Writing Workshop

Supercharge Your Writing with Journaling and Mindful Movement!

September 30, 2026 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

On Saturday, October 24, I’ll be headlining a free writing workshop at the HER VOICE event celebrating women’s perspectives and the power of our stories. When authors and ARIA members Pat Mitchell and Belle DeCosta invited me to give a special workshop and guide participants through a journaling and mindful movement experience designed to awaken your inner muse and spark deeper creativity.

There’s much research on the effects of mindful movement on creative flow, and the practices I will share are ancient practices that can enhance your creativity. When you attend this free workshop, you’ll get to experience what these easy practices can do for your writing!

And the journaling practices I’ll share can help your writing in so many ways—from experimenting with new ideas to overcoming blocks and freeing up creative energy.

In addition, journaling can help you personally: release stress to feel calmer and happier, process dream material, solve problems, envision a new career (as it did for me!), map out how to get there, improve relationships, make transformative changes in your life, and so much more!

I’ll share some free handouts for those who want to dive deeper into various ways to use journaling as a superpower in your life!

If you can’t make it, or just want to start the writing party early:

For those readers who can’t make it to Rhode Island on October, 24, I have a small taste of practices and tips at the end of this post.

Or if you want to get started early and attend the event after:

Watch the video and audio near the end of the post and use one of the prompts to get started!
Come to the event and share with me in person how they worked for you.
At the event, you’ll learn additional mindful movement practices, guided visualizations and journaling tips

Read My Interview with the Event Creators

If you’re on my newsletter list (but not newsletter lite!), you may have seen my interview with Pat and Belle. If you missed it, click here to discover more about what this amazing free event offers, some of the authors who will be joining us and how to meet readers at in-person events.

Here is a list of all the authors you can meet at the event, ten of whom will also read from their books. Of the 25 authors, 24 are women, and 1 is a man who writes about women.

Her Voice, an ARIA Event

Here are the details:

Join local authors Belle DeCosta and Pat Mitchell along with 24 other authors on

HER VOICE

Saturday, October 24
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
At Blank Space Studios, 67 Beverage Hill Road, Pawtucket, RI, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE!
Sponsor: Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA).
RSVP on the official Facebook Event page!

HER VOICE highlights Rhode Island writers who explore women’s lives, challenges, triumphs, and wisdom through fiction, nonfiction, and memoir. Together, these authors create a shared space of connection, creativity, and camaraderie rooted in womanhood.

From the HER VOICE website: “Throughout the day, attendees can meet the authors, purchase signed books, and enjoy select readings from their works. We’re also thrilled to welcome award-winning book coach and author Lisa Tener, who will guide participants through a journaling and mindful-movement experience designed to awaken your inner muse and spark deeper creativity.”

Mindful Movement Practices and Journaling Prompts to Supercharge Your Writing

This first practice is my go-to! We start every session of Get Your Writing Done on Zoom with Qigong Bouncing (Shaking). Try the practice with the video and then choose one of the prompts below the video (or work on a writing project you are in the midst of). Please share your experience in the comments!

Practice I: Qigong Bouncing (Shaking)

Choose from the following prompts or work on an ongoing project of your own:

Prompt #1: Write about something that bounces – a ball, a check, a pogo stick…
Prompt #2: Write about what happens in your body, mind and spirit when you practice qigong bouncing/shaking.
Prompt #3: Write a dialogue between two characters: one who bounces up and down while talking, and another who responds to that.

Practice II: Listen to the following audio meditation:

Prompt #4: Write a letter to yourself or someone in your life as if the letter writer/narrator is a star. What would a star like you to know?
Prompt #5: Imagine you came from a star. What might it be like to come from a star? What might you come to Earth to accomplish? Explore in your everyday voice or the voice of the star.

My Gift to You

In recognition of your reading (or skimming) this whole post, here’s my gift to you: 12 Ways Journaling Can Spark Your Creativity, Support Your Writing & Transform Your Life. In this FREE ebook you will learn:

Why journaling is such a potent tool for writers
What the research says about journaling to support your wellbeing and creativity
7 sumptuous ways to journal
5 empowering tips to support your journaling practice

I hope to see you at HER VOICE! Register for the event (FREE) here on Facebook.

And feel free to share any insights from using the prompts (or share an excerpt) in the comments below!

“How Do I Write About Other People’s Stories / Experiences with Integrity?”

July 1, 2026 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

The Conundrum

In “Get Your Writing Done” last week, a lively discussion ensued about writing other people’s stories, such as in anecdotes, in our work. Can we write about other people’s experiences with integrity? Are there some “power issues” that come into play when we do so? Is it taking advantage of people? Here’s much of what we discussed, along with some of the solutions and experiments we came up with.

It began with the last ten minutes of class, when we often have one writer read an excerpt they would like feedback on. Colleen Wahl, a professor of dance and somatic educator/coach (and author of the textbook, Laban/Barenieff Movement Studies) read an intriguing anecdote, filled with curiosity and metaphor. After the feedback, she raised an interesting question/concern, which we discussed. In writing up the discussion for the Get Your Writing Done community, I realized that this concern might be relevant to you as a reader of my blog, as well.

In response to a suggestion that she include her students more in the description of her experience, Colleen said she’s tired of just telling her own stories, but she’s concerned about sounding like “the expert” when it comes to people’s somatic experiences. Many people in her field write that way—and some make a lot of money off other people’s stories. That doesn’t feel right to her.

“I don’t want to seem like I have some great secrets—such as ‘I’ve healed someone.’ These are ideas we all have access to. It’s so common in my field to write about other people as if you have the secret to life and have helped someone in such a profound way. I think there’s a way I can do it honestly, and I need to find that way.”

Permission: Grappling with Telling People’s Stories—or Not—and Integrity Concerns about Anecdotes

I reflected that, in my experience with her writing, Colleen approaches the page with curiosity and awe—qualities that come across and do not sound like “I’m the expert.” I suggested she experiment; give it a try and ask yourself those questions (How do I do this in a way that’s authentic and in integrity?).

Kaye Michelle Pezzini, a yoga/meditation teacher and practitioner of energy medicine and mind-body therapies, whose book, Your Body Knows, is coming out in early 2027, offered an interesting suggestion. Her idea felt to me like it came straight from the story’s subject (which explored various aspects of her personality as embodied in her left and right hands): “Find out what part of you is objecting and what part isn’t?” Explore.

Author, somatic educator Colleen Wahl — Author, somatic educator and coach, Colleen Wahl

I also suggested that Colleen can create composites of students/clients so she isn’t actually taking someone’s full experience (and make that clear with a disclaimer at the beginning of the book). Another option is to ask permission to use someone’s story. If you get permission to use it (anonymously or not), then share with them what you wrote, and ask them to see if that reflects their experience and to feel free to clarify or change any aspects of it before you publish it.

Kaye shared that, “I felt uncomfortable sharing what gets told to me in trust as well, but I wanted to illustrate to others what’s possible, so I changed their names and other identifying information and also asked their permission. All but one person loved to be included. One person said she was very private, so I turned part of that story into a composite with permission.”

Kaye also gave Colleen the feedback, “You come off humble and inspiring, not like a know-it-all. [When I read your work, I feel] like you’re figuring it out on the page with us. Some people have an ability to open the door a little wider for the rest of us. You are that person! By the way, I struggled with that too (Who am I to write this?).”

Time to Draw from the Pool of Stories and Experiences

Colleen’s conclusion: “I’m so tired of writing just my own stories. I witness so many interesting things in others. I think there’s a way I can do it.”

How about you? Are you including other people’s stories? If so, how are you bringing integrity to the process? If not, is it time to consider it (particularly if you are writing a self-help book, how-to or textbook, but even for narrative nonfiction, such as memoir)?

Do you have any additional thoughts or ideas to add to the discussion? If so, please share in the comments below.

If You’ve Never Read a Literary Magazine or Journal, Start Here

May 30, 2026 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

Today, I’m celebrating the release of The Northeast Coast Journal, Issue III, Summer. There are a lot of amazing things about this issue.

For me, it starts with that fact it includes my very first poetry publication! Editor Katherine E. Schneider chose my poem, Poetry Nite at the Rite Aid Parking Lot to appear in “Chapter II” of the journal.

I am now officially a published poet! Hooray!

Introducing The Northeast Coast Journal

northeast coast poetry journal — In May 2026, Lisa officially became a published poet. Check out her debut poem, “Poetry Nite at the Rite Aid Parking Lot” in the Summer 2026 Issue of The Northeast Coast Journal Chapter II https://www.thenortheastcoast-poetry.com/issue-iii-table-of-contents

In reading this issue, I realized, there’s something about the experience of reading a magazine or journal front to back–to absorb each piece in relationship to the whole.

So, let’s back up for a moment to share a bit about The Northeast Coast Journal, because it’s truly something special! And, should you read the issue, you are in for a captivating experience.

The Northeast Coast, or TNC as it’s affectionately called, is “an online literary journal and small press dedicated to the poetry and spirit of the northeastern coastal United States.”

The journal is organized in a way that creates a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Each poem arises in the context of other poems in its chapter that share a theme. I imagine the editor pouring over submissions all winter, unearthing the themes in those that move her, finding a way to tell a braided story in poem written by 54 different poets.

What You’ll Find in the Summer Issue of The Northeast Coast Journal

As editor Katherine E. Schneider writes, “The fifty-four poems contained in this issue will take you on a journey that cannot help but surprise and captivate. We begin in the Prologue with—what else?—ocean waves, before being pulled by the undertow into Chapter I’s eccentric, surreal, and at times hilarious recognitions of the meaningful mundane. Chapter II explores the many ways we see and define ourselves: within the political climate we inhabit, in midlife, in bodies marked by unique features, and through spirits that refuse to be silenced or restrained. In Chapter III, you’ll find yourself reaching for tissues even as you laugh, smile, and sit in awe of how profoundly these poems honor people loved and remembered. All of this leads us to Chapter IV, which invites us to question, reflect, transform, and transcend—as drummers strike an irresistible rhythm in a subway station and low tide briefly reveals all our secrets. Finally, the Epilogue closes the issue with two poems that get meta about poetry in strikingly different ways that you won’t want to miss.”

Get Started Reading and Let Us Know What it Sparks!

Lisa Tener, book coach, award winning author, poet — My dear friend, Paula Schonewald, snapped this picture yesterday as I descended the driveway to meet her for a walk. Looks like the Muse is accompanying me!

You can start with the welcome to Issue III Summer here.

For those in a hurry, my poem Poetry Nite at the Rite Aid Parking Lot appears at the end of Chapter II and you can read it here.

Or, you can listen to me reading it!

I hope you experience as much joy and exaltation reading (or hearing) it as I did writing it.

I’d love to know what the poem sparks in you. Please share!

About the Journey of Publishing Poetry in a Lit Mag

When I started on my path to poetry publication, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to submit my poems to literary magazines and contests. I’d heard how difficult it is to get poetry published. I am so glad I decided to submit!

In this post, I share more about my journey, such as about working with various editors I hired, and some lessons along the way.

Surviving Editors and Critics…Until I Found My Fit

LIsa Tener Nadia Colburn — With Nadia at Omega Institute last fall.

The whole process reminded me of taking a poetry workshop at a university writers conference with a poetry critic. For something like an additional $75 fee, one could sign up to get his feedback on your poems. “You need to be part of the conversation in the poetry community,” he told me. I’d summoned a great deal of courage to submit the poems. He didn’t so much share how to revise the poems as share why they were no good. He was a critic, after all.

That was over fifteen years ago. About a decade later, as I started to envision publishing my poems in a book, I imagined self-publishing. I just needed an editor. So, I tried three different editors over the course of four or five years, hiring the first to advise me on steps and to edit a handful of poems to get a sense of fit. As much as I enjoyed her poetry and her as a person, her edits didn’t inspire me.

Next, I hired a colleague, someone who had edited poetry at a well-known publishing house. His edits involved mostly proofreading, and he gave some reason for not doing more. My guess is that he didn’t resonate with the poems that much; fair enough. Not everyone will! He did help me identify which poems to share at a reading at my local library, which was helpful, but I knew I hadn’t found my poetry editor.

A fortuitous meeting at Omega Institute, during my first Qigong Healer Training workshop with Qigong Master Robert Peng, led me to an evening poetry reading and workshop with poet Nadia Colburn. Her poems touched me deeply. And the prompts she shared to help us write our own were inviting and stimulating, resulting in some inspired work of our own. I knew I wanted to work with her but she was not yet available.

Wow, in every session we had, I felt awe watching her clip whole stanzas or suggest a particular word change, or even change the line breaks and witnessing the way the poems became so much better with her magic pen! And then I realized I was absorbing how to work some of that magic for myself.

The Many Gifts of My Poetry Mentorship

Our writing group on retreat enjoying dinner – we finally meet in person (photo courtesy of Nadia Colburn)

I share the details of my poetry mentorship with Nadia and my experience (and tips) for submitting to literary journals in this post, “Tips for Submitting to Journals, Lit Mags and Contests.”

The mentorship has been extraordinary. In addition to support for revising my poems so that they sing (or else they don’t make it into the book!) and turning a bunch of poems into a coherent collection of poems that work together, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, here are the surprises I got from it:

Community: I will admit, somewhat abashed, that I wasn’t looking for community per se. I just wanted to produce something of beauty. I felt I had community in other ways, which is true, but through the mentorship I realized the value of this particular community. Five of us (just recently growing to six) plus our teacher became a community. We spent two and a half days earlier this month at my family’s shared beach house where we got to know each other more deeply in person. Those who couldn’t make it in person participated in whatever way they could (Zoom, group chat, video). Our confidence in our work grew, and we grew collectively.
A Published Poem and More Publications in the Hopper: I thought I might submit my poems to literary magazines and journals, but my interest in that wavered. Was it just a waste of time, unlikely to bear fruit? The mentorship gave me specific steps to take, hand-holding to take those first steps on Zoom with my mentor, and a replicable process. And three more poems will be published in August. I hope to have more to report as I continue to submit!
Busy writing on retreat! (photo courtesy of Nadia Colburn)
A More Consistent and Prolific Writing Practice: I’m writing more — in my Get Your Writing Done program, in the morning before qigong practice, on special writing days when I go to the family house to write by the sea with a friend or on my own. And I’m developing ways to capture ideas from life that I might have missed earlier — I even used voice-to-text to capture a few ideas for poems that came to me while driving!
Inspiration for New Poems: I wasn’t sure I wanted to write more poems. With so many poems to sort through and shelve, type in and/or revise, did I really want to add to my “burden”? It turns out, “Yes,” and maybe it’s not such a burden. Once you have support it can be a great joy!
A Greater Ability to Revise Poems on My Own: I don’t want to give up editorial support—I need it. But I love that I now have some ways to experiment with my poems on the page before submitting them for feedback. I’m starting to understand how to revise, the different processes to use, and the strategies to try.
An Understanding of How to Put a Poetry Book Together: I resisted Nadia’s initial attempts to get me to create a structure for the collection as a book. I’m so grateful she persisted. Now I understand how to create coherence in a collection of poems.

When Inspiration Strikes, Capture it Immediately!

As you can tell from the poem itself, inspiration came as I drove home from a reading at the University of Rhode Island’s Ocean State Summer Writing Conference years ago. Ideas began to flow and I pulled over to get them down on paper.

When inspiration strikes, STOP! Capture it. You think you’ll remember when you get home, or after your shower, or when you go to writing class, but it’s so easy to lose both the idea and that exalted state of flow. Have a great way to capture your ideas. I like to keep at least one journal in my car at all times. And several by the side of my bed (since they tend to migrate to my office when I type up my ideas, I need a few extra to always have one on hand). Yes, you can type your ideas into your phone, but research shows that handwriting enhances creativity better than typing does!

In case you missed it, here’s a reading and writing exercise I shared last month that had a profound effect on me.

And if you haven’t read the poem yet, please read it here and let me know what your experience! And share, please. I hope it will inspire many writers — poets and otherwise!

Best Holiday Gifts for Writers 2024! Writerly Books, Services, Knosh, Swag and More!

December 11, 2024 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

Looking for the best holiday gifts for the writers on your list? Along with a few of my classic faves from years past, I have new gems and inspiration for you!

Of course, holiday gifts don’t need to be material goods! One of the best gifts you can give a writer (or put on your own wish list) is professional development or services that will help them write, publish or promote their book, services and other offerings). Further into this post, you’ll find some fabulous opportunities, including a January writing retreat (Set your course for the year! Make this the year you write (and possibly even publish) your book!). Plus, there are some special holiday discounts for my blog readers!

Ready?

Inspiration, Snacking, Sipping and Accessorizing for Writers

Let’s start our shopping with a visit to Alayne White Spa online! Alayne is an author, entrepreneur, goddess of beauty, and dear friend. And she knows just what writers need to get unstuck and create.

If you’re looking for stocking stuffers, how about these quote pencils? And for a gift that delivers far more than its price tag, get your writer friends their own copies of Breathe. Write. Breathe. ($23) or The Joy of Writing Journal ($18) and support a local woman-owned business with your book purchase. A recent Amazon review compared Breathe. Write. Breathe. to The Artist’s Way as updated and even more accessible! It’s like giving someone a full-on writing workshop in book form with its video and audio content, accessible with a quick scan with your phone!

For those friends who need to get out of a writing slump or block, check out Alayne’s inspiring Write Write Write Gift Box, which includes Alayne’s moving and motivating collection of personal stories, Life Cycling, my The Joy of Writing Journal, and many treasures to spark your writing—from notebook to stickers to favorite pen and colored pencils and more. ($125)

Next stop, Etsy: I love to support creative and artistic entrepreneurs and their gifts are often special:

A beautiful “The Writer” mug on Etsy.
Bookish chocolates. These are cute. I first had in mind some gourmet chocolates in the shape of a book, but I’m afraid you may need to order them from across the pond—Cambridge, England.
I bought myself a book necklace on Etsy customized with my book cover after publishing The Joy of Writing Journal—front, back and even the spine. It’s super cute and well made! This is another special gift for the recently published author, although you will need to get the author’s book cover design to see the project through.
I bought these cute and sturdy book-themed tote bags ($12) one year as a gift for writer clients who participated in a focus group. They were a big hit. And I gifted myself one as well! So cute!

And here’s a non-Etsy gift from one of the writers (who loves to journal) in my Write and Create with Lisa Tener Facebook Group: Mark Segal offers indexed journals. Mark says, “Pages are divided: The left side for writing (I do stream of consciousness) the left side for reviewing and commenting and in the back, index pages to be able to find those gems at a later date.” If you’re someone who loves to review your journals to glean gems or turn them into poems, essays, posts or book material, this may be the journal for you!

A brief plug for self-care: help your writer friends get a good night sleep so they can wake with plenty of creative energy for writing! I love Blissy luxurious silk eye masks and am giving some to several beloveds on my list this year! Here’s your link for an additional 20% off, in addition to any sale they are having.

Serious Writing Inspiration! Retreat & Giant BONUS!

What’s the best way to ensure your BFF’s book gets done next year? Help them create a powerful vision, incorporate energizing practices to access their most inspired work, and start the year with some juicy writing—with a seaside writing retreat.

Robin Kall and I are again offering our Seaside Writing Retreat—with a twist. This second retreat focuses on creating a powerful writing vision and plan for 2025, using the same practices I teach my award-winning and bestselling clients and use with my own award-winning books. We’ll host an intimate group of writers and widen our writer’s support systems.

And we have just added a special giant bonus. When you sign up for the retreat, you’ll receive one whole month of Zoom writing sessions unlike anything you’ve experienced before! I’ve been offering my Get Your Writing Done calls for several years now and continue to hear that writers credit the program for helping them write their best work, finish their books and book proposals and consistently get into a flow state with ease. This bonus is normally $247/month for up to 16 hours of writing sessions and is yours FREE when you register for our retreat before 12/24.

Support Your Writer Friend’s Books and Creativity!

Does your writer friend have a new book out? Here are several ways to support them:

Buy their book!
Buy extras for gifts for other writers or readers!
Assuming you’ve bought yourself a copy—you have, right?—and found a lot to like about the book, consider writing a thoughtful Amazon review. You can even upload a picture or video of you sharing what you love about it (yes, Amazon lets you enhance your book reviews by uploading a photo or video). While technically, it’s not a gift, it is a wonderfully supportive activity that will mean a great deal to any author.

Is your writer friend creatively stuck? Consider giving them an hour of Creativity Coaching with my colleague Sharon Burton.

Special Offers on Services for Writers

I reached out to a few friends who provide services to writers and they came up with special savings on their excellent services and programs just for you!

Offer #1 Branding, Photography and Web: Emily Homonoff of Little Lion Creative is offering 10% off of all web, branding, and photography projects just for my blog readers and email subscribers. I’ve known Emily since I moved to the Ocean State over 20 years ago, and she was the fabulous photographer at our writing retreat this past August. With a background in publishing, she is especially poised to work with writers and other creatives. If you contact her, mention this email to secure your discount!

Offer #2 Tamara Monosoff’s Author-to-Income Formula.

You’ve probably heard me gush about my amazing publisher and launch strategist Tamara Monosoff. When I told her about this post and asked her to offer my readers a discount for her “Author to Income” program, she astonished me with a “for-my-readers-only” 70% discount for her Author-to-Income Formula. (Price: $147)

As you approach editing and publishing your book, there’s so much to think about and understand—overwhelming even the most organized of writers. Tamara will clear away the confusion and offer you a path for all your next steps.

This step-by-step online video course will SHOW you (YES! Tamara shares her screen) how to build a high-profit business as an author. It includes proven strategies to stand out from your competition, become an Amazon bestseller, gain media attention, and generate multiple income streams by leveraging your book and expertise.

This program is for authors who prefer managing their book publishing, launching, marketing, and sales and learning at their own pace.

This course will empower you with the tools and knowledge to manage every aspect of your book’s release to the world.

Holiday link for $147, usually $497 (through Dec. 16 only)

Once you learn this system, you can use it for every book you publish in the future. Just sign up by Dec. 16! [Note: I am both a fan and an affiliate and will receive a commission should you sign up.]

18 Benefits of a Writing Retreat

July 22, 2024 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

I love writing retreats for the many benefits they offer. Taking a day or more away from work and other responsibilities to focus solely on creative renewal can do wonders for your writing. Here’s a quick list of what a writing retreat can do for you:

A Writing Retreat RENEWS

Replenish Your Creative Energy: Everyday life takes energy. So does creativity. By setting aside a day or more for writing and renewal, you restore the essential energy needed to create new work.
Nourish the Muse: Spending time in a beautiful retreat location, such as by the ocean, can also help feed your relationship to the creative muse and give energy to your writing and other creative projects.
New Energy: If you’re feeling stuck or stagnant, a retreat can infuse new energy into your writing by incorporating new practices, trying new ways of engaging with your creativity or allowing the environment (nature, group energy, etc.) to nourish your creativity and your writing in novel ways.
Confidence and Commitment: Investing time and resources in your writing reinforces your belief in yourself and your commitment to your creative work.

A Writing Retreat INSPIRES

Openness: A retreat can open you up to new ways of seeing your writing project and your writing practice, or it can even give birth to an entirely new project.
New Possibilities: Group energy, the environment, the leadership and the exercises incorporated into a retreat can all inspire new directions for your writing.
Focus: The singular focus of a retreat allows you to go deep and focus thoroughly on your writing, which can lead to breakthroughs, insights and a deeper connection to the work
Voice: That deeper connection and focus can, in turn, strengthen your voice as a writer.
Flow: In my retreats and writing workshops, I share powerful practices that quickly induce a flow state, making it easy to write.
Community: A group retreat also supports you through connecting with others on the path.

A Writing Retreat Helps You PRODUCE

Write More: Luxurious time for retreat results in greater output.
Write Better: Taking the time to focus on writing away from other projects provides the space, time and focus to produce quality work.
Complete Something: Retreats can help you complete something. I’ve used retreats to finish a first draft, for example.
Learn Stuff! You can learn new practices, exercises and tips to improve your creative process and flow.

A Writing Retreat Sets You Up for SUCCESS

Leave with Tools: Anything you learn on retreat can be incorporated into your regular writing routines and practices.
Evaluate: A retreat gives you time away to assess what’s working and what isn’t, what you need to succeed and find fulfillment.
Plan: Before you leave the retreat, figure out what you need to bring back with you for the future: what gets in the way of your writing and what plans can you put into place for consistency, accountability, making time, generating a flow state, making continued progress, etc.?
Commit: Commit to one new element or a whole new plan upon your return.

Join Me and Robin Kall on August 23 for the Writing Retreat of Your Dreams!

Lisa Tener Robin Kall — Join Robin Kall and me on an unforgettable day!

You may have heard: Robin Kall and I happen to be cooking up a fabulous one-day seaside writing retreat in a sacred spot that is especially conducive to creative flow. We’ll be on a promontory that juts out into the sea in two rock formations, creating private beach coves on two sides and a riverside beach along the third.

Experience the support of exquisite nature, powerful creative practices and an inspiring group of women.

In addition to writing, there will be time to walk along the shore, in the woods or climb the rocks; share your favorite summer read during a delicious lunch; tour the art studio on the premises (optional); meet and enjoy great people; laugh; get your writing and creativity questions answered; renew your commitment to self-care and writing, and revel in your imagination.

Join us and nourish your mind, body, soul and creative muse! Here are all the details and registration.

The Link Between Writing and Health

September 28, 2023 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

(Updated 9/18/24) Writing and Health: Have you experienced the health impacts of writing or journaling? I’ve journaled intermittently since second grade when my grandmother gave me a diary for my birthday. At some level, I knew that writing was like breathing for me—necessary for life.

It wasn’t until my twenties, when I suffered from what was diagnosed as chronic fatigue and/or fibromyalgia that I discovered that writing can play a major role in healing a debilitating illness. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by the role writing can play in healing and have used it in my life many times—for physical healing, emotional healing and spiritual healing.

Another fascinating discovery is that it can go the other way, too—healing can impact our writing! As we heal emotional trauma or physical illness, I have found it to free up more and more creative energy and help me as a writer.

The Research on Writing and Healing

In 1986, James Pennebaker studied the effects of certain kinds of writing on health, reporting that expressive writing can improve mental and physical health. Since then, Pennebaker and his colleagues have proven these benefits in multiple populations and with various diseases and conditions.

According to the VA Office of Patient-Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, “Expressive writing has been found to produce significant benefits for individuals with a
variety of medical conditions.” These include:

Asthma (lung health/function)
Rheumatoid arthritis (decreasing severity)
Cancer (both reducing pain and improving physical health)
HIV infection (improving immune response)
Cystic fibrosis (decreasing hospitalization)
Chronic pelvic pain (decreasing the pain intensity)
Sleep-onset latency in poor sleepers
Recovering from operations

Beyond Medicine

You may have heard me talk before about Patricia Muehsam, MD‘s work and her book Beyond Medicine, which shares her healing journey, the process she used to heal herself, and that she teaches patients and students on a holistic path to healing their physical and emotional conditions.

Writing and journaling form a significant aspect of Dr. Patricia Muehsam’s protocol, whom I’ll refer to from now on as Dr. Trish, at her request.

As Dr. Trish is about to offer her healing course in a four-month online format, thought it a great time to interview her about the connection between writing and healing.

Absolute Health

I first asked Dr. Trish to share her take on how writing can positively impact our health.

Dr. Trish began our conversation with the concept of absolute health. “In my work, I talk about a concept called absolute health, simply peace of mind. Peace of mind is where we need to be for healing to happen. The body will not heal otherwise if the body is not calm. It also is where we need to be for clarity if we’re dealing with any challenging situations besides health issues—work, relationships, finances, life path.

“Absolute health is a place of peace of mind where clarity and solutions arise. And for inspired action, we know what to do before even trying.”

I found this interesting since in my Get Your Writing Done program we tap into a similar state of relaxation and peace of mind by beginning our writing practices with some qigong movement or breathing, a nod to the inner muse, and our one-word intentions shared in the chat box. From that place, we take inspired action and write!

Dr. Trish continues, “In my work and my book, I talk about the five absolute health tools—breathing, mindfulness/meditation, journaling or writing, mirror work and mind-body sensing. These five tools are tools for cultivating self-awareness, being here now in the moment, and being present with what is.

“All of these can bring us to that place of absolute health or inner peace quite swiftly, in minutes. They do so because they change our minds, the structure and function of our brains, and our bodies.”

Writing and Health

Patricia Muesham, MD did not have a huge platform, but she did get a book deal for her excellent book. Miracles do happen!

So, where does writing fit in?

“Writing is one of these tools. It allows us to be present in the very moment, to be here now in our writing process. In Beyond Medicine, I offer different types of journaling exercises to help us practice being here now and being present with what is.

“Writing helps us to cultivate this experience of being in the moment, where we experience the presence and inner peace that arises when we stop to be in the moment of what’s going on.”

Journaling Exercises for Healing

In her book and in her healing courses, Dr. Trish offers several journaling exercises for healing and experiencing absolute health.

“One of the simplest is just making a list—helpful for people not as used to writing.

“Another exercise is stream of consciousness writing, where we write what comes to mind at the moment, paying no attention to grammar, or punctuation, being as free and loose as possible where the writing hand is holding a pen or pencil (rather than typing). I encourage people to use their hands, not a keyboard to do the writing. That stream-of-consciousness technique is powerful for being in the moment with whatever comes up in the mind. If I give someone a writing prompt when you don’t know what to write, that’s what to write next.

“I also use different exercises writing with the nondominant hand, a potent tool that can help us slow down and get in touch with what’s going on internally. [Then we] connect with what’s going on. Nondominant handwriting can help us connect with intuition and inner knowing. Don’t worry what it looks like; even just scribbling can help us access our connection to our intuition/inner wisdom!”

The Science Behind Writing and Healing

“There are a lot of studies on journaling’s effects on health, especially expressive writing, writing about feelings that have immediate and long-term impact on our health. Expressive writing toggles on the parasympathetic nervous system, which facilitates resting, repair, healing, sleep and digestion.

“Conversely, when the sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight or freeze) is on we can’t rest, relax, sleep, heal or digest. Those functions are impossible when the sympathetic nervous system is turned on. Just writing about feelings helps to bring us to a place of calm, getting in touch with what’s going on internally. Writing can slow us down and get in touch with us. In the process, it relaxes us, even when writing about difficult thoughts and feelings; just getting them out helps train a state of ease and peace in both mind and body. This is where we need to be for healing to happen and for resolving difficult situations, to get answers without effort.”

How Dr. Muehsam Found Healing Through Writing

Trish shared her experience, “In the past, I’ve been a patient a few times over, and I share these in Beyond Medicine. There were times I was confused about what path to follow for healing. I would always turn to writing to get clarity and often started with just list making, making a list of my questions/confusions.

“I often went to stream of consciousness—flowing writing, where new ideas come. Then, I often got clarity from that. I also used inner child journaling: Using my nondominant hand as the inner child, what am I needing?

writing in bed — Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash

“I often got clarity about how to proceed and connected with the underlying emotions. Every physical issue has an emotion and often an emotional root cause.

“I use journaling to get a sense of what’s going on body-wise and emotionally. With my broken arm and extreme physical pain, I couldn’t journal with my right hand but used my nondominant hand to write about the pain and explore the emotional roots of the pain. All physical pain has an emotional component and the physical pain cannot go away without addressing the emotional component. Pain is in our body, thoughts and emotions. Recent research explains exactly how emotions are clearly linked to physical pain. The fibers in the brain that transmit emotional info to our emotional awareness center travel along the same highway as the pain fibers that transmit the sensation of physical pain. Acute pain, once it becomes chronic, no longer activates the physical pain center in the brain, but it activates the emotional center.”

More on the Research

“Remembering an event that caused pain can elicit pain. We think it’s the shoulder that’s acting up, but it’s the emotions that are acting up. This research is borne from clinical studies and placebo surgeries—for example a knee study. One group had surgery for chronic knee pain, and one group had sham surgery, and the people who had the placebo did better! The apparent physical cause was not the cause of their chronic pain.

“In the early work of Dr. John Sarno, his theory was that mental and emotional stress and repressed trauma were the primary causes of back pain. The mind and emotions play a powerful role in our physical health. And writing can be a path to healing since it addresses the underlying emotions.

“When I’m anxious or angry or frustrated, overworking, not listening to my body’s needs, my pain increases. Writing is a beautiful way to slow down, explore the inner landscape, and get in touch with our feelings. And I always encourage writing by hand.”

How Healing and Health Affect Writing

In my experience, healing also affects our writing. Healing experiences often open me up to the creative muse, and I find myself writing poetry or getting new ideas for books I might write, for example. My first published book came out of healing from chronic fatigue syndrome and the polarity therapy work I immersed myself in.

So, I asked Dr. Trish about this two-way link.

How Does Vibrant Health Affect Your Writing?

Dr. Trish answered, “When I’m in a state of calm, my writing flows. When I was working on my book, the writing flowed when my mind and body were in a place of peace, what I call vibrant health. In that place of ease, new ideas would arise, my writing would flow, and new ideas came without effort; they weren’t ideas I had to list out; they arose as I wrote.

“Ideas also arose for my writing when I was in a state of peace and not at my keyboard, and I had a habit of grabbing the idea and writing it on the notes section of my phone, and I trusted those ideas even more than the ideas that came when I was trying to gather information.

“Great metaphors and images would come. I wasn’t interfering with it or filtering it. It was just flowing through me. I might be walking my dog, and as soon as I got home, I would note it somewhere.”

Surrender to the Moment

“That never happened when I was trying to get the writing going, ever. I had to often surrender to the moment. I had to let go of the trying. When working with my editor, when I was trying, that blocked the flow of ideas and the goodness of the writing.

“I would need just to stop and return to a place of peace before resuming. That could be 10 minutes of closing my eyes or 20 minutes of walking in the park. It didn’t mean I only wrote when inspired. I would go to my computer every day in the morning and write. I’d work on other tasks, such as research, if I were in a not-peaceful state of mind. But other times, I would pause and do a mini-meditation or breathing and take a pause away from my desk to return to that state of absolute health.” [Hey, just like we do in the Get Your Writing Done sessions—movement and breath to get things moving and entrain into creative flow!]

Dr. Trish had the same thought I did.

She added, without knowing what I was thinking, “The way I understand and experience healing is the way you teach accessing your inner writer.”

“Why does peace help us access the best ideas and the most profound writing? We don’t access intuition, inner wisdom or creativity in a state of stress. Might we not access creativity when the sympathetic (fight, flight, freeze) nervous system is turned on? We can’t connect with the inner muse and creative process when trying to ward off the saber-toothed tiger.”

Experience Absolute Health

So maybe you’re excited about these tools of absolute health and what they can do for your physical health and your creative life.

I asked Dr. Trish to share the details, and here they are:

Beyond Medicine Immersive: A Physician’s revolutionary prescription for healing yourself and transforming your life

HEAL YOURSELF, TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE:

Upcoming Online Course Starts October 8, 2024

Imagine being able to thrive in the most natural of ways, to feel well in your body and at peace in your life. And effortlessly so!

Join pioneering physician and award-winning author Patricia Muehsam MD’s 4-month online course: Beyond Medicine: A Physician’s Revolutionary Prescription for Healing Yourself and Transforming Your Life. You’ll discover a path to well-being that is extraordinary in its ease and profound in its results!

For more details and to register, click here. $100 off course fee if you register by 9/23.

By the end of this course, you’ll discover:

- That you are the medicine — your healer lies within, your answers lie within.
- How to access your inner healer.
- How to find your way to inner peace, speedily and easily.
- How to facilitate bodily healing and how to transform challenging situations.
- How truly effortless your way to well-being is — physically, emotionally, spiritually, and materially.
You will come to know your unlimited capacity to heal yourself and your life.
Because you are the medicine.

What’s Significant About this Course

“I’m offering these tools for healing one’s life, but what’s important is that I’m teaching a revolutionary way to feel well and thrive in all the ways that matter to you. It’s revolutionary because it’s simple, effortless and available to us at this very moment. What people will learn is that they are their own medicine, how to access your inner healer, how to find your way to that place of inner peace easily, where intuition flows and creativity arises, that place we need to be to facilitate healing of the body.

“You will learn to know that unlimited capacity to heal yourself and your life because our medicines lie within.”

If Dr. Muehsam’s book and courses had been available when I had chronic fatigue, the healing path would have been much easier and quicker. I encourage our readers to explore this incredible opportunity in Dr. Trish’s book and immersion course. Full disclosure: I am also an affiliate of Dr. Trish’s program, which means if you sign up through my link I will receive a commission. I take part in a small number of affiliate programs and only ones that I think will be of great benefit to my readers.

Now, let’s return to my conversation with Dr. Trish Muehsam:

“Returning to the notion of absolute health, peace of mind—it’s so accessible to all of us —a stop, a pause, and a breath away. We can use those writing tools to take us there. Peace of mind is our essential nature. We were born to be in a state of equanimity. A calm and peaceful mind creates a calm and peaceful body, where creativity can easily flow.

“A disturbed mind creates stress in the body, literally. Every thought and every emotion has an instantaneous effect on the physical body—neutral, supportive or detrimental. Healing happens when the mind becomes calm, at peace.”.

About Patricia A. Muehsam, MD

Author of Beyond Medicine, Patricia Muesham, MD

Patricia A. Muehsam, MD, a pioneer in synthesizing science, holistic health, and contemporary spirituality, has distinguished herself as a practitioner, educator, research scientist, and author. She has been an influential force in shaping the landscape of healthcare options available today. Muehsam’s groundbreaking book, Beyond Medicine: A Physician’s Revolutionary Prescription for Achieving Absolute Health and Finding Inner Peace, has been hailed by Larry Dossey, MD, as the “only health and healing book you will ever need.” Founder of Transformational MedicineTM, Dr. Muehsam’s services include health consultations, mind-body healing sessions, classes, and retreats. She lives in New York City with Benjamin, her adopted Golden Retriever and sage spiritual advisor.

Sign up for—or find out more about—Dr. Trish’s course: Beyond Medicine Immersive. The course begins on October 8, 2024.

How to Overcome 7 Common Writing Struggles & Setbacks

February 22, 2023 by Lisa Tener 2 Comments

It happens to everyone. You write and write and feel inspired and then boom.
Or thud.
You’re just not writing.
Maybe you avoid it.
Maybe you sit at your desk but nothing comes.
Or maybe you are writing but hate it. The passion has leaked out of you and you’re left with blah blah blah.

There’s hope.

How to Overcome the 7 Most Common Writing Struggles

Setback #1: You Just Can’t Make Time

time to write — Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Does this sound like you? You vaguely have this writing goal, but you don’t actually sit your butt in the chair to write.

Solutions: You need to get that butt in the chair. What can help? Reconnect with your passion and reasons for writing.

Then schedule the writing time into your calendar with specific dates, locations and times.

Too much on your plate? Unless you’re a wizard with magical powers to stretch time, you’ll need to clear some commitments off your plate or delegate so you can create the time and space for writing. This needs to come before scheduling time or you’re likely to just berate yourself over not making it.

Setback #2: Lack of Inspiration

You actually sit butt in said chair but nothing comes.

Solution: Do you have an outline or structure? With a strong outline, you don’t actually need to write things in order. Go where you feel most inspired and work from your outline.

If you still don’t feel inspired, try a writing prompt and use the prompt exercise as a gateway into a state of flow for your bigger writing project. Or maybe the prompt will even inspire a new project.

Setback #3: Feeling Overwhelmed

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re in good company. The bigger the project, the more likely you are to feel overwhelmed at some point.

Solution: Break the work up into smaller phases or steps. (“Bird by Bird,” as Anne Lamott would say).

An outline helps here, too.

Setback #4 Feeling Lost

One type of overwhelm happens when you don’t have a sense of the structure or scope of your writing.

Solutions: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, a strong outline can help you overcome this lost feeling and get a sense of your bearings. Your outline may change. You may feel unsure of it. It doesn’t matter. Just work with it, or let it change. Just having an outline, no matter how dynamic it is, should help you feel more grounded.

If scope is the issue, consider whether your book is too ambitious in scope. Are you trying to capture more than one target market? If yes, that’s a no-no.

Consider, too, what your target market most needs and wants; trying to give them everything on the topic may not just make you feel lost, but it may overwhelm your readers as well. “Less is more” rings true! Save some of the details for a paid course or another next step your readers can take when they finish reading your book.

Setback #5: Hating What You Write

You put so much of yourself into your writing. When you hate what you write it can feel completely deflating. “Why am I even writing a book?” “My writing sucks.” Critical self-talk can be nasty. So just tell that voice to take a hike!

imagine a reader — Photo by Bryan Delgado on Unsplash

Solutions: One tip I love is to imagine writing to one reader in your target market. It could be a real person (your sister-in-law) or an imaginary avatar you’ve created in your mind. When you do that, the writing automatically becomes more intimate and specific. You may see a marked difference from that one change alone.

It’s also important to realize that your first (or second or third) draft is not the final product. You’ll be getting input from beta readers and an editor or two. So, if you’re on a first rough draft, give yourself permission to write something that stinks. You’ll make it amazing when you edit – and I have lots of editing advice to help you do that.

If you’re already in the editing stage, then read this article for 7 tips to make your writing tighter, or these 3 tips to make the writing more compelling.

Another option is to get into a playful mood. Consider the writing an experiment. Remain curious to see how it goes. No pressure, dude.

Setback #6: Self-doubt or Imposter Syndrome

Most writers experience some form of self-doubt from time to time (or even consistently).

Solution: The key is to let go of that critical voice – thank it for its opinion and move on. Remind yourself why you want to write. Get in touch with the transformation you’re making possible for your readers. When you take the emphasis off you and whether you’ll look bad (an ego and fear-based problem) and focus on the difference you want to make for your readers, you’ll find it easier to write.

If you question the value of what you’re writing about, remind yourself what knowledge, wisdom and skills you have that can help your readers.

If you’re worried about your writing skills (as opposed to your credentials for writing about this specific topic), remember that you can hire an editor to help you polish the writing later.

Setback #7: The Loneliness of Writing

It’s easy to downplay the loneliness of writing. We often think something along the lines of, “If I were truly a writer, I should be able to write any time, regardless of the circumstances.

The truth is that it can be hard to maintain momentum if it’s all up to you. Most people need more support than that (especially some of the most successful writers). Support can mean:

A writing coach
A writing course
A writing community: a group, which can be something informal on Facebook (such as my private (and free) Facebook Group or a group that meets consistently over zoom or in person)
Some other kind of writing program
Beta readers
A writing buddy/partner

I’d like to especially highlight my program, Get Your Writing Done, in case it’s a possible fit for you to uplevel your writing progress and complete a book or other project.

In Get Your Writing Done, you get:

#1 An Online Super-Inspiring Writing Group

One of the most important elements of success: a regular time and place to meet online and write
Guidance and a system for getting into a state of flow so that you write your most inspired work.
The support of the group energy and a committed guide (me!)
The opportunity to ask questions of a seasoned expert, share challenges, get help solving your biggest writing problems and more.

#2 My most effective resources for writing, self-editing, book writing (in particular) and publishing

Self Study classes to walk you through everything from a book concept and structure to completing a first draft (resources that normally cost $97 – $1297
Exclusive videos, audios and articles with my best advice plus tips and knowledge from industry insiders, including top literary agents, publishers and more.
Guidebooks for writing a book proposal, self-editing and more.

Find out more about Get Your Writing Done or email me to set up a call to see if this program is for you.

Join Me and Journal!

January 23, 2023 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

Journaling is one of my favorite tools for personal growth, creative fulfillment and transformation.

I do a lot of funky things in my journals–recording my dreams in the morning, which can include dialoging with a dream character, penning a poem inspired by the dream or something really out there like a one-act play with Greek chorus (not necessarily something I’m going to distribute commercially, but it was really fun to see where the dream took me.} Dream journaling can also serve as a portal to larger work like blog posts and books.

Just as fun and creative can be journaling prompts (I’m working through the untethered soul-guided journal I bought at Kripalu a week ago), and I still go back to The Joy of Writing Journal from time to time.

The start of a new year also offers an excellent time to journal about the kind of year we want to experience, creatively and otherwise. And, given that we’re already three weeks into 2023, we can think about how the year’s starting out and explore whether it’s going in a direction that feels juicy and fulfilling or if we need some course correcting.

If you’d like 2023 to be a wildly creative and fulfilling year, join me for a Virtual Journaling Party and Workshop.

Virtual Journaling Party and Workshop
* Wednesday morning, February 1
* 11:30 am ET, 8:30 am PT
Come in your sweats and bunny slippers or dress up for your creative muse!

Explore what would make 2023 your most fulfilling year yet!
Choose and prioritize the creative project(s) you want to complete this year.
Journal about what might get in the way and what support you need to get it done!
Set yourself up for a wildly creative and fulfilling year.

Learn the TENER Method for Creative Flow and
* Tune into your deepest inner promptings.
* Explore your dreams and vision for 2023.
* Riff on some juicy prompts to put your vision into words.
* Get clear on priorities and bring your vision into your daily activities.
Fee: Purchase The Joy of Writing Journal before February 1, email me a copy or picture of your receipt and I’ll send you the Zoom link.

Already have a copy? Buy one as a gift!

Join Us for The Nonfiction Writers Conference 2022

April 13, 2022 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

Benefits of a Virtual Conference

I have had the privilege of being a presenter for the Nonfiction Writers Conference a couple of times now, and a pro for the ask-a-pro sessions for many years. I enjoy attending as much as presenting and I’ve learned to block out my schedule that week so I can attend as many of the juicy presentations and author chats as possible. I’ve also scheduled time with other pros and gotten excellent advice on book marketing.

It’s my pleasure to introduce to you the CEO of the the Nonfiction Authors Association and the Writers Conference, Stephanie Chandler. I asked Stephanie some burning questions I knew my readers would benefit from, but if I missed anything on your list, please ask it as a comment below the post!

Lisa: Stephanie, thanks for joining me to talk about the Nonfiction Writers Conference, which has been running for 12 years! You’re a pioneer in virtual events. What are some of the benefits of a virtual conference and what does NFWC do to develop the networking side virtually?

Anna Quindlen, Julia Cameron, Nonfiction Writers Conference

Stephanie: Our mission has always been to deliver the value of an in-person writers’ conference without the time and expense of travel. For networking, we host an attendees-only Facebook group and we also have a special session where attendees participate in small groups in Zoom breakout rooms and brainstorm ideas, questions, and challenges. We’re going to have a blast!

The Nonfiction Writers Conference Author Chats

Anna Quindlen, Featured Speaker, Nonfiction Writers Conference — Anna Quindlen

Lisa: I’m excited about that! I’m also stoked about the featured author chats. Anna Quindlen was my mom’s favorite columnist when I was in my teens. Mom shared those columns with me regularly. We loved her novels, too.

Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way inspired me to create a stand up comic character—Medea Leibowitz, a New York psychic. I had never done any comedy but I took a class at Brookline Center for Adult Ed and it was a hoot! We even performed once at the Hong Kong in Harvard Square for our graduation!

So, I’m very excited about the featured guests, who have both had an influence on my creative life. Can you share a bit about how these two writers impacted you and why you’ve chosen them?

Stephanie: I love that you created a stand-up comedy act! I’ve always loved Anna Quindlen’s work. Her books are uplifting and beautifully written. In fact, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake helped me embrace the joys that come with aging and I’ve recommended it to more people than I can count.

Julia Cameron, Featured Speaker, Nonfiction Writers Conference — Julia Cameron

I read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way many years ago, but hadn’t really put it into practice. Right before the pandemic started, I happened to take a local class based on the book. We did all kinds of exercises, from pottery to painting to creating our own mini books. That experience, combined with the exercises in the book, unleashed some creative pursuits I didn’t know I needed in my life! I painted my way through the pandemic, and though I’m not a natural artist by any stretch, I am grateful for finding a way to decompress and feel creative at the same time. That book is truly life-changing!

Lisa: Wow, that sounds wonderful!

How to Reach Readers and Sell More Books

Lisa: How to reach readers and sell more books is always an important focus in the Nonfiction Writers Conference. Can you share a few of the speakers and topics that will address that?

Stephanie: We do focus on marketing quite a bit because without it, authors won’t find readers! So I asked Joanne McCall to cover how to host your own podcast tour, and Brian Jud to cover bulk book sales, and Bryan Cohen to cover Amazon ads. We also have Carla King covering how to build your email list, Misty Megia on commanding the stage as a speaker, and Dan Janal on establishing thought leadership with media interviews. Lastly, I’ll cover how to attract and cultivate lifelong fans—a topic I absolutely love teaching.

And For Writers Just Starting Their Book Writing Journey

Lisa: And how about for those just starting the book writing and publishing journey? Which of this year’s topics / speakers might be most relevant for them?

Lisa Tener, Nonfiction Writers Conference 2022

Stephanie: We’re excited to have YOU join us! You’re covering how to choose the right publishing path (traditional, self, or hybrid), which is an essential topic for any writer because there are so many pros and cons on all sides. We also have Cindy Tschosik teaching her book writing process. And one of our most popular sessions is the live Pitch-the-Agents event where 20 attendees will get the chance to give their pitches and potentially sign with an agent!

Lisa: I love the topic of publishing paths. I’ve always been of the mind that choosing a path is so individual–both to the author and the particular book they are publishing; there’s a lot to take in, know and weigh for that decision. Now that I’ve both traditionally published and self-published, I have even more perspective than I did when I only witnessed some of my clients successfully self-publishing.

And the opportunity to pitch agents is priceless!

Nonfiction Writers Conference Ask-A-Pro consultations with industry experts heading.

Pitch an Agent

Lisa: I love the pitch-an-agent opportunity. Can you share any stories about agent representation or book deals coming out of that?

Stephanie: We introduced this live session for the first time last year and at least two of the participants have signed with agents. I’m not sure about book deals yet, but these things take more time than people realize.

Lisa: Yes, they do take time! Signing with an agent is a big step. And an agent may require more work before they pitch to publishers, so that’s not surprising to hear.

How to get the most out of a writers conference

Lisa: What advice do you have for writers/authors to prepare for a writers conference to be sure they get the most out of it?

Stephanie: I love this question! Try to attend live when possible, turn off your phone and be fully present. It’s so easy to login and then let it run in the background while we do other things, but you will potentially miss a lot of value. We carefully select speakers so my expectation is that every single session will be rich in content and engaging. I want you to get the most out of it! We also have live Q&A with the speakers so it’s a wonderful opportunity to get your questions answered.

The Nonfiction Authors Association

Lisa: Two of the options for registering for the Nonfiction Writers Conference come with membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association. Can you share a bit about the benefits of the Nonfiction Authors Association?

Stephanie: Our community began in 2013 and each year we keep adding more benefits. Some of the most popular are the weekly Author Advisor email that includes curated media leads and links to featured content from our archives. We have a TREMENDOUS amount of content for members. From reports and checklists to templates and recorded interviews, you can find the answer to just about any question you have.

We also host monthly mastermind groups on Zoom where members break into small groups and brainstorm ideas together. And we have a private Facebook group, which is one of my favorite places to be. I personally check in several times a week and answer questions, although often times members have already provided answers because the group members are so supportive of each other.

We also have discounts off our classes, book awards, and conference PLUS lots of partner discounts from providers like Lulu.com, Constant Contact, Office Depot, and IngramSpark. The discounts alone can cover the cost of membership.

What Every Authorpreneur Needs to Know

Lisa: You’ve written nine excellent books on publishing, book marketing and running a successful business. What’s the biggest mistake authors make and what’s the most important thing for an “authorpreneur” to know or do?

Stephanie: The biggest mistake is waiting to focus on marketing until after the book is out. This is so common, so those who do are not alone. And the good news is you can start where you are so it’s never really too late!

For an “authorpreneur,” I think it’s important to treat your book like a business. This means getting a business license and business bank account, creating a marketing budget, and looking for ways to build revenue streams around your book. It’s no secret that it’s hard to earn income from book sales, so if that’s your mission, start treating it like a business.

Thank you for this fun interview! I appreciate the opportunity and hope to see many of your blog readers at our upcoming events!

Stephanie Chandler, CEO Nonfiction Writers Conference. — Stephanie Chandler

Stephanie Chandler is the author of several books including The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan and The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan. She is CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association, a vibrant educational community for experienced and aspiring writers, and the Nonfiction Writers Conference, events conducted entirely online since 2010. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur, BusinessWeek, and Wired magazine.

Writing and Community / Writing Community

October 5, 2020 by Lisa Tener 1 Comment

Writing and community–the power and necessity of community for writers–is top of my mind this morning.

Yesterday, preparing my manuscript for the final edit, I felt consumed by self-doubt. Why had I only asked for beta readers? Why hadn’t I hired a developmental editor? Does it provide enough guidance to beginners? Too much? Too little?

Consumed by The Censor, The Ego, Self Doubt, Saboteur

More specifically, surely this book was too simple, too meager, not enough.

The other book, the one I’ve been working on for three years. That’s a real book. But this one. How could I even deign to think the world needs yet another journal with prompts? Prompts, something you can get all over the internet for free?

Stupid stuff. Yet, maybe you’ve heard that voice in your head, too.

Writing Community

At my lowest moment, I received a call from my final beta reader, one of the most direct, uncensored people I know. She would tell me if it fell short in any way. What hit me most was how surprised she felt at how much she loved this book. She hadn’t expected that. The journal inspired her, put a smile on her face, felt fun. “Genius,” she said.

And she loved the special features that make this book more than a prompts book but a true vehicle for writing community (more on that when I get to the great unveil in a few months!).

My reader provided very specific feedback on a couple of prompts that didn’t sit right with her. They’d been niggling me, too. I needed the precision of her feedback to address it. But overall, I just heard this love and enthusiasm, this big YES!

Reaching Out In Productivity Mode

Last night I worked into the wee hours, adding some quotations to the journal I’m writing. I’m sending my final draft to my editor, Lynne Heinzmann today (so, I’ll just pop in for a few minutes but felt the need to write and share this with you in my writing community).

Last night, I sought (and found) quotes from my clients’ (and colleagues’) books (and author interviews) that felt inspiring (and fitting) for the journal pages after each prompt. As I wrote to each writer, I felt aware of our connection; bringing them into this project felt juicy and exciting–a way of honoring them and sharing their work, and a nod to how we don’t create in isolation; there are always others who’ve inspired us.

In truth, though, a frenetic state also leaked into my emailing frenzy. Rushing. Trying to get all the emails out, all the quotes identified. The pressure of a deadline. Making things happen. Making up my own quotes, here and there, wondering whether I was trying too hard to be profound or writing some garbagy quote just to have something to say at the top of the page. Judgment is never pretty.

And the Love Flows in from My Writing Community

And then, the gifts flowed in last night and early this morning. Wave after wave as each author responded by email with generosity, ” Of course.” “Thank you for thinking of me.” “I’d love to be part of this.” I could feel their love enfolding me. Some had read the journal; most hadn’t. Yet, each author embraced my request with heart.

I had thought of asking a whole bunch of bestselling authors for permission to quote them. I’m so glad that, with a couple of exceptions (and even those exceptions are authors I know personally), I stuck with clients, colleagues, friends, because their enthusiastic love meant so much more to me and to the project. Their quotations were beautiful, exquisite, perfect. There’s the integrity of quoting people who are part of my life, my journey as a teacher, coach, writer, friend, colleague, fellow seeker, entrepreneur, woman).

Yes, I threw in a couple of quotations by dead white men, two dead female novelists, and a couple of ancient religious texts. These did not require permission, and I felt a bit of relief at writing and sending fewer emails. Good quotations, I promise. There’s room for variety here. And no offense to white men or dead people. But I digress.

As I come to the end of this ramble, my takeaway is just how critical community is to the creative process, and how blessed I am for this writing and publishing community I find myself a part of–the big wide world of publishing and the small pockets–the friends I occasionally write with (Paula, Tracy), the spontaneous writing community in workshops I’ve attended (Eric Maisel, Kripalu, Nancy Aronie, Dani Shapiro), the Get Your Writing Done workshops I teach but also write in, my Bring Your Book to Life(R) students, my colleagues and participants at Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing course, and women in healthcare leadership course, the Facebook group of writers in Write and Create with Lisa Tener.

9 Ways to Connect with the Creative Muse

February 19, 2020 by Lisa Tener 1 Comment

inspiration for writing on the beach — I love to connect with my muse in nature!

Do you know how to consistently connect with the creative muse? Probably my favorite activity in working with clients is guiding them in my signature “Meet Your Muse” guided visualization.

We journey from meadow to woods to a clearing and a little building inside which the muse, a symbol of their creative source, awaits.

Questions for Your Creative Muse

We come with questions:

Which book to write?
Who are my readers?
What’s blocking me and how do I get unstuck?
How do I find my voice?
How to get over my self-doubt?
Is this the right timing (to write it, to join a class, to work with Lisa)?
What’s the optimal way to get this book written?
Should I self-publish or traditionally publish?
How do I organize the book?
How can I connect with you every time I write?

This list goes on and can get very specific. We try not to overdo the number of questions on a call and work to identify those that are key and timely.

If you’re not writing a book, you can still connect to the muse for any kind of creative guidance, such as how to:

Get inspired.
Break through challenges
Identify what project to work on next
Clarify your next step
Refocus
Rediscover your passion
Gain artistic confidence
Connect with your vision for the project
Gain perspective
Understand and express complex situations

And much more!

The guided visualization I described offers one way to connect with the creative muse. Ready for more?

9 Ways to Connect with the Creative Muse

Breathe: As a qigong practitioner, I do lots of deep breathing. Deep breathing naturally helps us let go of stress, resets the nervous system and opens us up to the expansive universe of creativity.
Close Your Eyes and Ask: Yes, it can be that simple. Close your eyes. Then ask for guidance and support. (of course, feel free to add a few deep breaths here as well!).
Play: The creative muse loves to play! The more childlike the play, the more creative you get. So, take out those finger paints or crayons and draw with no other objective than to connect with your creativity.
Sing: Singing naturally raises your mood and uplifts, making it easier to connect with your creative source.
Skip: Skipping is so childlike. The creative muse naturally responds to such a spontaneously happy act.
Feel: Maybe you don’t feel like singing or skipping. Maybe you feel crummy. If you allow yourself to embody the feeling, get deeply in touch with the nuances of that feeling, and find a way to express it–through writing, art, movement, talking out loud, you can utilize your emotions for creativity.
Get in Nature: Okay, if you’ve read my blog for a while, you know nature is my answer to EVERYTHING that ails. But of course. The muse hangs out in nature. The muse appears in the animals you encounter; the elements of sun, wind, earth and rain; the plants that catch your eye. Go deep in your observations and you’ll likely find creative answers to whatever you’re wondering about.
Read Something Inspiring–and Short: Read a favorite poet (Rumi or Hafez, anyone?). Or a humorous writer (Anne Lamott or David Sedaris). But keep it short so it serves as a bridge to your own creative pursuits.
Be Grateful: When you focus on gratitude for your creativity and creations, you’ll find the muse responds with more.

What To Do Once You Connect with Your Muse

You’ve connected with the creative muse; now what?

Perhaps you’ve put together questions to ask; ask them.
Or maybe you just want to connect and create. Go for it: write, paint, choreograph, sculpt, sing, compose, play!
Or maybe you want to create an idea list and then choose something. Good. Do it.
Or perhaps you feel inspired to invite others to co-create with you. Sure, call them up. Or get everyone on a zoom call. Community can supercharge our creativity.

Your Turn

What are your favorite ways of connecting with your muse? Share tips, stories, anything you like!

Conversing with the Creative Muse

December 31, 2019 by Lisa Tener 3 Comments

Lisa Tener Creativity catalyst — Your Creativity Catalyst

If you’ve worked with me or followed my blog for some time, you’ve probably heard me talk about the muse—an archetype for our creative source.

You may have also experienced the guided visualization I sometimes take writers through to receive clarity about their writing and creativity, experience a creative breakthrough or determine their next step. I call the exercise, “Meet Your Muse.”

I often ask my writing coach to take me through my Meet Your Muse exercise so I can easily access my deeper answers about my work. A recent example came just days after leading Leadership Coach Amanda Madorno in this exercise and meeting her creative muse—the ancestor horses. And so, before we go any further, I want to acknowledge Amanda and the horses for inspiring my most recent “Meet Your Muse” journey.

[bctt tweet=”Journey to the Creative Muse #creativity #writingworkshop” username=”LisaTener”]

We begin the journey in a snow-covered meadow, a cold landscape, a warm sun.

horse as creative muse — Photo by Alexandra on Unsplash

This is the first time I can remember traveling to meet my muse in snow. In the distance, I see a man wearing a fur cap traveling on a horse. The man’s breath and the horse’s breath fog as they near me. With a pat of his hand behind him, the man invites me to hop on the back of the horse and ride with him.

We ride with great speed. The man and horse perform all the work. I am literally going along for the ride, which feels exhilarating. And easy.

And then I realize: I want to take the reins.

The man and I switch places. This feels like an important shift.

I sense the vitality and power of the horse, feel the sleek, dark coat of this muscular being.

And a conversation with Amanda comes back to me. “Horses teach us to be fully embodied. To fully integrate body, heart and soul.”

I sense that this is part of the teaching of the horse that shows up in today’s journey—how to embody my writing, my creative work; how to integrate mind, body, heart and spirit in the work.

It Is Time to Ask My Questions

Because I had been feeling self-doubt and judgment about the book I’ve been working on, I ask my creative Muse, “Is my book good? Does it have worth? Value?”

You’re in the wrong question.

The right question feels nonverbal. It is more an openness to receive. The right question is a space in the heart that has no words. A space for the answers to bubble up, arise and inform, help me embody the work.

This answer is beyond words.

The words (of the book) will come. But first is the space for the words. Walk the talk. Embody your book all the time. Be the Book.

The book is the horse, is the snow, is the warm sun.

The book is the ground upon which you gallop.

I ask my muse, “Tell me what the horse is.”

The horse is the soul of the book.

An Invitation to Be Your Book Or Blog or Poem or Article or…

And so, dear reader, I invite you to imagine yourself as the soul of your book (or poem or essay or blog post or other creative project).

What is it like to be the book (or poem or essay or whatever)?

What do you learn from being it?

San Francisco Writers Conference 2018: How to Tap Into The Magic!

January 22, 2018 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

San Francisco Writers Conference 2018 Guest Post by Cathy Turney

“Ingenuity, plus courage, plus work, equals miracles.”
—Bob Richards, Olympic pole vaulter and decathlete

Magic happens when you try to do the thing you didn’t think you could do. At any age.

It certainly did for a technophobic baby boomer who began writing in her “mature” adult years and ended up publishing three books and speaking at the San Francisco Writers Conference—about Twitter (Twitter!). Yes, that would be me.

Get Thee to The San Francisco Writers Conference!

If you’ve ever thought about writing, you need to go to writers conferences. There is no better way to get the total publishing picture, from both sides (traditional and self-publishing), for all genres, for promotion on all relevant social media. Attending conference presentations and one-on-ones with industry gurus not only sets you on the path to your goal but forms connections: instructors will likely remember you and possibly mentor you after everyone goes home. The best of the best is the 2018 San Francisco Writers Conference from February 15 to 18, and there’s still a wee window of time to enroll.

Many writers are introverts, which is not a bad thing (as confirmed by the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking). But you get so much more out of conferences if you just talk to people. As author and motivational speaker Brian Tracy suggests, “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”

How to Start a Conversation at a Writers Conference

So how do you overcome shyness at a conference and start a conversation?

The first step is to choose a target—another bashful person. How do you know someone’s bashful, or at least reticent? Because he or she is standing in line for registration, coffee, session sign-up, not talking. You will rescue that person, who will believe that you are one heckuva confident guy or gal because you had the nerve to break the ice. Just turn around, smile and say, “Hi. What’s your genre?” (Don’t use that line at the bar.)

If your target is wearing a name tag and does not have exposed cleavage, look at it and say, “Oh, you’re from Fresno.” S/he’ll respond with something that might then direct the conversation, at which point you can ask what brought that person to the conference.

And then let the person talk.

Congrats! You just began a conversation. Others will turn around and look on with awe and you can bring them into the chat, too.

Other questions you can ask: Are you going traditional or indie? Who’s been your favorite speaker so far? Have you read Cathy Turney’s book on Twitter? And if you fear you misspoke in some way (which you didn’t, because if nothing else other people will think how kind you were to reach out), remember: there’s nothing shorter than the public’s memory.

When you run into a speaker whose presentation you loved (wearing a name tag signals that speaker is approachable—unless s/he’s sprinting to the next session), say “Hi!” and venture a quick question. The presenters are friendly. They would not be at the conference if they didn’t want to meet potential clients such as yourself. If you have a business card, give it to them because when you approach them after the conference they’ll be more likely to remember that you bonded.

Why I live for the SFWC

I live for the San Francisco Writers Conference. I come away from it each year and thank heaven I learned that, be it the latest in self-publishing and marketing, better ways to build my platform, or different writing techniques, not to mention getting to meet the authors and publishing leaders I admire from afar. Here are a few presenters I’ll be bonding with at SFWC 2018:

Rusty Shelton—marketing genius behind Chicken Soup for the Soul (and many brands), who overcame my resistance to Twitter in five minutes and started this technophobe on the path to proselytizing about it—who’d ever have thought?
Linda Lee—WordPress genius who magically tweaked my writer website into one that even millennials love.
Frances Caballo—social media interpretress who, I swear, knows everything and every program associated with the subject. And what to do with it.
Here’s a photo of Lisa Tener with Jody Rein at the San Francisco Writers Conference in 2014 (where I met them both).
Jody Rein—literary agent supreme, who shares gold nuggets of advice from her years of putting authors on the New York Times best-sellers list.
Jim Azevedo—Smashwords marketing director whose can-do attitude has launched countless writers into self-publishing. And he’s a really nice guy!
Penny Sansevieri—prolific author and disseminator of “Red Hot” marketing, media and publicity tips for writers.
Barbara Santos—marketing maven and author whose aloha spirit is felt in every aspect of the conference, along with her husband, Rich, who keeps SFWC’s website, email and every other “technicality” working.
Laurie McLean—conference co-director and founder of Fuse Literary, which has published numerous best-sellers.
And, of course, Michael Larsen and Elizabeth Pomada—founders of SFWC, literary agents, and icons of the publishing world who bring us, their disciples, up to speed on the make-or-break information we need to succeed as authors.

(to name a few.)

Twitter Tips for Conference Goers

Most conferences use hashtags to communicate with others at the conference, during the conference. It’s a great way to make new connections and develop online relationships, supporting each other in your respective work. You can quote a conference speaker in a tweet and the hashtag (#SFWC18) will help people at the conference find your tweet.

Hashtags aggregate conversations so that the tweeter can channel her post into streams where it will get the most interest. Or where people looking for a particular topic can go to view posts about it. An analogy would be a party, where clusters of attendees are discussing different topics and each chat cluster has a bubble with a hashtag and word in in it denoting their topic. For instance: a group chatting about food would be #food, one talking about kids would be #kids, and so forth.

San Francisco Writers Conference’s hashtag is #SFWC18. Once the conference begins it will become a raging river. Attendees will use it to arrange meet-ups, to share conference information with others who aren’t attending, to post photos and shout-outs to their favorite speakers, the possibilities are endless.

Quote your favorite speakers and tag your tweets with #SFWC18. In addition, see if you can locate the speaker on Twitter and tag them with the @ symbol. For instance, to quote Frances Caballo, include “via @CaballoFrances” in your tweet, as well.

For the San Francisco Writers Conference, remember to end your tweets with #SFWC18.

Before flying off, I’d like to say don’t let Twitter intimidate you. There is so much about it that you don’t even need to know about. Relax. Focus. You can quickly build platform and share your product or service with thousands instantly. And if you attend the San Francisco Writers Conference please attend my session, “Twitter—Why? Why? Why?” I’ll follow you everywhere!

Join me at the San Francisco Writers Conference—I promise there will be magic.

How to Write, Despite: What My Thai/Indian/Nepalese/Chinese/Canadian/British/Australian Students Taught Me About Writing in Thailand

October 5, 2016 by Lisa Tener 2 Comments

I made it to Thailand to teach book writing—despite my fears of traveling as a woman alone in a foreign city where I do not even speak the language. Several times, I wondered if I should really go:

It’s rainy season; I might catch some exotic illness from a mosquito bite!
I might get lost and wander down the wrong–dangerous–road.
It could be terribly lonely to spend so much time on my own.
How will I ever overcome the jet lag to teach?
Can I even survive 22 or more hours of flying?

Don’t get me wrong. I felt excited, grateful, awed that I had the opportunity to visit the exotic land I had first seen—and dreamed of—on the posters of a Thai restaurant near Manhattan’s Bowery district in my pre-teen years.

But fear could have stopped me.

I’m glad it didn’t. Here are just a few snippets of the gifts that came when I transcended my fears:

The opportunity to view—and be awed and inspired by—the grand, elaborate and exquisite Buddhist temples, along with the sublime Buddha sculptures, exotic architecture and beautiful paintings adorning the many buildings and courtyards of each temple.
The most delicious food I’ve eaten in my life: I especially loved the coconut soups with their curries, basil, lemongrass, mushrooms and slices of sweet, crunchy lotus root.
Well fed writers
My own writing breakthroughs, as I rose each morning at 4 or 5 a.m. to fulfill my writing commitments I made in the workshop!
Shopper heaven—exquisitely woven Thai silks, exotic gifts for my family and friends, lovely postcards and notecards—all at bargain prices with my strong US dollars. I know, it’s a bit materialistic, but, as someone who loves a beautiful bargain, Bangkok met my desire for quality and price. I can’t wait to see each person’s face when as they receive their special gifts.
And, most importantly, the opportunity to teach—and learn from—an incredibly diverse group of international business executives, executive coaches, personal development trainers and even a bestselling author from Vietnam—all brought together by the awesome team at NLP Top Coach, who had invited me!

People had flown in from Shanghai, Myanmar, Vietnam for this workshop, and their nationalities of origin brought an additional five or six cultural contexts to the class. I learned how we are way more similar than different from each other; how easy it is to find common ground, even when language seems a barrier; how easily a tribe, a community, can form and contribute to each other’s growth and creativity. The international aspect seemed to make that connection easier, not harder!

From Howard, a corporate crisis-buster/commercial consultant originally from London but now based in Bangkok, I learned that acronyms can offer an amusing and curiosity-inspiring set up that draws your reader in.
From Danuvasin, Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the prestigious NIDA Business School in Bangkok, I learned that a Thai foot massage—WHILE YOU WRITE!—can relax your mind and stimulate your thinking!
From Sateesh, what a difference one word can make: “Lovingly” transformed his vision statement from an 8.5 to a 9.7. One more small change and he had a 10 (on the inspiration scale) before he left on Sunday.
And from Sebastien, I was reminded of the importance of generosity—in our lives, our words and our writing.

We all supported each other in our writing commitments and many of us got up at 4 or 5 in the morning to write. HEAVEN!

Oh, there were so many lessons, big and small, and I promise I will soon have a new vehicle to truly share this Bangkok adventure with you. But in the meantime, as long as we are on the theme of transcending fear, here are a few thoughts about fear and writing:

As writers, we often face—or try to run from—our fears:

Fear of the blank page
Fear of revealing too much of yourself
Fear of not revealing enough
Fear of ridicule
Fear of success

When we face our fears—or “feel the fear and do it anyway”—we are rewarded for our efforts. No writing gets done if we allow fear to rule us.

[bctt tweet=”Here are 4 ways to skirt past fear:” username=”LisaTener”]

Do something you love first. Doing something you enjoy can put you in a heightened state where there is less space for fear to control you. In Bangkok, I did my Qigong meditation to put me in a calm and happy state. What do you love to do? What makes you happy?
Get support. Meet a friend at a café or library for writing time. The presence of another person can often help you get past your fear. In class, several people commented how helpful—and easy— it was to be writing with others. Who can be your “buddy”? Can you meet by email, phone or Skype, or is face-to-face more powerful for you?
Make a commitment. Your commitment to another person can lessen the fear. In my mind, I had been “too busy to write” for several weeks before traveling to Thailand. Of course, for a writer whose lifeblood is writing, “no time” is just Fear in one of its many disguises. By making a commitment to the class participants, I had to write. I couldn’t be in integrity and not write. Believe me, fear showed up in the morning, but I wrote anyway. And, gosh, am I grateful!
Get in a Habit. In Bangkok, my groove means going to bed by 9 or 10 and wake up around 5 to write. In Rhode Island, I may need a new plan. I do know that writing by habit makes it so much easier to write in the face of fear. So, feel free to call me on it when I get home and ask me what new habit I’ve come up with (there’s commitment, again!).

Here’s the thing:

Fear is small-minded and weak. It’s not even a worthy opponent for your fabulous Self. Once you’re writing, fear is powerless to stop you. The 700 pound gorilla is smaller than an ant. So, find your way to write “despite.” Please comment on what works for you.

………….

While writing this post, I received an email from Luke Salway, General Manager of NLP Top Coach, the company that invited me to teach book writing in Thailand. Apparently, we’re traveling to lunch tomorrow near the trendy EmQuartier.

On the back of his motorcycle.

If you’ve experienced the Bangkok traffic and noticed the huge dents in practically every taxicab around, if you’ve almost been run over by a car more than once, you’d know that it’s a bit fear-inducing to ponder this next adventure.

Now, Luke offered me an out. But he also promised to drive carefully.

How can I write about fear and do otherwise? Especially my last day on this exotic adventure.

“Do you have an extra helmet?”
“Yes.”
“You’re on.”

Yes, one more adventure to write about.

How Carol Lambert Got Unstuck, Finished Her Book Proposal and Signed a Book Deal

June 19, 2015 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

Carol Got Unstuck

“Last summer I imagined being 80 years old and asked myself, ‘What regrets would I have?’ Not finishing and publishing my book. That would be a big regret.” Carol A. Lambert’s work on her book and book proposal had slowed down due to a couple of personal transitions.

“Life got in the way. My progress was slow, on and off.”

When she anticipated the potential regret of not finishing, Carol decided to make the book a priority again.

“I felt stuck, though, not as energized. Then I got an email to sign up for the free call Writing in the Zone.” That call inspired Carol to sign up for the series of the same name.

The 6 Elements That Got Carol Unstuck

women-with-controlling-partners — Carol’s book

Several elements of Writing in the Zone helped Carol overcome her writing challenges:

1. Passion: “Writing in the Zone helped me find my way back to my passion.”

2. Commitment: “I needed a committed way to make it happen. In the class, I made a commitment to the process, to Lisa and to my accountability partner. That worked. It helped me follow through.”

3. Structure: “The structure kept me on task. Weekly calls with my accountability partner also made it easy to stay on track.”

4. Community: “When my partner felt a lack of confidence and asked, ‘Who am I to write a book?’ I sent her the Marianne Williamson quote, ‘Who are you not to…?'” The mutual support, just 15 minutes a week, energized Carol.

5. Vision: “I loved the exercise of creating a vision statement. And hearing other people’s vision statements also helped me clarify mine.”

6. Momentum: “The focus on gratitude at the end of each writing session left me feeling inspired and grateful instead of disappointed. That was very powerful for me. Writing in the Zone got me unstuck and carried me through the rest of the process.”

In Carol’s case, after she got unstuck, “the rest of the process” meant completing a book proposal with brainstorming, guidance and feedback from me. We queried two acquisitions editors I knew and Carol received offers from both publishers. Both publishers were very excited about Carol’s book, Women with Controlling Partners and Carol and I are thrilled with the level of passion and resources that New Harbinger brought to publishing and promoting her book.

November 2017 Update:

Carol’s book is now published and you can buy it here.

While I am not currently teaching Writing in the Zone, I will be teaching Bring Your Book to Life® in February and it’s not too early to sign up and begin the private work with me to get started!

October is the Month for Writers Conferences and Book Festivals!

September 17, 2014 by Lisa Tener 2 Comments

I love writers conferences–both presenting and attending workshops. Perhaps my favorite aspect of writers conferences is the opportunity for new input into one’s writing:

An essayist may show you a new way of seeing something about your writing.
Or a poet may teach you a nifty trick to get your creative juices flowing.
Or you may learn some editing tools that make your writing better.

There’s also, of course, the sense of community–just being around other people who love writing, who love words. I often find myself especially inspired after the evening readings–staying up late to write some more.

Writers conferences also offer a time to step away from all the responsibilities of everyday life to completely focus on writing. That focus can also be powerful.

If you’re thinking about a writers conference, October is a perfect month:

Here is a sampling of writers conferences and book festivals coming up in October:

Oct. 17-19, 2014 – Digital Authors 2.0 and Self-Publishing Conference, sponsored by West Coast Writers Conferences. Los Angeles Valley College, Van Nuys, CA

Oct. 17-19, 2014 – Whistler Readers and Writers Festival, Whistler, BC

Oct. 19-24, 2014 – Salt Cay Writers Retreat, Salt Cay, Bahamas

Oct. 25, 2014 – Boston Book Festival – free and excellent! (150 Presenters, including Doris Kearns Goodwin and Herbie Hancock on memoir)

Oct. 21-26, 2014 – The Vancouver Writers Fest, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Oct. 24-26, 2014 – Chicago Writers Conference, University Center, Chicago, IL

Oct. 24-26, 2014 – The La Jolla Writers Conference, Paradise Point Resort and Spa, San Diego, CA

And here are a few in November:

Salt Cay Writers Retreat — Salt Cay, Bahamas

Nov. 6-9, 2014 – Sanibel Island Writers Conference, Sanibel Island, FL

Nov. 15, 2014 – Baltimore Writers’ Conference, Towson, MD

Nov. 16-23, 2013 – Miami Book Fair International, Miami, FL

Know of one not listed here? Add it as a comment! Thanks.

How to Write with Ease: Brief Video Chat

February 7, 2014 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

As you may know, next week at the San Francisco Writers Conference, I’ll be sharing how to get into that space where you are writing your most inspired writing and the words flow with ease. I call it “Writing in the Zone.”

Here’s a sneak peek at the workshop where I discuss the first step, clearing your mind (and body, workspace…anything that needs clearing) so you can enter that sacred inner space to write.

Many thanks to Anne Hill for introducing me to Google Hangouts and for this fun interview.

Yes, there is still time to sign up for my “Writing in the Zone” pre-conference workshop for only $99, Anne Hill’s “Being an Author for the Long Haul,” Mike Larsen’s and Jody Rein’s “3 Steps to a Winning Proposal” or any of the other terrific pre-conference and post conference workshops on February 13 and 17.

WRITING CLASSES at the 2014 SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS CONFERENCE

February 4, 2014 by Lisa Tener Leave a Comment

If you’ve been thinking of going to the San Francisco Writers Conference but can’t quite make the whole event, consider signing up for one or two pre-conference or post-conference workshops. These fabulous workshops can help you:

* Connect with your muse.

* Hone new skills.

* Find and create community.

* Grow as a writer or business person.

* Have fun around writing and publishing.

* Raise your writing prowess another notch!

Open to All!

You do not have to go to the conference to sign up for these classes.

InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, California & Mason Streets

www.sfwriters.org

Thursday, February 13^TH

9 to noon

WRITING IN THE ZONE: 5 Steps to Inspired Flow. Lisa Tener. $99
WHAT’S THE BIG—OR LITTLE IDEA?: Creating a Concept that Will Succeed. Matthew Frederick. $99
3 STEPS TO A WINNING PROPOSAL: What you Need to Sell or Publish a Book. Mike Larsen. $99.
PITCHCRAFT: How to Make The Perfect Pitch. Katharine Sands. $ 125
BEING AN AUTHOR FOR THE LONG HAUL: How to Balance Marketing & Writing. Anne Hill. $99

6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

BLOOD MONEY: The Essential Elements of Bestselling Crime Fiction .Sheldon Siegel. $125
THE TRUTH ABOUT FICTION: Finding Your Story and Understanding How to Tell It Chuck Adams. $125.
PLOTTING FOR MIDDLE GRADE AND YOUNG ADULT STORIES. Martha Alderson. $99
SUCCESS IN THE AGE OF MICROMEDIA: How to Think Like a Media Outlet to Grow Your Platform and Get More Publicity. Rusty Shelton. $125
PREPPING YOUR IDEA AND YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS: 9 Steps for Developing a Winning Business Plan for Your Book . Nina Amir. $99

Monday, February 17^TH

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SELF-PUBLISHING BOOT CAMP: Going Step-by-Step to Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Books in Print and Every Popular E-book Format. This day-long boot camp with a team of experts is packed with how-to information on formatting, publishing, promoting, and selling your book in print and every popular e-book format. You will leave with the print version of the Self-Publishing Boot Camp Guide for Authors, freebies, discounts, and a clear vision of how to publishing your book. Carla King. $198

9 to noon

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED SUCCESSFULLY. Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry. $125
HOW TO SELL ALMOST 100% OF YOUR NONFICTION WRITING. Gordon Burgett. $99
UNLOCKING THE KEY TO YOUR MEMOIR: Finding Your Voice. Adair Lara. $125

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

TERSE, TENSE & TIGHT: Taming Books into Screenplays and Teleplays. Marilyn R. Atlas. $125
PUBLISH YOUR BOOK FREE IN MINUTES, MARKET IT WORLDWIDE IN DAYS. Gordon Burgett. $99
HOW TO MANAGE SOCIAL MEDIA IN 30 MINUTES A DAY: 4 Steps for Saving Time While Meeting Your Goals. Frances Caballo. $99
WORDPRESS BLOGS FOR NON-TECHIES: Bring Your Laptop, Leave with a Blog. Linda Lee. $99

More info here on San Francisco Writers Conference workshops for writers.

And here is the full schedule for the San Francisco Writers Conference.

How to Make Money Writing, Teaching, Editing, and Doing What You Love , Part 2

January 29, 2014 by Lisa Tener 2 Comments

Book writing coach lisa tener — Your Book Writing Coach

As I prepare to offer a presentation at The San Francisco Writers Conference on The 6-Figure Author: 21 Principles to Make Money Writing, Teaching, Editing and Doing What You Love, I’ve been thinking a great deal on all the lessons I’ve learned to become a 6-figure writer and the people who helped me get there. I think it’s time I introduced you to some of the wisdom of a few of those folks, two of whom will be presenting at the San Francisco Writer’s Conference.

So, let’s assume you read my last post–also on how to make money writing, editing, teaching and doing what you love–and you understand how to price your services based on value–and how to increase the value of your skills and talents. What next? Next, I’d like you to focus just a little on marketing. I know, marketing is worse than a four letter word to many people. Maybe you’re one of them.

Last year, I worked with a consultant who suggested I apply for three awards, one in the category “marketing.” I felt a little uncomfortable about it but she convinced me. Then, the craziest thing happened: I won Marketer of the Year – Media for my size company (small) from the American Business Awards. It was the GOLD Stevie Award. And, yes, I felt excited, but I also felt a little embarrassed. The worse-than-a-four-letter-word thing.

So, I had to take a day or two and get my head around what I know marketing truly is–and not the dirty word some folks have made it into. At the heart of marketing is service–understanding who you are serving, what they need and want, what keeps them up at night–and then delivering that to them, with a smile, with some panache, perhaps. Listening when your market–the people you serve–have something to tell you. And, yes, marketing is about helping them find you!

In that vein, I thought about some of the many people who taught me about marketing along the way. Here are five people I believe are great at marketing–and what they’ve taught me about serving and succeeding:

Linda Joy: Linda taught me many things about marketing. One of them is to ask people to help you spread the word about your services. Ask your former or current clients, ask the people who referred them in the first place. You’re offering them not only a chance to help you, but a chance to help the person they refer.

Julia Griffin: Julia is a mentor extraordinaire. She’s taught me about enjoying everything in life more–and having success in bringing my vision to fruition. Among the zillions of things I’ve learned from Julia is that less is more. It’s so easy to take on project after project, run yourself ragged and lose the ability to savor all the beautiful things about your life. One of the best things you can do is to return to how you want your work to impact the people you serve. Spend time each day seeing your work making an impact for others. Tap into the feeling of what you’re helping your clients (or students) create–whether it’s a book, an article, a business memo or something else entirely. The more time you spend on this, the more easily the other marketing activities will flow–and the more effectively and efficiently you’ll achieve your vision–including a successful business.

Jeanna Gabellini: I’m taking Jeanna’s Healthy, Wealthy Launch class right now and I see how much fun Jeanna has in marketing her services. I’m sure–well, I hope–that you have fun writing, editing and/or teaching. Can you bring some of that same sense of fun to marketing? Take the edge off?

Rusty Shelton: Rusty was our publicist for The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger. He was a dream to work with and our book got all kinds of national publicity–from a fabulous book review in the Chicago Tribune to a quote in Glamour to a spot in USA Weekend–and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But his sense of service didn’t end when our contract was over. He continued to send opportunities our way when they came up. As a result, I’ve become more than just a happy former client. I’m a huge fan and, of course, I recommend his services all the time–knowing that he will more than deliver for the authors I recommend him to. Go the extra mile and people will do the same for you–and they’ll feel so good about recommending you knowing you will provide that same kind of value you gave to them.

Michael Larsen: Mike was a “paper mentor” long before I met him in person. At the suggestion of literary agent Rita Rosenkranz, I purchased the second edition of How to Write a Book Proposal and–with my co-authors–got a book deal using his guidelines and examples. One thing Mike emphasizes every time I hear him speak is community. To be a successful writer, particularly in this time of ultra-connectivity, you need to connect–to writers, colleagues, mentors, clients and others. Communities will support your success–and that includes financial success.

So, can you guess where I’m going with this? What better way to be in community than to attend a truly fabulous writers conference? Well, lucky you, there’s still space at the San Francisco Writers Conference where you can create community with other writers, bestselling authors, literary agents, acquisitions agents (publishers), business experts, publicists and all sorts of great and brilliant people who will be fellow travelers along your path. In fact, two of the mentors I mentioned above, Rusty Shelton and Michael Larsen, will be presenting at the conference (Mike is co-founder), so they can become part of your dynamic writing and publishing community!

Please do join me at the conference for THE SIX-FIGURE WRITER: 21 Principles for Making Money Writing, Teaching, Editing, and Doing What You Love where you’ll learn all 21 of my principles (and at least 3 bonus principles, because I keep getting more ideas!). You may also enjoy my half day pre-conference workshop on Thursday Feb. 13: Writing in the Zone: 5 Steps to Inspired Flow.

And, I want to tell you about all the amazing workshops, panels and opportunities to create community, but the easiest thing is really to go to the San Francisco Writers Conference website and see the schedule. Let me know if you’re coming! And please do share your comments below, particularly any marketing lessons you learned from your mentors or experiences.

San Francisco Writers Conference 2014: Writing Workshops, Publishing Panels and More

January 18, 2014 by Lisa Tener 1 Comment

The first writers conference I ever attended was offered by the International Woman Writers Guild. It was both magical and instrumental to my publishing success.

There, I met agent Rita Rosenkranz who offered me advice that ultimately got my first book (The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger) published. It also taught me the value of being part of a community of writers.

Since then I treasure any time at writers conferences–teaching or participating. I’m especially looking forward to my first experience of the famed San Francisco Writers Conference which starts February 13. Many colleagues have shared what an outstanding writers conference this is and how they look forward to it year after year.

Consider joining me for the pre-conference workshop WRITING IN THE ZONE: 5 Steps to Inspired Flow. I often hear from people years after they’ve taken this workshop that Writing in the Zone transformed their writing practice–or took it to a whole new level. Plus, it will give us an opportunity to work together at the conference–so sign up (or find out more) here.

writing coach lisa tener jumps up — Lift off–write a poem!

Writing in the Zone will teach you to:

Develop an inspired vision for any writing project
Connect with your muse to explore and access your creative guidance
Enter the Flow to experience the joy of inspired writing in a spontaneous way
Consistently write in the zone, any time, any place
Amplify your creativity and write with greater efficiency and ease

While you can attend the pre-conference workshop on its own, I encourage you to attend the entire conference for the breadth of workshops, sense of community, opportunities to network and more.

You’ll find writing workshops to help you fall in love with writing all over again:

WRITING AS A LABOR OF LOVE with Michael Larsen, Brian Felsen, Harvey Pawl and presenters who are authors of books published because of the conference
WRITERS ARE THE PEOPLE WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR: Writing and Nonfiction That Inspires Change with Charlotte Ashlock, Jan Johnson, Brenda Knight. Moderator: Michael Larsen
UNLOCKING THE KEY TO YOUR MEMOIR: Finding Your Voice with Adair Lara
WRITING AS IF YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT: Crafting the Prose of Pros with Constance Hale
BRINGING YOUR LIFE TO LIFE ON THE PAGE: How to Make Book Buyers Want to Read Your Story with Regina Brooks, Zoe Fitzgerald Carter, Ann Seymour
DISCOVER YOUR CREATIVE COMPASS: 3 Keys to Overcoming Obstacles and Writing Like a Pro with Dan Millman

Sessions to help you publish, including:

FROM MANUSCRIPT TO BOOK: How an Author and Editor Give Birth to a Book with NoViolet Bulawayo, Laura Tisdel
THE HOW TO OF HOW-TOS: Writing Practical Nonfiction with Bonnie Lee, Shasta Nelson, Jody Rein
FROM HOOKS TO BOOKS: Grabbing the Attention of Agents and Editors with Your Talking Tagline and Platform with Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Elisa Sasa Southard
3 STEPS TO A WINNING PROPOSAL: What Every Author Needs to Know About Selling or Publishing a Nonfiction Book with Michael Larsen, Jody Rein
SELF-PUBLISHING BOOT CAMP: A Step-by-Step Guide to Publishing, Promoting and Selling Your Book with Carla King
THE NEW MASS MARKET BOOK: Breaking into Publishing with Ebooks with Mark Coker, Brian Felsen, Randy Kuckuck, Christine Munroe
PITCHCRAFT: Convincing Agents and Editors to See Your Work with a Dynamite Pitch with Katharine Sands
NONFICTION PITCHATHON
Bring your pitch and a panel of pros will give you feedback on it: with Terry Whalin, Nina Amir, others tba. Moderator: Michael Larsen
MAKING YOUR WORK REJECTION-PROOF: Advice from Freelance Editors with Tanya Egan Gibson, Mary Knippel, Heather Lazare, Wendy Tokunaga.
Moderator: David Colin Carr
FOR WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Query Letters That Work
with Brian Klems, Rayhane Sanders; Terry Whalin

Sessions to help you grow your platform, reach readers and sell books:

SELLING BOOKS IN THE AGE OF MICROMEDIA: How to Think Like a Media Outlet to Grow Your Platform and Get More Publicity with Rusty Shelton
FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE: How to Give Readings That Fill Seats with Brad Henderson, Andy Jones
FINDING AND WORKING WITH A FREELANCE PUBLICIST with Karma Bennett, Frances Caballo, Anne Hill, Rusty Shelton
GETTING ‘EM OFF THE SHELVES: How to Help Your Local Bookseller Sell Your Book with Sam Barry, Bill Petrocelli, Neal Sofman

And sessions to open your eyes to new opportunities:

THE SIX-FIGURE AUTHOR:21 Principles for Making Money Writing, Teaching, Editing, and Doing What You Love with Lisa Tener
10 TRENDS DRIVING THE FUTURE OF PUBLISHING with Mark Coker of Smashwords
THE AGE OF THE HYBRID WRITER: Writing and Publishing in Different Media with Aya de Leon, Peg Alford Pursell. Moderator: Brad Henderson
BEING AN AUTHOR FOR THE LONG HAUL: How to Balance Writing and Marketing
EBOOK PUBLISHING ESSENTIALS: How to Produce, Publish, Distribute and Sell an Ebook with Mark Coker

And this is just a small fraction of the huge list of offerings (I focused mostly on nonfiction but you’ll find writing workshops and publishing panels on poetry, fiction and children’s books on the website).

Of course, some of the most valuable—and fun—opportunities include networking dinners and events, opportunities to meet and pitch editors and agents, Speed Dating With Agents: A Pitch-and-Learn Session and more.

And in the publishing panels, you will have an opportunity to meet nonfiction editors:

Chuck Adams, Algonquin Books; Charlotte Ashlock, Berrett Koehler; Brenda Copeland, St. Martin’s Press; David Ebershoff, Random House; Jan Johnson, Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari; Brian Klems, Writer’s Digest; Brenda Knight, Viva Editions; Caitlin O’Shaughnessy, Viking; Lauren Spiegel, Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Laura Tisdel, Little Brown; Terry Whalin, Morgan James. Moderator: Michael Larsen

And meet these nonfiction literary agents:

Peter Beren, Regina Brooks, Sorche Fairbank, Jody Rein, Katharine Sands, Stefanie von Borstel, Ted Weinstein, Gordon Warnock. Moderator: Michael Larsen

I hope to see you in San Francisco!

Writing Workshop

If you can’t make it, or just want to start the writing party early:

Read My Interview with the Event Creators

Her Voice, an ARIA Event

Here are the details:

Mindful Movement Practices and Journaling Prompts to Supercharge Your Writing

Practice I: Qigong Bouncing (Shaking)

Practice II: Listen to the following audio meditation:

My Gift to You

The Conundrum

Permission: Grappling with Telling People’s Stories—or Not—and Integrity Concerns about Anecdotes

Time to Draw from the Pool of Stories and Experiences

Introducing The Northeast Coast Journal

What You’ll Find in the Summer Issue of The Northeast Coast Journal

Get Started Reading and Let Us Know What it Sparks!

About the Journey of Publishing Poetry in a Lit Mag

Surviving Editors and Critics…Until I Found My Fit

The Many Gifts of My Poetry Mentorship

When Inspiration Strikes, Capture it Immediately!

Inspiration, Snacking, Sipping and Accessorizing for Writers

Next stop, Etsy: I love to support creative and artistic entrepreneurs and their gifts are often special:

Serious Writing Inspiration! Retreat & Giant BONUS!

Support Your Writer Friend’s Books and Creativity!

Special Offers on Services for Writers

A Writing Retreat RENEWS

A Writing Retreat INSPIRES

A Writing Retreat Helps You PRODUCE

A Writing Retreat Sets You Up for SUCCESS

Join Me and Robin Kall on August 23 for the Writing Retreat of Your Dreams!

The Research on Writing and Healing

Beyond Medicine

Absolute Health

Writing and Health

Journaling Exercises for Healing

The Science Behind Writing and Healing

How Dr. Muehsam Found Healing Through Writing

More on the Research

How Healing and Health Affect Writing

How Does Vibrant Health Affect Your Writing?

Surrender to the Moment

Dr. Trish had the same thought I did.

Experience Absolute Health

What’s Significant About this Course

About Patricia A. Muehsam, MD

How to Overcome the 7 Most Common Writing Struggles

Setback #1: You Just Can’t Make Time

Setback #2: Lack of Inspiration

Setback #3: Feeling Overwhelmed

Setback #4 Feeling Lost

Setback #5: Hating What You Write

Setback #6: Self-doubt or Imposter Syndrome

Setback #7: The Loneliness of Writing

Benefits of a Virtual Conference

The Nonfiction Writers Conference Author Chats

How to Reach Readers and Sell More Books

And For Writers Just Starting Their Book Writing Journey

Pitch an Agent

How to get the most out of a writers conference

The Nonfiction Authors Association

What Every Authorpreneur Needs to Know

Consumed by The Censor, The Ego, Self Doubt, Saboteur

Writing Community

Reaching Out In Productivity Mode

And the Love Flows in from My Writing Community

Questions for Your Creative Muse

9 Ways to Connect with the Creative Muse

What To Do Once You Connect with Your Muse

Your Turn

[bctt tweet=”Journey to the Creative Muse #creativity #writingworkshop” username=”LisaTener”]

It Is Time to Ask My Questions

An Invitation to Be Your Book Or Blog or Poem or Article or…

Get Thee to The San Francisco Writers Conference!

How to Start a Conversation at a Writers Conference

Why I live for the SFWC

Twitter Tips for Conference Goers

The 6 Elements That Got Carol Unstuck

November 2017 Update:

Here is a sampling of writers conferences and book festivals coming up in October:

And here are a few in November:

Thursday, February 13TH

Thursday, February 13^TH

Monday, February 17^TH