People often struggle with their book concept: “How do I write the book that brings my vision to life and creates transformation for my readers and for me?” “How do I write a book that takes my business to the next level?” How about a book that launches your new business or helps you make a career pivot?
One of my most popular offerings is a Book Concept Consultation, because it helps you answer these questions. In this process, you’ll clarify your vision for the book, get into your readers’ minds (and be clear who they are, and conceptualize and structure an exceptional book that can bring your vision to life. The consultaton also offers you a feel for working with me before making a bigger commitment such as a coaching program or book proposal package.
My Highly Effective Book Concept Development Process
The Book Concept Consultation takes you through a process:
A Book Concept Consultation clarified this book’s focus, audience, features and inspired the winning title! The proposal led to a 6-figure book deal!
Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book: Work through a series of exercises and lessons that help you think about your book in ways that tend to produce an exceptional book that meets the vision and goals you’ve set forth for yourself. You’ll get clear on vision/mission, audience, features, structure, voice and more. Bonus: If you have more than one book idea, it can help you choose which book to write first.
Get Your Writing Done (optional): You are invited to attend my Get Your Writing Done program group calls (formerly Bring Your Book to Life(R)) at no extra charge for a full month to get into a state of flow and make progress with working through the exercises. You also have the opportunity to ask questions and get laser coaching during those sessions (offered twice a week).
Fill out and return the Book Concept Questionnaire two days (or more) before our call to help prepare us both for the call. I will use that time to make notes, brainstorm ideas and develop a plan for our session.
2 Hour Book Concept Consultation Session: Meet with me on Zoom to clarify your book concept and structure, a chapter template (if desired), get coaching on any specific challenges you are having (such as self-doubt, making time, certain artistic choices, etc).
Let’s walk through each component in more detail…
Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book
I created my self-study course, Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book, to help you answer the questions posed earlier and:
Nautilus Book Award-winning client, Rhonda Spencer-Hwang
Identify the best match for target audience.
Gain clarity on your readership’s demographics, pain points and desires, so the book you write matches their needs.
Choose features and format that make your book engaging to readers and help them get the most out of the book (making your book both effective and highly recommendable!)
Realize how to make your book stand out and succeed.
Get clear on content—what goes in the book and what you save for the next book, an accompanying ebook, website content or a paid course or program!
Create your book’s outline and, if desired, a template for typical chapters.
Get Your Writing Done
This aspect of the Book Concept Consultation package is entirely optional. However, if you are:
Struggling to find time to work on your book
Looking for a way to get into a flow flow state for your most inspired and creative work
Interested in working through the Quick Start exercise in a session where you can ask me questions while you work
Excited about being part of a community of people working on similar goals
then make some time on your calendar to join us for several Get Your Writing Done sessions. We currently meet Wednesday evenings 7-9 pm ET (4-6 pm PT) and Thursdays 11:30 – 1:30 ET (8:30 – 10:30 PT). While we spend most of our time writing (which can include working through Quick Start or writing a chapter or a book proposal section), there is some time for sharing insights, asking/answering questions, or even a bit of laser coaching.
While sessions are two hours long, it is fine to come for only the first or second hour, as each hour is a complete experience. However, if you can swing the full two hours, you may find you get more than twice as much done!
While this program is normally $249/month, you receive a month of the program at no additional charge when you sign up for a Book Concept Consultation. That’s up to 8 two-hour sessions and up to 700 minutes of working on your book concept, structure and writing. Imagine how much you can accomplished, writing in a flow state and having access to my powerful tools, a supportive community and immediate answers to your questions!
The Difference Between Writing a Good Book and a Great One
While you can purchase Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book for $97 as its own separate program, most aspiring authors benefit greatly from a book concept consultation after working through the Quick Start exercises. In your book concept consultation we will:
Discuss your current thinking on all the bullet points above, and apply them to both market forces, your vision and my experience with books of your type.
Answer any questions about the book concept and structure that you’re struggling with, so you can get clarity by the end of our call.
Brainstorm new ideas to make your book stand out. Here’s where we often come up with features or concepts that make your book exceptional. My clients’ many award-winning books and 5- and 6-figure book deals are testament to that.
Upgrade your title. “The Creativity Cure” and “The Secret Language of Cells” are examples of the powerful titles co-created during a consultation.
Overcome anything that might be getting in the way of making progress on your book (from imposter syndrome to procrastination to structure issues and more).
Tap into your own inner knowing through a powerful exercise I call “Meet Your Muse” —a guided visualization that connects you with your creative source for answers. More about that below.
Meet Your Muse and Tap into Your Creative Genius and Inner Knowing
My muse often appears to me as a wise woman offering alphabet soup. (AI generated image)
While this is an optional aspect of the Book Concept Consultation, many authors say it’s a game changer—empowering, exciting, potent and yielding phenomenal results. In the last half hour or so of your session, I’ll walk you through an exercise to help you bypass linear thinking and tap into your inner wisdom, intuition and creative source for additional information about your book.
If you have felt “stuck” in any way, this process can free you and cause a breakthrough in creativity and productivity.
Added Takeaways!
In your consultation, we can tackle one (and possibly more) of these additional and exhilarating goals:
Carrie Barron, author of The Creativity Cure, and me at Carrie’s NYC book launch. The title emerged in Carrie’s Book Concept Consultation!
Explore and choose your publishing path.
Brainstorm business ideas that bring in income while fueling book sales.
Come up with a platform-building strategy, particularly if you want to attract a traditional publisher / literary agent.
Perform a website audit and suggest ways to use your website to grow your community/ mailing list and attract publishers.
Identify a fitting gift/lead magnet/free offer to grow your list of people likely to buy your book when it comes out.
After working through all or part of Quick Start, you’ll prepare for your consultation by filling out a questionnaire and sending it to me at least two days before our call, so I can also prepare and spend time thinking about your book and letting ideas bubble up! In your questionnaire you can let me know what you want to get out of our consultation and any specific questions you want me to consider before our call.
Sign Up For Your Consultation
Sign up for your consultation and you will receive:
Quick Start Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book self-study program
This program takes you step-by-step through how to structure, start, write and format that great book you have inside of you.
An invitation to my twice-weekly Get Your Writing Done sessions
These consultations are limited to four per month; so save your place now. We are currently booking for April. As soon as you sign up, you can work through the Quick Start exercises and join our Get Your Writing Done sessions.
Note: If you sign up for a consultation package by August 2, I will automatically include the publishing decision at no extra cost (a $300 add-on). So, use the first button when you sign up, even if you want to add on the publishing choice support, in which case you’ll save $300).
Or Sign Up for a Book Concept Consultation that Includes the Publishing Path Decision
Sign up for the dual consultation and you will receive:
Quick Start Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book self-study program
This program takes you step-by-step through how to structure, start, write and format that great book you have inside of you.
An invitation to my twice-weekly Get Your Writing Done sessions
The Book Concept Questionnaire
My preparation time before we talk
2 hour Book Concept Consultation with me
Up to a half hour of additional discussion to help you choose the optimal publishing path based on your vision, goals, existing platform, book concept, and skill set.
Investment: $1,800
Sign Up Now for a Book Concept Consultation ($1500)
If you have read this far but your issue is more of feeling stuck and needing support to break through a creative block, email me to find out more about a “Meet Your Muse” session ($295 for 1/2 hour, $575 for one hour; all sessions come with a preparation questionnaire and we both spend time preparing beforehand).
Note: I know that these are challenging times financially for many people. If my pricing is not in your budget, reach out to me to let me know your needs and I can recommend a colleague who is an excellent book coach and less expensive.
Testimonials
First Draft in Just 7 Days! Now, Published.
Dr. Stephanie O’Leary “When I scheduled a ‘Book Concept and Strategy Consultation’ with Lisa Tener, I thought I would get some great advice on my concept for a parenting book. I walked away with a clear vision for Parenting in the Real World, tremendous inspiration and the confidence to follow my dream of becoming an author.
“When I sat down to write my manuscript, it was done in just seven days!
“I sought out Lisa’s expertise again and was fortunate to work with her on the editing process. She exceeded all of my expectations and her down to earth style helped me relax and trust in the process. I felt supported, respected and knew that Lisa valued my work as much as I did.
“Lisa went out of her way to ensure that my ‘voice’ came through and has continued to support me even after the project wrapped up.
“My book is now published, was available weeks ahead of schedule, and has all 5 Star Reviews on Amazon. Lisa Tener was an integral part of this journey and I can’t wait to work with her on my next book!”
— Stephanie O’Leary, Psy.D., Author of Parenting in the Real World
One Coaching Call “Made All the Difference” – Published by Routledge!
“I reached out to Lisa for coaching after getting many rejections from publishers. In just one consultation, Lisa encouraged me and gave me actionable steps that made all the difference.
“This included specific advice on creating an author website (and what is needed), suggestions for developing my platform, including writing articles for Kevin MD and other venues, and responding to reporter queries. With Lisa’s advice, instead of giving up, I pressed on, developed a stronger platform and received an offer from Routledge which published my book in October, 2021.”
— Christine Ko, MD, Author of How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection: Using Psychology to Optimize Healthcare Interactions
Lisa Tener is an award-winning book writing coach who assists writers in all aspects of the writing process—from writing a book proposal and getting published to finding one’s creative voice. Her clients have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS Early Show, The Montel Williams Show, CNN, Fox News, New Morning and much more. They blog on sites like The Huffington Post, Psychology Today and WebMD.
My Publisher Tamara Monosoff: From the gorgeous cover to inner design, to the original inspiration for QR codes and putting every single one of those crazy videos on my website, and guiding me patiently throughout the process, Tamara is my dream publisher. Thank you!
The most talented photographer in the world, Seth Jacobson
PR Trainers Chris Winfield, Jen Gottlieb, Brittany Sisko, and the entire community at the Be Seen Accelerator
Beta Readers: Joshua Home Edwards, Tracy Hart, Stephanie Meyers, Laurie Hunt, LiDona Wagner, Mia Potter, Gael Johnson, Amber Hanks, Melissa Sones, Gael-Sylvia Pullen, and Paula Schonewald. I hope I did not leave anyone out—if I did please let me know so I can add you here!
Title Support Howard Van Es, Tamara Monosoff, Lorraine Segal, Tama Kieves, Kristin Meekhof.
Launch Consulting Howard Van Es
My Health and Wellbeing Posse who helped me survive the stress-induced health challenges I encountered on the way
Dear Friends Johannah Cremin (and her prayer circle) and Virginia Swain; Qigong teacher, Leah Franklin, and the lineage of Mei Hua Qigong masters from whom she learned; dream shaman Kari Hohne; loving guide, Linda Yael Schiller; acupuncturists Nancy Graham and Patricia Gilmartin; Lynne Ahn, MD and John McGonigle, MD; dowser, Erina Cowan; and special friends Linda Broadhead and Seraina Wood.
Book Ambassadors: Louise Brownell
Podcasters, Show Hosts and Early Adopters: Dan Janal, Sharon Burton Ways, Josh Steimle, Leslie Draffin, Robin Kall
Bloggers and Blogs: San Francisco Writers Conference, Jane Friedman, Nina Amir, Howard Van Es
My Supportive Family: Tom, Will, and Luke Patterson, and Mimi Sammis, you are the lights in my life! Tener and Arnold families, and the Patterson-Potters and Pattersons
My many colleagues from Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing and women in healthcare leadership courses—director Julie Silver, et al.
All my students!
All my amazing writing colleagues
Intellectual property advice, Attorney Dana Newman
A special thank you to my many clients and colleagues who gave me permission to quote their wonderful words in this journal
The brave souls who appear in the accompanying videos.
I could probably go on thanking deserving people for another twenty pages, so for those not listed, please know you have my gratitude.
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