Lisa Tener’s Writing Blog

Help, Someone Already Wrote My Book

My Bring Your Book to Life students are preparing for the start of book writing class next month. They’re researching their markets, creating the vision for the their books, and starting to outline. Some are calling me for their book concept consultation.
I love the consultations as we brainstorm to take good ideas and make them [...]

Tags: Add new tag, author's voice, book concept, book writing class, bring your book to life, nothing new under the sun, point of view, someone already wrote my book, writer's voice

Should I Hire a Ghostwriter or Write My Book Myself?

Easy answer: 9.5 times out of 10 you should write your book yourself.
My first year on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s publishing course, a doctor told me his horror story on landing a top publisher who recommended hiring a ghostwriter. Sadly, the ghostwriter’s version took him far afield from his vision.
He took his name [...]

Tags: ghostwriter, ghostwriters, Ghostwriting, should I hire a ghostwriter?

Bring Your Book to Life

My book writing classes–are back–both LIVE and by teleseminar–and they now include a book concept evaluation, a customized editing plan and feedback on how you can best organize your book coupled with private consultations. I’ve found that the people who make the commitment, make a plan and get support get their books written. The expanded [...]

Tags: book writing classes, book writing courses, bring your book to life, get a book written, get published, how to start writing a book, how to write a book, write a book, write a book fast, write a book in 60 days, write a how to book, write a nonfiction book, write a self help book

Are You Getting the Word Out?

I was the first one up in my house this morning. That’s unusual. I bounded out of bed and ran to the computer before anyone could wake up, reflecting on last night’s teleseminar, which I hope you had a chance to hear.
Morgana Rae interviewed me about writing and publishing a book right now in this [...]

Tags: author platform, Danielle Hampson, inspiration, Lisa Almeida, Mastering Your Business, Mind Your Bizness, Morgana Rae, Shine your radiance

Listen to Your Writing Coach on Positive Living Radio

I just got off the phone with Patricia Raskin. We were planning my monthly spotlight appearances on her show Positive Living which you can hear  Sundays from 12-2 on WPRO Providence (99.7 FM, 630 AM or live streamed).  We have six fun and informative 7-minute interviews planned:

March 8: Join the internet revolution and [...]

Tags: Aspire Magazine, be a better writer, beat writer's block, become a published author, editing tips, how to get published, Inspiring Women Speaker Series, Patricia Raskin, Positive Living, Positive Living Radio, Writer's Block, Writing in the Zone, writing online, writing radio

How to Write an Introduction: Think Like Your Readers

Many aspiring writers meet their first challenge when they face the writing of their introduction. If you think like your reader, you should find the job much easier.
In the introduction your reader is trying to find out:
1.  Will this book help me solve my particular problem, challenge or goal?
2.  What kind of results can I [...]

Tags: good writing, how to write a book, how to write an introduction, introduction, show vs. tell, write a book, write an introduction, Writer's Block, writing coach

The Squirtgun Approach to Motivation

Many writers find it challenging to sit down and write at will. They might schedule the time in their calendar to write, but when the time comes, they suddenly notice the grimy buildup inside the stove (time for some steel wool) or they head to the fridge to fix themselves a snack–anything to avoid writing.
It [...]

Tags: a gentleman's agreement, blockbuster, book sales, Charles Dickens, Cosmopolitan, Donna Montalbano, fans, house on benefit street, procrastination, Providence, sequel, serializing, Stephen King, wickendon street

Are You Writing the Next Blockbuster?

The Wall Street Journal had an interesting article this weekend addressing the huge advances that publishers will pay for a title that goes to auction. Why, in this economy, are they taking such risks? And how can you have it work to your advantage?
Anita Elberse, author of the article and associate professor at the Harvard [...]

Tags: agents, author platform, bestseller, blockbuster, blockbuster book, book coach, book promotion plan, book proposal, cat lovers, Dewey, Dewey: The Library Cat, dog lovers, get published, how to get published, internet presence, literary agents, mailing list, Marley and Me, public speaking, publicity, publish a book, publishers, publishing house, seven figure advance, six figure advance, write a bestseller, writing coach

Writer’s Block

I just ready Cathy Stucker’s blog on Writer’s block and she brought up a good point about fear being a common cause of writer’s block. And, of course, the thing to do to get rid of fear is to do it anyway.
However, As a writer and writing coach, I find that stress and depletion are [...]

Tags: being present, Cathy Stucker, chi gong, good writing, jumping jacks, meditate, show vs. tell, stress, visualization for writing, Writer's Block, writer's bock, writing blocks, yoga

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Harvard Medical School’s Publishing Course

I recently received the brochure for the 2009 course, Publishing Books, Memoirs and Other Creative Nonfiction, which is offered March 26-28 at Boston’s Fairmont Copley Hotel. Several of my writing coaching clients have told me they’ll be there. Will you?
Even if you’re not a medical professional or health writer, I can think of a whole [...]

Tags: book publisher, Dr. Julie Silver, get published, harvard medical school publishing course, Herb Benson, how to get published, how to write a book, Julie Silver, Literary Agent, literary agents, literaryagents, meet literary agents, publishing course, writing coach