98.5% of people fail at writing a book but I'm in line to be in the 1% of actually finishing!
Why am I in the 1%?
Because I found my people. I found the program that was the best fit for me and within 5 months I have my first draft. All 31,670 words in it's messy-first-draft glory has been written. Even as I type that I can't believe it.
The even more amazing part of this to me is that I actually did this without telling many people I was doing it. For someone who has built a business on the "let them help you build it" mentality, this was odd. But now I finally get to tell the world about it and I couldn't think of a better way to do this than to have my coach interview me.
My Book Coach, Eric Koester, Interviewed Me
I was on the other side of this interview and it got my nerves up a few times for sure. My book coach, Eric Koester, asked me all the questions about my book writing process so that I could share the behind the scenes with you. Because sure the idea of writing a book is neat but to hear more about how it happened...well, that's much better.
Eric is a professor at Georgetown University and created the Manuscripts program where authors never have to write alone. What a great concept!
Just like I don't want entrepreneurs to feel alone in their journey, he didn't want authors to feel alone so he did something about it. And I'm very grateful he did because I am now one of his authors who has benefited from this program in more ways than writing the book.
>> To learn more about his program click here.
>> To learn more about Eric and order his books click here.
Why I'm Writing A Book Now
While this has been on my list of dreams for a few years now, I really didn't have any intention of writing it this year. In my "perfect world" I would have a bigger business with more success stories than I do currently so I could share even more wisdom with you in my first book about entrepreneurship. But that all changed when I met Eric and learned about his program.
"Most people think that we write a book to demonstrate our knowledge...but instead think about it as a book being an incredible experience to go learn something." - Eric Koester
This fascinated me because I guess I just assumed that people do the thing, then write the non fiction book about it. It's how I've always read books and imagined it went anyway. But when Eric shared how he has approached books and now teaches it, it resonated with me in big ways.
"It's not what you know that makes for a great book, it's what you can learn." - Eric Koester
After I learned a bit more about the program, I applied and then had a call with Eric and in that short 20 minute conversation, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was the coach for me. I showed up prepared, with lots of ideas and he stopped me mid-sentence and encouraged me to stop thinking about all of the content I've already created and instead go listen and read about others to see what resonates with me. And then he asked me these questions:
"What do you want to do more of 10 years from now? What doors do you want this book to open for you?" - Eric Koester
.....long pause......
Those questions really got me thinking and I did answer him in our initial conversation but those questions are actually still being answered. And they are being answered in the most real way I have ever answered because I'm giving it time. I'm not rushing to all answers, although once I gave myself space to think like this, the answer was pretty clear, at least to the direction I wanted to go.
**This was also a podcast episode (episode #168) Use the player below if you'd prefer to listen to this message.
Should Books vs Get-To Books
Eric asked me lots of questions about how I decided on the topic and direction of the book and through this he shared a really interesting point. The idea of "should" books versus "get-to" books. And the reason that this process happened quickly and I'm excited about everything so far is that I'm writing a "get-to" book.
"Should books very rarely get finished. But get-to books are ones that you feel like I can't believe I'm getting to make time for this." - Eric Koester
Throughout the process, especially at the beginning, I thought about the "should" book more because I assumed that as I teach about marketing, that I would write a book about marketing but spoiler alert...it's not about marketing.
This shocked me as it unfolded in real time and I remember thinking "can I really do this and not write about marketing?".
"Many of the authors need permission to explore something" - Eric Koester
Oh boy was I one of those authors in his program! I definitely needed this permission to explore the idea of talking about the thing that was really on my heart, not what everyone expected of me if I were to share that I was writing a book. But in the end...
"I wrote what I wanted to write. I didn't write what someone told me to write." - Amanda McKinney
The Book Writing Process
People (i.e. me) assume the process of writing a book is linear but it was nothing close to that. I went into it thinking that I would sit down on a set schedule and write chapter 1, then chapter 2, etc. I was more than shocked when that couldn't be further from reality.
I was fortunate to have found this program that gave me the structure and guidance I needed to actually write the book I wanted to write, instead of what I thought I should write. And that all started with little stories. I would write one story that I wanted to include on a specific topic. Then another. Then another. I did this for about a month or so as I was finding my groove and learning how to be an author through weekly lessons.
Then I started to see a pattern in my stories and wouldn't you know it...one of those patters became a chapter!
One of my favorite parts of the program is that I wasn't ever alone on an island as I was writing. Each week I was I learning a lesson in authorship and there were other people on this journey with me. Lots of other people! It was great to see people on the zoom calls and hear about their progress too.
It was actually during one of those zoom sessions that I mentioned my book idea to a small group of people and once I witnessed their reaction, I was even more encouraged to move forward. It was during that call that I realized one of the key words that would eventually lead to Eric telling me I was "coining a new category". How cool is that?!
"Perfect doesn't happen individually, perfect happens collectively." - Eric Koester
Those key words were "accidental entrepreneur". I said it. That was my audience for the book and I just threw it out there on a call and it was received well. And like most entrepreneurs I know, I immediately tried to buy the url which is one of the true signs of entrepreneurship (if you don't know yet, you will).
In our conversation Eric shares how people ask him all the time if they can go faster, especially when it comes to writing the introduction. But he always tells them that they need to "be in it" in all steps of the process.
*Speaking of introduction - do you want to read mine? I'll send you a copy of my messy-introduction so you can read it and then help me make it even better! Use the form below:
"We oftentimes sort of suffer in writing a book along and you've intentionally chosen to suffer together, which has made the book come together faster, but it also gives you the ability to make sure that there is a community behind the book. It's not my book, it's our book." - Eric Koester
My Book Title & Topic
Like we talk about in this conversation, this is a working title at the moment but in June of 2023 it will be finalized and in your hands! But the cool part is that if you pre-order the book you actually get to vote on things like the title and the cover and even be a beta reader of the book! So be sure to pre-order the book today so you can help me make it better! Here's the working title...
Uncover Your Confidence: An Accidental Entrepreneurs Guide To Success
I landed on this topic, rather than marketing, because I find myself asking my students all the time "what does success feel like for you" and I even spent all this year asking people on the podcast about their success stories. I believe 100% that success looks and feels different for everyone and that is great!
Unfortunately we are overwhelmed with "this is what success looks like" messages all the time and that tends to be what we strive for, especially as new entrepreneurs. I did it, you likely did it (or are doing it) and we will all fall into the trap again if we aren't careful.
My goal with this book is to help you uncover your confidence as an entrepreneur so that you can unapologetically chase your definition of success.
Join The Confidence Crew By Pre-Ordering Your Copy
In true style, I'm inviting you on this journey with me and I can't wait for you to join me. If you'd like behind the scenes access to the book content, pre-order a copy and you'll become part of the Confidence Crew:
Marketing The Book
You know I'm most excited about this part of the process! But at the same time I'm actually pretty nervous about this too. The difference between how an entrepreneur and a marketer feel about the marketing process is interesting to me and I'm feeling them both. The entrepreneur is scared to get vulnerable and put something out there but the marketer is excited.
Another reason I fell in love with this program and knew it was for me was the marketing process. I absolutely LOVE that there is a pre-sale of the book so that the people who believe in you early, get to help you finish the book and make it even better.
This falls in line with how I teach marketing every day. On episode #161 I share all about how to fill any offering you have with a waitlist and this is the same concept. Overall, you want to get your idea out to the people who will eventually be the customer for that offering so that you don't create it in a vacuum. And this is exactly what the process is like for me in marketing this book.
"Great books are built on word of mouth" - Simon Sinek
Marketing Timeline
November 18 - December 16: the book will be on pre-sale
January - May 2023: I will be working through edits as well as getting beta reader feedback and making more edits from those who pre-ordered the book (hopefully YOU!)
June 2023: the book will be shipped to all those who pre-ordered the book and it will officially go on sale for everyone else
I'm thrilled that you finally know about this special, secret project and now you can get involved and help me make it even better. So what do you say? Will you come on this journey with me?
"If a book is going to be great it can't be my idea, it has to be our idea" - Eric Koester
Your Next Step
Pre-order my book and get immediate access to the introduction as well as the option for other content too!
Until next time give yourself permission to let perfection go and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon.
"Should books very rarely get finished. But get-to books are ones that you feel like I can't believe I'm getting to make time for this."
- Eric Koester
Become Part Of The Confidence Crew
Join me in the book finalizing journey! By pre-ordering your copy of the book by December 16, 2022 you'll join the Confidence Crew and receive lots of behind the scenes access!