I've been editing, ghostwriting and formatting books for over 10 years. With a career of about a million words so far, I have a unique position on the successes and failures of authors on their journey. No matter the genre, there has been a common thread in all the authors who took their book and changed their lives: confidence.
Writing a book takes a concoction of creativity, willingness and strength. Writers must make something out of nothing; be willing to commit; and have the gumption to actually finish. Many authors compare the process of writing to giving birth. The final product is their knowledge and creative genius packaged on pages and wrapped in the covers of their hopes and wishes. But, becoming an author is much more than the book. An author has to take their book and actually sell it. Authors with the confidence to sell their books always outperform those who write a book and hope it leaves the shelves.
No other business model allows the business owner to gain credibility while they make whatever they want and sell it however they want. This unique situation that authors enter, one of having to create and market, seems simple. However, millions of authors create books that go on to collect dust. Wins in the publishing industry go to those with the gumption to tell the world to buy their book. If you're not willing to consistently remind people that you have a book, don't write one.
To be clear, this is not a how-to for marketing your book. This article is about confidence. You actually become an author when you get the courage to show up for yourself and your book. So, how do you get the goods? Confidence comes to those who learn to detach from their ego, fears and comfort zone.
I teach these skills to my coaching clients and the residents in my Virtual Writing Residency through my five-part system called the S.N.A.P.P. Method. Through my program writers learn to search for their atmosphere of genius, nourish their success in publishing, affirm their value in the marketplace, polish their presence and publish their book. When my clients are finished in my system, their books are in tow along with the a successful business strategy.
Authorship is fraught with rejection and the only way to survive and thrive is to free yourself from your fear of failure. The first thing I require from my clients is transparency to deal with their limiting beliefs. In a simple 8-minute exercise called The Threshing Floor, we uncover the root of some of the things blocking their confidence. I want to share this exercise with you because no matter what you do, your limiting beliefs are holding you back. Everyone has limiting beliefs. Each level of success comes with a new layer of ceilings you will have to shatter.
The Threshing Floor is a three-part activity to release limits by creating an automatic response to negative self-talk, fears and discomfort. According to a Harvard University study entitled Automaticity in Action, “Automatic thoughts and behaviors are ones that occur efficiently, without the need for conscious guidance or monitoring.” Limiting beliefs aren't typically conscious barriers. To offset the negative places the mind can travel, I teach my clients to create an equally positive response. The more you practice responding to limits with proper responses the quicker your mind will replace negative thoughts. Eventually, you'll think the automatic response instead of your negative beliefs.
Step One: USE A PAGE TO WRITE OUT ALL THE DOUBTS, FEARS, OR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS YOU HAVE AROUND SUCCESS. THERE'S NO WRONG WAY TO SHARE THESE THOUGHTS. BUT DON'T HOLD BACK. PLAY FULL OUT!
Step Two: ONCE YOU HAVE WRITTEN ALL YOUR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS, READ THEM ALOUD. SOME OF OUR DEEPEST FEARS HAVE CONTROL OVER US BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER EXPOSED THEM. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH RELIEF SPEAKING THESE THOUGHTS WILL BE.
Step Three: CREATE A LIST OF RESPONSES TO EACH OF THE LIMITING BELIEFS YOU WROTE DOWN. GIVE AN ANSWER TO EACH ONE OF THE NEGATIVE IDEAS. REPEAT YOUR RESPONSES ALOUD.
Automaticity in Action sums up the beauty of being able to create automatic responses. “The automaticity of social thought and behavior is both a blessing and a curse. On the blessing side, our ability to respond unconsciously and effortlessly to a range of social settings, people, and events allows us the luxury of speedy responses that are largely appropriate. And because conscious initiation and practice of responses can shape them yet further we can, over the course of interaction, become skilled social agents who can interpret and react to social settings with remarkable aplomb.”
I teach the three steps to crushing limits as often as I can. If you can release your fears, you can change the negative climate that makes you incapable to actualize. Becoming an actual author starts in the mind. My author clients gain a lot more skills and have experiences that unleash confidence but this tactic is a great way to start on your own.
This six-month program of virtual and occasional in-person gatherings includes marketing and publishing training, confidence-building, spiritual fellowship, writing guidance and three one-on-one coaching sessions resulting in a book.
Our residents have access to an expert writing concierge who provides basic edits of their work and gives them access to industry professionals.
This residency is for aspiring women authors who want to increase their credibility, visibility and authority. Fellows include entrepreneurs, corporate-ladder climbers ready to take their career to the next level, and survivors of trauma who are ready to teach other women how they did it. Great candidates see themselves speaking, coaching and leading other women.
Please note: November Media/Nov Collectives will not be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information given by this service or for any consequential, special, or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
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