Are You Ready to Find the Gold?

When I’m doing my one minute elevator pitch at networking events I often start by saying “In the words of Carl Jung, I help people to go into the dark to find the gold” before going on to explain what exactly a writers’ coach does.

However, going into the dark can be a challenging, not to mention downright scary experience and this is when resistance can kick in.

One of the most common things first time writers say is that they are afraid they have nothing new to say that hasn’t already been said. Well, the truth is that everything has been said…but not by you.

If you are ready to release the treasure within you, then read on…

The film director, M. Night Shyamalan, once said “Knowing your own voice is the most important thing. Knowing who you are, and then telling your story, about ‘guy gets girl’ or ‘alien invasion’ or whatever, becomes your own.”

The fact is that no-one has had exactly the same experiences as you or responds to the world in the way that you do. When you recognise and acknowledge that you will have the courage to allow your authenticity to shine through. Authenticity engenders trust and even though there may be many different voices out there, people will gravitate to the ones who resonate with them the most.

When you find your own voice, you will also know what it is you are passionate about. Most successful authors are on a mission and want to share something with the world. It is said that you know you want to write when you have this impulse that simply won’t let you alone – rather like someone tugging at your sleeve. Fears and insecurities notwithstanding, you just have to do it. Passion is a powerful force and will drive you forward.

Blend Out. I wish I’d thought of this advertising slogan – it really says it all! Just as no two fingerprints are alike, there never has been and never will be anyone quite like you on the planet. When we start out in life, the temptation can be to follow the herd, but as we get older and become more self-aware we begin to value our differences. And so will others.

Perhaps you are still having doubts and thinking “But who am I to write a book?” I would say “Who are you not to?” I firmly believe that books can make a difference in the world and you have a responsibility to share your inspiration and expertise.

The advantage of books is their portability and their ability to endure. You may never know just who your book may educate, inspire or comfort. In short when someone reads what you have written they may feel heartened that someone else feels as they do about something or is able to show them the way. It is about making the personal become universal.

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours”.
Alan Bennett, The History Boys

It is also, important to just let go and allow things to flow. I once heard a story about a baseball player, who in the middle of an innings, realised that the game was in fact being played out through him. We are all creative beings and our talents and passions want to be expressed. They may have lain dormant for a long time, but they will out in the end. Don’t be afraid of them, just let them come through.

And just remember, it’s not about what’s new (or not!), it’s about you!

What's in a title?

Coming up with a title for your book can feel like the hardest part and you may decide to leave it until the very end or have a working title which changes as the book progresses.

The title is very important as it is one of the first things to engage a potential reader (apart from the cover design) and should reflect the essence of the book, whilst awakening curiosity and interest. However, when writing your first book, the chances are that you won’t have the luxury of being well-known, so the title will need to go that extra mile for you.

Most non-fiction books have both a title and subtitle and rather like dancing partners the two should move together in harmony – one leading and the other following. The title should entice and engage, whilst the subtitle gets to the heart of things.

Rules of the Red Rubber Ball
Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work
Kevin Carroll

My curiosity was immediately aroused by this rather funky title, which didn’t give much away, particularly since the subtitle isn’t featured on the cover, but on the first page. Unusual but effective.

So, be different. Don’t be afraid to go for a title that is out of the ordinary. In these days of information overload, it can be the unusual things which capture your attention.

How to Run Your Business Like a Girl
Successful Strategies from Entrepreneurial Women Who Made It Happen
Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin

I bought this book shortly before starting my own business and it was the words ‘like a girl’ that attracted me to it. Enough said!

In other words, connect with your audience. If your book is aimed at a very specific target audience then let them know it on the front cover!

One Small Step Can Change Your Life
The Kaizen Way
Robert Maurer, Ph.D.

I’d heard of the Japanese principles of Kaizen, but it was the idea of achieving success in a way that is actually manageable that I found appealing.

In short, small is beautiful. Some book titles state that you can change your life in a weekend (as if!) or imply that it contains everything there is to know on a particular subject e.g. “The complete book of…” (Does this mean that others are incomplete?!). You may find that sometimes less is definitely more.

What Should I Do with My Life?
The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Questions
Po Bronson

I was struggling with this very question when I saw an advert for this book in a tube station! It is a subject very dear to my heart and the book has become one of my absolute favourites.

The direct approach works. A title doesn’t always need to be cryptic to be engaging. Sometimes you can just tell it like it is and it will hit home.

I should add that all of the above have great cover designs, which enhanced my initial interest. ‘Rules of the Red Rubber Ball’ even has a circle of red rubber embedded in the cardboard front cover, which delighted me no end.

Have a think about book titles that you have found memorable, funny or engaging or go into your local bookstore and see what takes your fancy and why…