EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES, VIDEOS, AND PODCASTS FOR FAMILY BUSINESS CONSULTANTS WANTING TO WRITE A BOOK
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From crafting compelling narratives to building a loyal readership, this blog offers expert guidance for family business consultants looking to share their knowledge through a book.
Discover actionable tips, strategies, and inspiration to guide you through every step of the writing and publishing journey in our Practical Tips and Short-Form Videos.
We've also broken the writing and publishing journey into six different phases: idea formation, the craft of storytelling, editing, platform building, book publishing, and book promotion. Explore the helpful articles (and their respective podcasts) aligned with each phase.
Click on one of the pictures below to dive into the material relevant to your project.
PRACTICAL TIPSÂ ON THE WRITING AND PUBLISHING JOURNEY
Lessons about Nonfiction Writing from Martin Luther King Jr.
“What does Martin Luther King Jr. mean to you?” I was in seventh grade when my English teacher asked us to respond to the prompt above.
How to Write Third Person Point of View
I have a Kindle Unlimited membership. It’s a monthly membership that gives me access to hundreds of thousands of books I can read for “free.”
The Art of Ending Well in Nonfiction Writing
Recently, I cheered on my friend as she completed a half marathon. I plopped myself into the bleachers by the finish line. I waited for her fist-pumping finale.
The Importance of Alternative Perspectives and Counterarguments in Nonfiction
I’m a Star Wars fan. I’ve seen all the movies and shows (animation included). I have a personal library of Star Wars books. I’ve even bought and read a few comics.
The Discipline of Growing a Following for Your Writing
I guess I’m a gardener now. I do that gardener thing. Every morning, I brew my coffee, slip on my Adidas slides, and head out back to do my daily garden walk.
How to Use Dialogue in Your Nonfiction Book
I loaned my sister a book last week. She was in a reading slump. So, I offered her a romance novel I thought she might enjoy.
The First Question Isn’t the Best Question
Coach Eddie, my 7th-grade softball coach, is the reason I’m good at asking questions. The spring season wrapped up, and my 16-month-older sister and I biked over with my dad to Coach Eddie’s house to pick up our participation trophy (because you can be certain that the Mighty Mustangs didn’t get a trophy for placing).
Research for Your Nonfiction Book Needs to Be More than Simply Your Experience
Experience alone is not enough to write a successful nonfiction book. And yet, your experience is what gives your book authenticity, authority, and the ring of truth.
Why You Must Get as Close to the Original Source in Research
When my son was on his high school mock trial team, I was given a crash course on the objections in law. To name a few, there’s “Objection! Argumentative.”
Promoting Your Book Is Up to You
We live in a small house with a total of one closet. It’s problematic for a modern family. And especially for a self-professed clothes horse.
What Is Cohesion and Resonance in Nonfiction Writing?
I learned an important lesson about cohesion when we bought our 1923 brick bungalow 23 years ago and I painted my hallway pineapple yellow.
Tasty Quotes Make Tasty Writing
My husband reads car repair manuals. I’m grateful he has the brain to persist through that dreary copy—because when you own three used cars with hundreds of thousands of miles on each, you’re always just a mile away from a breakdown.
Don't Bury the Lede
Don’t bury the lede. That is a principle that can be applied to many forms of writing.
Only Training Can Show You How to Create a Scene
I don’t think you can really learn to write. Which is why few fine art programs in writing turn out prolific writers. Mostly, you need to be trained to write.
What I Learned from My Meeting with a Literary Agent
Before lockdown in March 2020, an HGTV producer (the team behind The Property Brothers) wanted to talk with me about developing a TV show around flea market decorating.
How to Structure Your Book - Movements
It was a hallelujah day when my Tupperware drawer stopped shaming me for being dysfunctional. Pieces we inherited after dinner at friends’ homes were tossed.
How to Simply Create a Website
Don’t tell my husband. I’ve spent $1,008 on nothing. Nothing. That’s what $14 a month for five years adds up to. No one would call me thrifty, but even I know that’s some real dinero. (I could have bought a fancy pair of shoes.)
How to Create Musicality in Your Writing
J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is like chamomile tea with a splash of lemon and drizzle of honey: Smooth. Sweet. Warm. Inviting. Not when I play it on the piano, though.
How to Grow from Nothing to Something on Social Media
Over the holiday break, I finally reached 30k followers on Instagram, after hovering around 28k for months. And the followers keep following. As I write this, I’m nearing 31k.
The Essence of Storytelling: Show Don't Tell
If I wasn’t speeding down the expressway already late for my appointment, I would have jotted down this scene from a podcast I was listening to. It would make for a great detail in a novel.
SHORT-FORM VIDEOS ABOUT THE WRITING AND PUBLISHING JOURNEY
Strategies to Land a Podcast
Landing a podcast interview requires a strategic and personalized approach.
Tips for Promoting Your Book
Building a strong platform before launching your book is crucial.
The Benefits of a Book Launch Team
Building a strong launch team is often overlooked but can significantly impact a book's success.
An Overview of the Book Marketing Landscape
The world of publishing is fast-paced, and navigating the book marketing landscape can be tiresome and confusing. What do publishers expect from you?
What Makes a Book Great?
Do you want to write a book but you're unsure how to make it stand out in a crowded market? In our most recent video, Anne Janzer, thought leader and author of The Writer's Voice, tackles this question: What makes a book great?
Common Errors to Avoid in Your Book Proposal
Submitting your book proposal to a publishing house is a defining moment in your writing journey. It's exciting! But it's also terrifying.
Writing a Successful Book Proposal: Differentiating Yourself from Competitors
Are comps actually important to include in a book proposal? According to book proposal expert Lisa Tener, the answer is yes.
How to Write a Book Proposal
If you want to land an agent or publisher, you have to write a book proposal. But how do you write a proposal? Lisa Tener, book proposal coach and author, shares her tips in this video.
How to Know If Your Idea Is Good Enough for a Book
Do you ever wonder if your idea is good enough for a book? We all fear that our idea may not be strong enough for a book.
How to Write Dialogue
Well-written dialogue brings your characters to life and makes your book more engaging. However, writing dialogue isn't just about writing down conversations as they would happen in real life.
What Is a Scene?
Scene writing is key to writing a commercially viable memoir or nonfiction book. But too many new writers struggle to write their story in scenes.
PHASE 1: BOOK IDEA FORMATION
How to Know If Your Idea Is Good Enough for a Book
At the heart of the creative journey is a good idea. And we all want to know if our idea is good enough for a book. But we have a fear that our idea might not be.Â
Donna Freitas on Identifying the "Why" of Your Story
Every book has a heart. It’s not just an idea; it’s why the idea matters. Whether it’s a nonfiction book, a memoir, or a novel, every book has a purpose. It has a “why."
How to Develop a Creative Idea for Your Nonfiction Book
About a decade ago, Dr. Henning Beck, a neuroscientist, bestselling author and former Hertie PhD scholar at the Graduate School of Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience in TĂĽbingen, Germany, presented a Ted Talk on the essence of an idea.
What Is the Best Format for Your Content?
“You should write a book!” Most thoughts leaders have heard this at least once in their life. It’s the go-to format for content. But is a book the best format for your content?
PHASE 2: THE CRAFT OF STORYTELLING
Jordan Rosenfeld on Strategies for Creating a Page Turner in Nonfiction
Do you remember the last book you put down and never picked up? Do you remember why you gave up on it? The most likely reason is that the narrative failed to engage you. It was probably boring. Bland. Lacked depth.
Jordan Rosenfeld on Storytelling Techniques to Use in Nonfiction Writing
Remember those college lectures where you struggled to stay awake? Maybe your professor spoke in a monotonous voice. Or maybe the professor relied on text-heavy slides that made their point convoluted and too difficult to understand. Whatever the reason, you never wanted to go to class because it was…well, boring.
Author Kristin Keffeler on Writing a Nonfiction Book that Connects with Your Ideal Audience
“You can’t republish your Master’s thesis.” It’s one piece of advice Kristin Keffeler, author of The Myth of the Silver Spoon, received from an editor. It’s also the piece of advice that made her rewrite her manuscript.
Cristen Iris on How to Move your Story Forward with Scenes
Scenes are the building blocks to good storytelling. But too many new writers struggle to conceptualize their story in scenes. They think a scene is a dinner table conversation. Or a mere stroll through the forest.
Rosanne Bane on How to Overcome Writer’s Block
Do you feel an overwhelming amount of stress and anxiety when you think about writing? Do you blame yourself when you don’t write? Do you feel lazy, unimaginative, or self-indulgent when you want to write but don’t?
How to Show Not Tell in Your Writing
If you’ve spent time searching for tips on writing, you’ve probably come across the phrase “show not tell.” It’s a tip authors, editors, and agents commonly throw out. But what does it mean?
How to Not Lose Your Voice in Your Research
We all remember our high school research papers. Twelve or so pages of regurgitated facts, figures, and quotes. And completely devoid of voice. To describe them as boring would be an understatement.
Authors of I'll Push You Offer Tips on Story Structure
We’ve all studied basic story structures in our high school English classes. And if you’re anything like me, you probably purged them from your memory. What will I ever need to know this for?
A.C.T.S. - the 4 Essential Elements of Writing a Great Story
Story. Story. Story. No one argues with the idea that stories are one of the primary ways we communicate as humans. It's one thing to enjoy a great story. And quite another to write a great one.
PHASE 3: BOOK EDITING
Book Coach Lisa Tener on How to Navigate Feedback from Editors
All you see is red. A bloodied marked-up manuscript. You’ve finished writing your manuscript and were excited to share your book with the rest of the world. But after your book editor’s feedback, you’re shocked.
How to Overcome the Initial Shock of a Developmental Edit
Every book needs a developmental edit. Even professional writers do. In fact, professional writers crave developmental editing, because they know they don’t know it all.
Tips on Editing for Self-Published Authors
If you’re self-publishing a book, you don’t want your book to look self-published. That means you need to pay close attention to the editing phase. Editing for self-published authors is different than when you are traditionally published.
How to Review Your Manuscript Before Submission
“How do I know if my manuscript is ready for submission?” You might never know fully. But careful review of your manuscript can get it closer to being publishing-ready.
How to Get an Editor's Attention
“I have a manuscript, but is it ready for submission?” Maybe. Maybe not. There’s no magical formula for what will catch an editor’s attention. Sometimes editors just follow their gut.
PHASE 4:Â PLATFORM BUILDING
Amy Davies on How to Build a Following on LinkedIn that Translates to New Opportunities
Building a following on a social media platform is necessary for thought leaders. But it’s also hard. Not knowing the ins and outs of a platform is frustrating. Months with little engagement makes you want to give up.
Becky Robinson on How to Cultivate Online Followers
All thought leaders want to make an impact on their sphere of influence. It’s what is popularly known as “reach.”
Author Ryan Frederick on Successful Platform Building
“How can my book be part of a larger whole?” It’s the question Ryan Frederick, author of Right Place, Right Time: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Home for the Second Half of Life, asked himself when he published his book.”
The Best Ways to Build a Platform
“Do I need to build a platform?” The short answer: yes. Publishers and agents want you to have a platform so that you can sell your book. But what exactly is a platform?
How to Build a Platform through Podcasting
"Why do I need to build a platform?” From literary agents who want to know about your platform activity in the query letter, to publishers who want to see your book marketing plan, building a platform is an important step to becoming a published writer.
PHASE 5: BOOK PUBLISHING
Octavia Goredema on Finding Support throughout the Book Writing Journey
The book writing journey is both a thrilling and daunting endeavor. Pitching a book to a publisher and the marketing phase afterwards can be especially challenging and complicated to accomplish on your own.
Lisa Tener on Writing a Book Proposal that Lands You a Deal
A good book proposal is key to landing a book deal. It’s a business plan for your book. It helps your book stay focused on its main idea (its thesis).
What Do Literary Agents Look for in a Manuscript?
“What do you look for in a manuscript?” It’s a question every literary agent hears hundreds of times throughout their careers. And it’s the golden question writers want an answer to.
What to Include in a Query Letter
What is a query letter? And what should you include in a query letter? A query letter convinces a literary agent to read your work. Think of it as a sales piece.
Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: Which Is Best for Me?
“Is traditional publishing for me?” It’s a question all writers ask at some point in their journey. And the answer depends on each individual.
What To Do When Your Book Is Rejected
What if I told you that your dream will come true and you’ll publish a book? Now, what if I told you it will take 14 years before you get published?
How to Get Published in the Harvard Business Review and Other Prestigious Pubs
“How do I get published in the Harvard Business Review…or another prestigious publication?” For many business professionals, this question is always at the forefront.
The Four Cornerstones of Self-Publishing
“Is this vanity press?” “Are you going to control the rights?” “Do I have to pay a lot?” These are common questions writers ask when considering self-publishing.
Literary Agent Adria Goetz on Querying an Agent
Where do you find an agent? How do you query them? What if they reject your work? Querying an agent can be downright daunting. You first wonder, Where do I find an agent?
PHASE 6: BOOKÂ PROMOTION AND MARKETING
Virginia Frischkorn on Hosting Successful Book Launch Events
An author’s book launch is a significant—and memorable—step in the writing and publishing journey. The book launch event is an opportunity for the author to introduce their work to the public, connect with readers, and generate excitement about their book.
Author and Book Coach Stacy Ennis on Landing a TEDx Talk
Landing a TEDx talk is one of the best speaking opportunities for thought leaders. From the TEDx stage, speakers can inspire and influence a broader audience, while networking and connecting with those outside their immediate reach.
Anne Janzer on Joyful and Successful Book Marketing
“The world is changing all the time. We can’t cling to one way of doing things,” Anne Janzer, thought leader and author of The Writer’s Voice, says. Gone are the days of static strategies and one-size-fits-all solutions for book marketing.
Emily Enger on Good Enough Book Marketing
“You need to hire a PR firm.” “You need a large social media following.” “You need to appear on radio and TV.” Book marketing is overwhelming.
Bryan Cohen on How to Sell Your Self-Published Book with Amazon Ads
Just publishing a book isn’t enough to get people to see it. You have to promote it, too. One of the most cost-effective and easiest ways to get people to notice your book is through Amazon Ads.
How to Land a Book Deal and Market Your Book
When you’re writing a book, two questions first-time writers most often ask are: How do I land a book deal? and How do I market it so it is read?
What Is a Book Launch Team?
Writing a book is not a solo act. You need the support of editors and readers. Launching a book isn’t a solo act, either. You need a team—a book launch team—to create buzz beyond your immediate circle in the weeks leading up to its release.
