Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready To Write!

BY ASHLEY WOEHLER

Writing, like singing or dancing, comes easy for some. For others, it’s equal to being one of those singers on American Idol that may make it through the first round but are quickly dismissed from the show. Being average just doesn’t cut it. Most of those that don’t make it on the first try never try out again, while others, those that want to fulfill their dream, employ a voice coach to help them get better—both in their techniques and their delivery.

Unpublished authors now have the same opportunity that unrecorded artists have; by utilizing a book coach, those that wish to publish a manuscript can see that dream come to fruition. A book coach, also know as a development editor, is a professional who teaches authors how to compose books. Working one-on-one with an author, the book coach assists the author with planning (including scheduling and proposal writing), stucture and format, style, and audience messaging—sort of like a planner, teacher and cheerleader rolled into one. Here are the main categories with which a book coach assists an author:

Planning

Sometimes the hardest part of writing a book is the foundational framework, especially for authors who have never written a book before. A book coach walks the author through the step-by-step process of writing, publishing and promoting the book. The coach will have a great understanding of how publishing works and will be able to assist the author in molding a broad subject into a concise, saleable topic. Creating a schedule and realistic deadlines are also part of the planning phase; the coach will be sure that the author adheres to the schedule (because, for a publisher, missing a deadline is like the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard—cringe-inducing). The planning phase is an important first step on the path to creating a marketable manuscript.

Writing

After determining what the book is about and understanding how to articulate clearly and concisely, it’s time to get down to work—it’s now the writing phase. A book coach will help the author figure out his or her unique voice beforehand, asking a set of questions to help determine what will guide the author to writing a great book. Understanding the author’s personality, who the audience will be, the author’s goal as a writer, and the author’s goal for the reader are all imperative points to figure out. Finding the author’s unique voice is critical; like an unrecorded artist whose voice isn’t memorable, the author won’t be able to publish anything if his or her voice isn’t heard throughout the pages.

The book coach will also assist in the organization of ideas, research, main points and written material. Many new authors may not have a clue of where to go to research, but thankfully, the book coach does—he or she can guide the author to the different outlets that offer many answers. After research is completed, the book coach will help the author develop the book by creating an outline and assisting with rough drafts and revisions. And as the rough drafts are written and revised, the book coach will be right there next to the author, assisting him or her to a developing apolished manuscript ready to sell.

Professional assistance

The book writing process is an awesome, yet tiring, process; as time goes on and the author gets deeper into the process, he or she may lose motivation and focus. It’s hard to get through anything when you lose motivation (just think of how we all start our diets on New Years Day only to give up and quit a few days later). A partner in the book-writing process, a book coach motivates, supports, and commits to helping an author produce a successful book.

So if you’re an author that wants to be the next John Grisham but aren’t sure where to start, you need to book coach to get you there—trust us, the agents and publishers out there have nothing on Simon Cowell.

Ashley Woehler is an Indianapolis-based freelance writer, editor and book coach. You can reach her at: ashes2ashes123@hotmail.com.

Live To Write, Or Write To Live?

BY ALICIA CARLSON

I love to tell people that I work as a writer and editor. Not because I’m proud of what I do—I wish I could tell people I was something really spectacular, like a cancer researcher, or teacher, or spy, or nun—but because of their reaction. It’s almost always about how they feel about writing. Often: “I am a terrible writer. I could never do that.” (Interesting. Must have had a mean English teacher.) Or, my favorite: “I love to write. I wish I could quit my job and just write.” (Because writing, of course, is not a job?)

Those reactions fascinate me because I am a writer, yet I don’t think I’ve ever uttered the words, “I love to write.” That doesn’t mean I don’t love aspects of my job. I do. I really, really do. But I do not write for fun, in my spare time, on the next Great American Novel. Honestly, I’d rather spend time with my husband or kids, walk the dog, go to yoga, or unload the dishwasher.

I admire (and maybe envy) people who love to write and pursue writing as a passion, even if there’s no paycheck attached. That drive to sculpt words into meaningful text has created literary masterpieces and fearless journalism.

But isn’t there something admirable in the mundane, workman-like approach to writing, too? Making a living by manipulating words into serviceable text? Taking a business-like attitude toward the job, and doing it reasonably well?

I’m glad the world has both kinds of writers. If you’re the first type of writer, you need an editor to help you from falling so deeply in love with your own voice that you run the risk of losing your readers. And if you’re the other kind—like me—you need those passionate writers to inspire you to lift your level of writing to something better.

How do you feel about writing? Do you live to write, or write to live?

Alicia Carlson is a freelance writer, editor and communications consultant based in Indianapolis.

Shameless Self-Promotion

It's never too shameless to give yourself a little self-promotion, right? We're so excited, because this week we received the first few boxes of our recent marketing piece, Get Published! It's a 16-page resource booklet intended to help potential authors/clients publish a high-quality book in a professional, affordable and timely manner.

Get Published! includes information about IBJ Book Publishing, book partnerships, the publishing process, marketing tips, portfolio listing of past projects, testimonials, client stories, online book companions and much, much more.

Copies of Get Published! are available for FREE at your request by contacting Jeff Libich at (317) 634-6200 or you can pick one up at our office at 41 E. Washington St., Suite 200 in downtown Indianapolis.

The New Dawn of Mixed Media

BY ERIN ALBERT

One of my favorite things to do as a writer is: read. One of my favorite book series to read was Harry Potter. Furthermore, one of the best creative and fascinating entities within the Potter series for me was the local witch and wizard newspaper, The Daily Prophet. Why? Because the newspaper blended flat print media along with video footage where the traditional photos would be placed in a newspaper. It appeared as hard copy print (like a newspaper), with video embedded (a la YouTube).

The Daily Prophet, coupled with the December augmented reality edition of Esquire Magazine (http://www.esquire.com/the-side/augmented-reality) really is the exciting new trend in writing and publishing—that of blending mixed media. Publishers are now hiring movie producers. Movie producers are reading more books. Writers not only need to think about how to write “the book,” but they also need to think about supplementing the book with online materials (such as personalized quizzes, or blogs, or both). Some writers are even utilizing iPhone apps to create daily reminders or thoughts on their area(s) of publishing expertise.

Frankly, this practice should have happened long ago, but as an author, I’m thrilled to watch the convergence of video and print come to life and evolve. Also, this merging of technologies could save newspapers. Literally, the savvy author needs to network not only with his or her publisher moving forward, but he or she also needs to think about networking with a cadre of professionals, who can help their message move forward, in several different methods, and several different media channels.

It is an exciting time for writers!

Dr. Erin Albert currently is a professor, author, pharmacist, entrepreneur, and student. More on her publications can be found at: erinalbert.com.