Writing a memoir is a deeply personal journey. It’s a journey that leads writers through the most profound, intimate, and traumatic moments of their lives. For many, reliving past experiences is challenging. Painful memories and difficult topics can lead to procrastination or shelving your memoir entirely. Memoirist and author of The Best I Can Do Cheryl Landes understands this struggle. Cheryl spent nearly twenty years writing her memoir, and she has a few hard-earned tips on how to write about difficult topics in memoirs. What is Cheryl’s most recommended tip? Support through an Accou ..read more

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. That it may not resonate with readers. But how do you know if your idea is good enough? In this video, book proposal coach Lisa Tener introduces two questions for writers to consider: How does your book idea compare to others? Does your book idea fulfill the needs of your audience? Watch the video to determine if your idea is good enough for a book.  ..read more

  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 Tübingen, Germany, presented a Ted Talk on the essence of an idea. He opens the talk with these two provocative statements: “You can measure data, but you can’t measure an idea.” “You can Google information, but you can’t Google an idea.” The challenge for writers of nonfiction books is first and foremost developing a good idea. Too often writers mistake information for an idea. Information isn’t an idea. An idea is ..read more

  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. From the intricacies of publishing contracts, to the constant change in marketing trends, finding support throughout the book writing journey can help make your publishing experience positive. Octavia Goredema, author of PREP, PUSH, PIVOT: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women, shares her biggest takeaways from her book writing journey: reaching out for help. Why You ..read more

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. In our latest video, Cristen Iris, award-winning ghostwriter, dives into the world of scene writing. Here's what you'll learn: What a scene is and its key elements. How scenes drive your narrative forward. The importance of interaction with other characters and the environment. Tips for creating an immersive experience for your readers. Ready to take your memoir or nonfiction writing to the next level? Watch the video now for ..read more

Writing a memoir is more than just recounting events. It's about bringing your story to life in a way that captivates readers.  One key element that can elevate your memoir from a series of events to a gripping narrative is tension. Tension propels your narrative forward. It helps maintain a sense of momentum. And, by creating anticipation, tension keeps readers invested in your story. Award-winning ghostwriter, Cristen Iris, provides tips on how to write tension in your memoir. Watch the video to learn more!   ..read more

Writing a memoir is a personal journey. But when it comes to creating a commercially viable memoir, there are key structural elements to consider. Award-winning ghostwriter and publishing consultant, Cristen Iris, provides three steps for structuring a commercially viable memoir: Define the Scope. Determine Your Word Count. Think in Scenes. Watch the video to learn more ..read more

In the most recent episode of "The Family Business Podcast," Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz offer tips and strategies on how to capture and preserve your family story. In this episode, you'll learn about: The importance of storytelling; Why a family chooses to tell its story; The need to identify the "why" of your project; and The importance of selecting the right format for capturing your family story.  Tune into the episode here to learn why capturing and preserving your family story is vital for passing on values and creating a lasting family legacy ..read more

Memoirists often believe a memoir is all about them. It's their story, after all. However, crafting a memoir isn't just about telling your story. It's about what your readers take away from it. In this clip, Cristen Iris explains the importance of determining the "why" of your memoir.  Where do you start? With this question: What does my reader takeaway? Watch the video clip to learn more ..read more

  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. And without a doubt, it’s also an opportunity for the author to celebrate their success. However, the book launch event is more than a celebration. It’s an opportunity for the author to market their book. Leading up to the book launch, authors have likely created buzz about their book via their social networks and email communication ..read more