Your book is making an impact, even if you haven’t published it yet…and even if it’s not entirely written!

I often hear clients say that working on their book has made them a better teacher, coach, consultant, expert…you name it. So, their book has impacted the people they’re writing for even before it’s published.

Here’s a recent email I received from Spiritual Awakening Guide Kaye Michelle Pezzini:

Hi Lisa,

I’ve realized that I have a tendency to think in big picture concepts which could confuse, or worse, lose my reader. With your direction, I have been able to bring things down to a detailed level, giving readers specific, step-by-step instructions they can follow, envision and experience.  Not only has this helped my writing tremendously, this shift in focus also gives me a more concise way of explaining things to my clients, enriching their experience. Thank you so much!

– Kaye

There are several ways that writing a book impacts people before you even publish. Here are a few.

The Writing & Editing Process Will Make You a Better Teacher, Coach, Consultant or Expert

Talk about pre-publishing impact: Often, the editing process plays a role in how my clients speak to their clients and teach their material:

• They’re clearer in explaining how things work because they’ve had to figure out how to write clear steps without skipping mini-steps.
• The stories they share come to life with more detail, as I’ve urged them to get more specific and incorporate various senses, not just the visual.
• They come up with more powerful examples and metaphors as they write. In fact, a “Meet Your Muse” guided visualization on one of our coaching calls may lead to insights into metaphors and better ways of describing things.
• As you search for the best way to teach in the book, you’ll find fresh ways to teach in real life.

You Get to Be a Beginner Again

In addition, when you write about a subject, you revisit it in detail. And—funnily enough—the universe often provides opportunities to revisit the book’s topic as a beginner again. For example, when I was co-writing The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger, my co-authors and I revisited the topic of our book (anger) when we triggered each other on occasion. This provided opportunities to notice our anger, bring up conflicts, respond to each other’s behaviors, and communicate in the healthy ways we advocated in the book. Yes, in between reaction and healthy communication, we had a couple of upsets—and it reminded us what our readers were going through, helping us put ourselves in our readers’ shoes and speak from very recent experience!

You Refine Your Ideas and Make New Connections

As you write a book, experiences that continue to inform your thinking will arise. You’ll make new connections between your topic and whatever is happening in your life. You’ll also make new connections within the field you’re writing about. No good book is truly stagnant. You can’t help but stumble upon new territory as you explore in the process of writing a book. And that will impact those around you, even before you finish your book!

The Cocktail Party/Elevator Pitch/Networking Breakfast Connection

You will likely find yourself sharing the fact that you’re writing a book—whether at a cocktail party, in a networking breakfast, or…okay, probably not in an elevator. But who knows? You could be anywhere, talking to anyone and sharing about your book, and they would become inspired. Your work on this book touches them in some way. Perhaps they decide to finally write their book. Or they look up your website when they get home or binge-watch your podcast or Instagram channel. And the information they get there changes their life—even before that book comes out.

You’re More Likely to Share Insights with the People in Your Life

Your book takes up a lot of real estate in your head. You probably share insights with your kids, partner, sister or neighbor—more so than when you weren’t working on a book. Bonus: Sharing these insights likely leads to additional insights—whether from some response they have or from the “thinking out loud” process. Yes, even more impact from your book, pre-publishing.

She Used Her Chapters as Prompts in Group Sessions

During one of our “Get Your Writing Done” Program sessions, Jessie Monreal shared that she realized the topics in her chapters made for excellent starting-off points for discussion and journaling. So she began to bring sections to the counseling groups she ran and read them aloud. “It allowed me to help people before the book became a real thing—giving people access to the material early on, allowing them to process and reflect on their own situation. I got feedback that helped me build on the ideas, too.”

Your Behaviors Change as You More Deeply Incorporate Your Teachings

I have also found that as I work on a book, I go deeper with the material. When working on Breathe. Write. Breathe., I dove deeper into practicing qigong. And while the qigong impacted my writing, it also impacted how present I am with myself,  family,  clients, students and friends. I had more to offer others. I became a better listener. I became more aware. Consider how your book has affected you. What qualities or skills have you picked up writing your book that impacted others in your life? What are some of those impacts? Feel free to share in the comments!