How to Craft a Book That Changes Lives―Including Your Own, with AJ Harper, Editor and Publishing Strategist
02/01/23 • 61 min
Have you heard the saying, "The book is the new business card?"—just something you can crank out and put on Amazon in a matter of days, in order to boost your visibility? Well, today's guest is here to explain why that is absolutely the wrong reason to publish a book—and the wrong way to do it. By cutting corners, investing as little as possible, and thinking only of yourself rather than your reader, you'd essentially be creating a throwaway marketing piece (which is exactly the fate of most business cards!) The function of any worthwhile nonfiction book is to change lives, and AJ Harper is on a mission to do just that.
As a developmental editor, ghostwriter, and publishing strategist, AJ has worked with hundreds of authors, from newbies and first timers to New York Times bestsellers like Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First. She is also the author of her own nonfiction book, Write a Must-Read, which teaches you how to conceptualize and write a nonfiction book that will actually make people want to buy and read it. In this episode, you'll learn:
- The hard truth about whether "everyone has a book in them."
- AJ’s proven framework for crafting a life-changing book. (“A book is not about something. A book is for someone.”)
- How to identify your ideal reader. (It's not just about demographics.)
- How to determine which parts of your life belong in your memoir.
- The difference between a book's core message and its promise—and why clearly identifying those two things will set you up for success.
For more, check out:
ajharper.com
maggielangrick.com
wonderwell.press
And follow:
instagram.com/maggielangrick
instagram.com/wonderwellpress
instagram.com/selfishgiftpodcast
Have you heard the saying, "The book is the new business card?"—just something you can crank out and put on Amazon in a matter of days, in order to boost your visibility? Well, today's guest is here to explain why that is absolutely the wrong reason to publish a book—and the wrong way to do it. By cutting corners, investing as little as possible, and thinking only of yourself rather than your reader, you'd essentially be creating a throwaway marketing piece (which is exactly the fate of most business cards!) The function of any worthwhile nonfiction book is to change lives, and AJ Harper is on a mission to do just that.
As a developmental editor, ghostwriter, and publishing strategist, AJ has worked with hundreds of authors, from newbies and first timers to New York Times bestsellers like Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First. She is also the author of her own nonfiction book, Write a Must-Read, which teaches you how to conceptualize and write a nonfiction book that will actually make people want to buy and read it. In this episode, you'll learn:
- The hard truth about whether "everyone has a book in them."
- AJ’s proven framework for crafting a life-changing book. (“A book is not about something. A book is for someone.”)
- How to identify your ideal reader. (It's not just about demographics.)
- How to determine which parts of your life belong in your memoir.
- The difference between a book's core message and its promise—and why clearly identifying those two things will set you up for success.
For more, check out:
ajharper.com
maggielangrick.com
wonderwell.press
And follow:
instagram.com/maggielangrick
instagram.com/wonderwellpress
instagram.com/selfishgiftpodcast
Previous Episode
How to Write a Memoir: Going Public with Your Personal Story, with Laura Davis, Author and Writing Teacher
Maybe you've had a personal experience that affected you profoundly, and you want to write about it—both for your own benefit and to help readers with your insights—but you're worried about upsetting the other people in your story, especially family members. How do you tackle it? Do you need their permission? Should you change their names, or maybe change your own name and write under a pseudonym? What happens if they disown you or try to sue you?
Laura Davis has been grappling with this issue and using material from her own life in her books for more than forty years. And last year, she took it to a new level with the publication of The Burning Light of Two Stars, a deeply personal award-winning memoir about her fraught relationship with her mother. Laura is also the author of the international million-copy bestseller, The Courage to Heal, as well as four other groundbreaking books. In addition to writing, Laura is passionate about teaching others how to find their voices, tell their stories, and hone their craft, which she does through workshops, classes, and retreats. In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to navigate the delicate balance between telling your truth and honoring the other people in your story.
- How to dig deep into your memories to tell a story that is helpful and moving for the reader.
- How to prioritize the practice of writing so that your book actually gets done.
- Several clever writing prompts that are sure to help you break through writer's block.
- Practical marketing advice from an established author.
For more, check out:
lauradavis.net
lauradavis.net/chapters
maggielangrick.com
wonderwell.press
And follow:
instagram.com/laurasaridavis
instagram.com/maggielangrick
instagram.com/wonderwellpress
instagram.com/selfishgiftpodcast
Next Episode
How Writing Can Open Up New Worlds of Opportunity and Healing, with Laura Khoudari, Trauma-Informed Speaker, Author, and Personal Trainer
A lot of people who write a nonfiction book start out very focused on the information that they're sharing and what the reader will get out of it—and that's great. But what they might not know at the outset is that the act of writing itself can open up totally new worlds of opportunity for us as creative beings, and even bring us closer to ourselves and help us heal our own wounds.
Today's guest describes herself as a "closeted writer of personal essays" since adolescence. It wasn't until she set out to write a how-to book at the age of forty that she found the courage to share her creative side with the world. And now there's no stopping her. Laura Khoudari is a pioneer in trauma-informed strength training and the author of Lifting Heavy Things: Healing Trauma One Rep at a Time. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Buzzfeed, Upworthy, Elephant Journal, and many other outlets. In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why the “no pain, no gain” gym-mindset isn’t helpful when working through trauma in your body or your writing—and why it’s important to go slow.
- How to listen to your body and identify your feelings. (Is it anxiety or excitement?)
- Why opening yourself up to feedback is critical to writing a good book.
- How to incorporate trauma-informed mindfulness into your writing practice.
- How to set boundaries around your privacy as an author. (You might not necessarily need to “spill your guts" to deliver your message.)
For more, check out:
laurakhoudari.com
maggielangrick.com
wonderwell.press
And follow:
instagram.com/laurakhoudari
instagram.com/maggielangrick
instagram.com/wonderwellpress
instagram.com/selfishgiftpodcast
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