excited to have several of these opportunities coming up. Perhaps I’ll see you at one of these upcoming events: May 18: “The Next Step- Boston”–a program with Bestselling Author Cheryl Richardson and Hay House President Reid Tracy. This Saturday, I’ll be working in an[...]