Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter

📣 Authors, I'm doing some research for a blog post. Here's the question I'm pondering: How do you know when you've reached THE END of your book? 🤷‍♀️ I have a few thoughts I've gathered on this topic from reading many, many manuscripts and helping authors work through all sorts of problems with the end of their narrative, but for the purpose of my blog post, I want to get into the mind of a writer for this one. ✍️ This question is two-fold. First, how do you know you've reached the end of the narrative? And second, how do you know that the book should end at the moment you've chosen? These seem like two separate issues to me. So let me know in the comments about your own writing experience. Did you receive some kind of guidance (whether a writing coach, a critique group, a writing craft book, etc.) that helped you determine where the story should end? Was it a feeling? Did you have certain criteria in mind as you plotted or pantsed your way to the end? No wrong answers! 😁 Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on unsplash #proofreader #bookeditor #writingcommunity #blogpost #amediting

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There's a difference between a writing guide and a ghostwriter. A writing guide will give you tips and tricks as you write your own book. A ghostwriter will write the book for you. Check out this short to learn more. #writingmemoir #memoirist #youtubevideoshort #writingcoach #writingtips #authortips

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Metaphor is one way to introduce concepts or to describe them. Want to learn more? Sign up to my newsletter - https://lnkd.in/grfuJvia  #writerslife #writing #LitFic #mynetwork #poets #writers #booklovers

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Did you know… …that not everyone you meet on your author journey means you well? Whilst I can’t speak about the company in question, I know there are some shady operations that blight the landscape for reputable indy publishers. And we editors often have to pick up the pieces… Authors, please do your due diligence or ask for help if you prefer the DIY route. (Thanks to Theresa Thorne for sharing and to Eileen Pizzi for reposting.) ♛♛♛♛♛♛♛ I’m Jackie, “The Corset for Flabby Writing”®. I am a Christian copyeditor/proofreader and I enhance the written word of nonfiction authors and entrepreneurs. ✅ If you have checked through your manuscript and are ready to invest in the next stage of editing, DM me the word EDIT. ✅ If you want an online merch store to complement your book, or to promote your business or ministry, DM me the word MERCH. ✅ Stay in touch, by clicking the 🔔 on my profile to be notified of my posts. ✅ Share this post with your network. You'd be surprised who it might help... 📆 22 JULY 24 #Copyediting #Proofreading #BookEditor #ChristianEditor #CorsetForFlabbyWriting #bookmerch ♛♛♛♛♛♛♛

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Want to scale your ghostwriting business and charge six figures? It’s simple. Become a six-figure ghostwriter. ➤ That means teaching your author to think beyond the manuscript from day one. ➤ That means spending hours—sometimes days—getting the phrasing of a paragraph just right. ➤ That means telling an author when their TikTok videos are killing their author brand. ➤ That means introducing them to professionals who can fix that. ➤ That means getting so invested that when their agent drops the ball, you’re the one who needs calming down. ➤ That means being polite when an author’s spouse tries correcting your grammar. ➤ That means going to bat for your author’s vision in a Big-Five meeting. ➤ That means buying a gift for their editor’s newborn and signing their name on the card because they didn’t think of it. ➤ That means reminding them their latest ask isn’t in the contract—and doing it anyway. ➤ That means staying in their life long after the book launch. ➤ That means getting your final payment and knowing you earned every single dollar. If you’re serious about scaling, I’m offering a four-session package to teach you everything I know, including how to: 👉 Find high-end clients. 👉 Build a seamless onboarding process. 👉 Guide authors through publishing. 👉 Write book proposals that land big deals. 👉 Connect with top PR and marketing pros. 👉 Grow your LinkedIn presence. 👉 Build an iron-clad contract. ➡️ Ready to invest in yourself so clients invest in you? DM me to discuss the deets. == Want help with your book proposal, book, or freelance business? Check out my Featured section to: ✫ Book a call ✫ See my latest book that made it to the NYT and "The View" ✫ Set up a strategy session

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Want to help authors understand their publishing options? Here’s a mini-primer—and one GIANT WARNING. ➡️ Traditional/Trade Publishing* -Publisher pays the entire bill for production and provides some marketing. -Author receives a percentage of royalties and sometimes an “advance” sum against those royalties. -Distribution leans heavily on selling advance copies to brick-and-mortar bookstores. * Also called “Legacy Publishing” by self-publishing advocates ➡️ Self-Publishing -Author pays all expenses and is responsible for production and marketing. -Author receives most of royalties. -Distribution is mostly through online sales. ➡️ Hybrid Publishing -Author pays set fee for the expertise and services of traditional publishing. -Author often receives higher royalties than with traditional. -Distribution varies. ❌ So what’s a Vanity Press?❌ It’s a scam business that often disguises as a hybrid press. Since vanities usually promise authors 100% of royalties, they have zero interest in producing a quality product or helping an author succeed. Warning Signs: 🚫 They often ask authors to buy up many copies of their book. 🚫 They often distribute only through Amazon KDP. 🚫 Many own full rights to the books and fail to consult authors on decisions. How else can an author tell the difference between hybrid and vanity? ✔ Are they certified by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)? ✔ Do they produce high-quality books? ✔ Do they offer printing and fulfillment services? If the answer to these questions is "no" then most likely you're dealing with a vanity. RUN! >>Did I leave anything out?<< == I'm the Ghostwriter's Ghostwriter. I care about high standards and strong community. Check out my LinkedIn FEATURED section to see my latest book, featured in the NYT and on “The View.”

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When a writer decides to self-publish, how do they choose a platform? There are many factors to weigh. This episode covers what you need to think about, and I share my favorite platform for new indie authors. Also, there is premium content available for my Substack members with a worksheet to help you process through it all. https://lnkd.in/giqnbhAE

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My connections know, I will follow the truth wherever it leads. I really am not here to serve as anyone's apologist. So, here is perhaps a tough pill for some to swallow. I am reading the Friday edition of the WSJ which gives a lengthy multi-page article about how our hostages were taken by Putin and perhaps more importantly why. The conventional wisdom is that we arrest and convict Russian spies, arms dealers, and criminals. Give them a fair trial. And then in return we release these criminals back to Russia to release innocent American citizens who have been snatched up precisely for the purpose of being ransomed for the scum of the earth. I have to admit, that has been my view. But, as usual the truth is a little more complex. Putin may be a tyrant and a bad guy. But, often if you look deeply enough, what he does as rotten as it has logic associated with it. The WSJ points out that two of the high value Russians we were holding in prison were targeted by U.S. to entrap them in engaging in criminal activity that could be used to arrest them, put them on trial, and convict them. Our intelligence agencies conducted stings on Viktor Bout, arms dealer, and Konstantin Yaroshenko illegal drug dealer. When these two associates of Putin were snatched up in stings, Russia reached out through diplomatic channels to object and request that both men be released. The U.S. under Obama and Trump rebuffed these requests. Putin a former KGB Officer understood well how entrapment worked. He decided that two could play that game and so he authorized his FSB security agency to find ways to entrap Americans in order to use to get his citizens released. Yes, the people we entrapped were no doubt engaged in illegal activity abroad. But, then when our government reached out to sting them far from our shores, Putin smelled a rat. And so, he responded in kind to what he saw as provocation directed at him and his citizens. Not to say that the situation is necessary morally equal. But, I thought it was worthwhile to point out that Putin was responding to what "he" considered an affront to the sovereignty of his country in a way he thought was justified. The morale of this story is that if we are going to engage in overseas sting operations, we should be prepared for possible repercussions. If we thought these Russian criminals were worth going after because of the threats they posed, then we should not have given them up in a deal. Basically, by doing that, we showed Putin that he was right. Our actions were political rather than judicial. So, for Putin what he did was just tit for tat. Once again it doesn't mean Putin was right to take innocent hostages. It just demonstrates you have to understand your adversary well enough to know what his likely reaction will be to your actions. You arrest his citizens, and he will arrest ours. So, don't do it unless you have a damn good reason. And then only trade on an equal basis.

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Today, in my life as a ghostwriter. Make a lot of coffee. Go over last minute details of a manuscript for an author in preparation to be sent to my editing team. Finish the last chapter of another authors book. Work on manuscript and give feedback for a book coaching client. Meet and host a guest for my podcast BOOKS BUILD LEADERS Podcast. Meet a new potential author on zoom to discuss new book details. Meet and host another guest for my podcast BOOKS BUILD LEADERS Podcast. take a 15 minute break. Get back at the keyboard and write a chapter in my new business book (details coming soon.) Write a chapter in my memoir BLUES LESSONS Meet a new client to discuss a book doctoring project. Read. Study writing. Read more. Market and do soft reach out for the business. I love what i do! So, How is your day going? JEFFREYMANGUS.com

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Here’s the truth about long-term vs short-term client work. I actually got my foot in the door with editing and proofreading through supporting authors and aspiring authors with manuscripts. And I loved it! It was great, and I still do those here and there through referral and for writers who reach out to me. (I’m actually still partnered with a small self-publishing group where I edit children’s books. I do 2-3 of those a month because they bring me joy! + a little bit of extra cash flow.) I still have so much fun doing manuscripts; they’re great one-off projects and I love supporting writers that way. BUT. What I found I didn’t love so much about the book side of editing: the short-term aspect of supporting my clients. As a writer or editor, you get to know your clients SO well. You get to know their voice, their writing style, their preferences, and all the things. For me, it felt hard to throw all of that away when the project was done. So when I made the shift to editing content and copy, supporting small biz owners and writers (eventually finding the way to my people: content and copywriters🤍), I knew this was what I wanted more of. I get to partner with another small business owner, actually team up, and truly get to be in their corner to support them for the long-haul. And all that I learn about them and their writing, I get to carry along with us for months or years to come. What’s a reason you love working long term with your clients? I’d love to know.🌻 . . I'm here to be your fresh set of eyes and a second brain.⁠ And I'm here to be *in it* with you.⁠ So if you're a content or copywriter looking for an editor to team up with for the long-haul, I'd love to be the editor in your corner. You can scope out the details on the Confidently Clean Copy Membership through the link in the comments. (Rates, FAQ, everything is in there.🌷) If you have some Qs? Or you want to get a feeling for my editing? I’m happy to sit down for a cup of coffee (or tea!) with you to answer any questions you might have and offer you a sample edit. Book a chat (link in the comments) to get something on the calendar! We'll find out if it’s a good fit and get your sample edit.🥂

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Authors, stop taking publishing so personally. (I’m putting on my tough mama hat for this one.) → The publishing world is not against you. → Traditional publishers aren’t villains—they’re just doing their job: selling books. It’s transactional, not personal. I hear the complaints constantly. Angry editors and book coaches love to rant: ⛔️ "Publishers don’t care about you as an author." You're right. They care about who BUYS books, not who writes them. ⛔️ "They’ll take away your authority if you sign with them." Exactly. You’re asking them to sell your book, so why would they let you call the shots? Your book is a product. Period. As soon as your manuscript becomes a book, it’s no longer "your baby." Decisions publishers make about it—titles, edits, covers, even the angle—come down to one thing: market value. → Publishers' choices aren’t always right. → But their thinking is. And sure, you can self-publish. But if you want your book to sell, you’ll still need to think like a publisher. So stop whining and start aligning—with the business side of books. (Love, Mom) >> What do you think? Agree? Disagree? << == ♻️ Repostable For help with your book proposal, book, or freelance business, check out my Featured section to: ✫ Book a call ✫ See my latest book that made it to the NYT and "The View" ✫ Set up a September Special 30-minute strategy session.

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Enhance your writing skills by mastering the art of appealing to all senses. Discover how to avoid the pitfalls of "non-appeals" and create immersive experiences for your readers. Dive into the details here: https://lnkd.in/egFMa-3S #WritingSkills #ProfessionalWriting #StoryDevelopment #CreativeWriting

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Are you using "allow" and "allow for" correctly? Discover the nuances of these phrases and avoid common pitfalls in your writing with practical examples; https://zurl.co/ajhs #Usage #Language #Editing #Writing #CopyEditing #RightTouchEditing

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I Wish I Knew This As a Writer When I Started! The word itself is derived from the Latin word "sesquipedalis" which means "a foot and half long." By using a sesquipedalian language in your writings, you can appear a bit more sophisticated. Like an author with a rich vocabulary such as T.S. Eliot or Marcel Proust. But use it sparingly, in small quantities. Too much of it will sound like a burden on your reader as not everyone has a rich vocabulary. Your goal while using the Sesquipedalian language should be to help bring your imagination/argument to the reader's plate, not to impress them. Try to find that balance. Or write simply as most of the people can understand it. A common mistake I see in my fellow writers is that they try to insist so much on the vocabulary, that they forget the initial point they were trying to make. For example, "This book is the meticulous, the jubilant representation that divulges the author's distressed opinions, his resolve on why women's rights shall be direly promoted." A simple way to write the above sentence would be, "This book shares the author's opinions about women's rights and why we need to promote it." Felt the difference? I hope I was able to add some value to your day. If that's the case, follow me because I have a lot more coming. Repost if you need to share it with your audience. P.S. If you are struggling to write your book, then I am up for the challenge. (Your thoughts, My Pen) #writing #wordoftheday #tobeauthor #vocabulary #writingcoach #bookwriter #ghostwriter #productivity

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