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Lisa Tener’s Writing and Publishing Blog

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Find articles on your most pressing writing & publishing questions. Plus, creative support for your inner muse!

Without Lisa, my writing skills would be marginal.

“Without Lisa, my writing skills would be marginal. I truly believed in what I wanted to say and thank Lisa for teaching me how to put it into words. And, I found Lisa fun to work with.”

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Few people are both good coaches/teachers and excellent in their writing craft. Lisa is both.

“I researched 50 writing coaches and editors, chose 10 to interview and picked Lisa. Few people are both good coaches/teachers and excellent in their writing craft. Lisa is both. “Lisa is particularly valuable as she understands the marketing rigor required for non-fiction promotion. This is on top of her extraordinary writing and editing skills. “Lisa…

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Signs with Top Publisher

“When I decided to write a book, I thought you can just have a great idea and a publisher will say, “Yes.” Was I ever wrong! Lisa demystified the process and helped me understand exactly what I needed to be successful. “If you’re serious, hire an expert and that expert is Lisa. She made sure…

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Prominent DC Therapist Signs with Prometheus

When I attended the Harvard Medical School publishing course, I had an idea that the work I was doing with favorite children had the potential for a groundbreaking psychology book. I also knew that the publishing world was entirely new to me and I wanted an expert on my team. I hired Lisa Tener to…

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Good Morning: My Take on Your Chances to Publish

It’s raining and cloudy this morning. I woke up a tad tired. I remember a time I would not have called it a good morning, especially since I planned to take a walk today. Oh, yeah, I can walk in the rain. I own boots, a rain jacket with a hood, even rain pants. What…

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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 put…

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The Courtier’s Secret: Lisa’s Latest Pick for Fiction

While my expertise is in how-to and nonfiction books, every once in a while I like to curl up with a good novel. Since I don’t get to read much fiction, I’m very picky. The Courtier’s Secret makes the grade: a fascinating and fastidiously researched account of life in Versailles in 1682, it has all…

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Uncredentialed: Not for Long

When I first got the idea of writing a book that would help people transform their old habits around anger, and find creative ways to understand and deal with their anger effectively, I had absolutely no credentials in the field nor any writing credentials to speak of. How, then, did my first book get published…

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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…

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Grow Your Platform: 3 Easy Things You Can Do Today

Just about everyone who sends me a book proposal needs to grow their platform. If they’re in a hurry to find an agent and publisher, this can seem a daunting step. Here are 3 easy things you can do today to grow your platform: 1.  Join the International Association of Writers where you can list…

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Write a Book with Someone Famous?

One of my clients sent me an e-mail tempted to invest $2,700 to $5,500 to be a contributor in a book that would feature articles by three famous authors (I won’t name names here) and a whole bunch of other “investors” who would get their articles published. The e-mail touts this as a fast way…

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Publicity Day 5: Social Media and Beyond: Why You Must Join the Movement and Where to Start

Guest Post by Rusty Shelton, managing director, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists I hope this week’s series on publicity provides you with a new outlook on the publicity process. It doesn’t have to be intimidating–or a black hole you envision at the end of the publishing process. I realize that many authors would rather write…

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Publicity Day 4: Virtual Media Training: How to Rock Your Interviews

Guest Post by Rusty Shelton, managing director, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists There are few things more painful than watching or listening to an interview gone bad. For celebrities, those interviews-gone-wrong become the most famous moments of their careers (Tom Cruise bouncing on Oprah’s couch or staring down Matt Lauer). For unknown or up-and-coming authors,…

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We Interrupt this Broadcast…

I’m thrilled with the education in publicity that Rusty and Katie are providing to my blog readers. I have to say that after peeking at Rusty’s planned post for Friday, I am blown away by how much I’m learning about social media and social networking from his post and the articles he links to. You’re…

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Publicity Day 3: Press Releases & Pitches: How to get the word out about your book

Guest Post by Katie Andrews, project consultant, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists You’ve crafted your picture perfect strategy and it’s time to start contacting the media. Proceed with caution. Contacting media members is a fine art. Let’s talk about how to do it. I should preface today’s post with a few words of caution. If…

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Book Publicity Series Day 2: The Publicity 411: What to Know Before Getting Started

Guest Post by Katie Andrews, project consultant, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists “Hello, Phenix & Phenix–how can I help you?” “Hi. My book has been out on the market for a few months and not much is happening—I’m thinking about developing a publicity plan. What should I do?” Don’t.Be.This.Author. You’re way too smart to wait…

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Publicity Week Day 1: Why Publicity is Your New Best Friend

Welcome to the first annual Book Publicity Week on Lisa Tener’s blog! Special guest post by Rusty Shelton, Managing Director, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists When Lisa invited me to guest blog about book publicity, I thought back to five years ago when P&P ran a national publicity campaign for Lisa and her co-authors, Jane…

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Book Publicity Week Official Schedule: Feb. 2- 6

Looks like next week’s Book Publicity Blog series is creating lots of  buzz: thanks to everyone who’s been checking in and spreading the word. I’m blown away by the great content our friends at Phenix & Phenix are providing. And I can’t wait to hear what you end up doing with the information you learn…

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Book Publicity Week Starts Feb. 2 on this Blog – Free Course

Many of you have asked questions about using social media, Twitter, Facebook and other internet media for creating  a powerful author platform and/or publicizing your book successfully. My friends at Phenix and Phenix Literary Publicists have agreed to guest blog all of next week. These won’t be your typical blog posts, but more like a…

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How to Choose an Editor

As a comment to an earlier blog post, Deb Scott asked what kind of editor to hire before self-publishing her book. I recommended hiring a good copy editor, because you want to edit for style, organization and format, as well as grammar and punctuation. It seemed to me though, that I shouldn’t give you some advice…

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