Sheila Jacobs’ Post

The statistics are disheartening: Fewer than 10% of people who start writing a book finish it. I flip that number on its head. More than 90% of my clients finish the manuscripts they start. What's more— Writing never becomes a chore. Knowing what comes next and how to handle it Makes writing more fun than work. August is approaching, and A brand-new cohort of new writers is about to begin writing to "The End." It's for a select group of people like you who: ● Have always wanted to write a book, but didn’t know how... ● Want to try something in a new genre... ● Crave the camaraderie and support of a community... ● Want accountability to finish what you start... ● Know it’s time to quit saying “someday” and write NOW. Privately message me when you're ready to beat the odds. An all-new cohort-based Book Writing Adventure begins in August!

There are limiting beliefs we all struggle with as writers. “My life is boring.” “I haven’t accomplished anything.” “Who would want to read about my life?” A lot of people, actually. While the first two are simply false (even amidst a simple life, we all have interesting stories to tell), the third point is a valid question worth asking. Who WOULD want to read your story? The best personal narratives focus on 2-3 themes that are broadly applicable to a specific group of people. This doesn’t mean you have to have these figured out before you begin, but they’ll exist as the connective tissue that ties your book together. I didn’t know the themes for my book until I’d already written half the stories. Like a lot of the gems that I’ve experienced with writing, they emerged along the way. Through the process itself. And it’s these themes that are going to: 1 - Be an anchor for your readers 2 - Help you find your audience. You don’t need the most insane jaw-dropping story to have an impactful book. You can focus on a few simple principles to get buy-in from your readers. Here’s how: https://buff.ly/4aJZEpG

Imagine this co-author meet cute: You're sitting in a café, working on the latest draft of your manuscript, when you decide to take a break and chat with the person next to you. The two of you hit it off, and you find out they're a writer, too. Even better, they write in the same space you do, and like a revelation from up high, you know that you're meant to be co-authors. All that's left is to start writing, right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. To learn important details about how to make sure you have a match, an agreement and a what-if-it-doesn't-work-out plan, see my recent blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gKU6zsFy

Last week, I wrote and revised two chapters (7609 words/23 pages) of a book over the course of three days. And they’re pretty darn good.   It was a lot of work, and I’m tired.   But it was also an unexpected reminder of what’s possible when you take the time to lay a strong foundation for your book.   Here’s how I wrote those pages so fast, using my SPARK writing framework:   Subject: No second-guessing my topic. I have other ideas I want to write about, but I laser-focused on this topic. Person: I had already taken the time to get to know my future reader well. I understand what she’s struggling with and how to help, so writing to her feels easy. Alignment: Complete clarity about why I’m writing this book—what it will do for me and what it will do for the reader. Anything that doesn’t serve both purposes doesn’t make it into the book. Road Map: My outline for this book is solid and detailed. No wondering what to write next. I know what I’m teaching and what stories I’m telling when. I’m following the plan. Keep Writing to “The End”: I blocked the time, shut out the world, and wrote for 6 hours a day over 3 days. (This is rarely possible, but I had an important deadline.) To be clear, this will *not* be my writing pace for the whole book. I’m not writing a book in a week or even a month. (Please don’t try to write your book in a weekend!)   But this kind of progress is possible when you follow a proven process and take the time to lay a super-solid foundation for your book.   This is what I’ll walk you through when you join me and your fellow authors in Authors Ignited, where I show you how to manage your writing time, plan your book, and write like a professional. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/exHjsQNE

🔮✨ Attention all aspiring authors! Do you have a story burning inside you, waiting to be told? 📝💭 You know that writing a book can be a transformative experience, but the idea of actually sitting down and crafting that first draft can feel overwhelming. 😰   As a book coach and publishing magician 🧙♀️, I've helped countless writers turn their ideas into fully realised manuscripts, and I'm here to tell you that you have what it takes to write your first draft! 💪📚   Take it from one of my recent clients, Sharon, who shared her experience:   "When I first started working on my book, I had no idea where to begin. 😕 I had all these ideas swirling around in my head, but I couldn't seem to get them down on paper in a way that made sense. That's when I reached out to Sue for guidance. 🙏   Through our work together, Sue helped me tap into the magic of my own creativity and gave me the tools and structure I needed to write my first draft. 🪄✍️ With her support and encouragement, I was able to push through the doubts and fears that had been holding me back and finally bring my story to life on the page. 📖✨   Now, I'm well on my way to publishing my book and sharing my message with the world! 🌍📣 I'm so grateful for Sue's guidance and expertise throughout this process. 💖"   If you're ready to experience the magic of writing your first draft, I invite you to take the first step today! 🎉 Whether you have a clear idea of your book's message or just a spark of inspiration, I'm here to help you navigate the process and bring your vision to life. ✨   Comment below or send me a message to learn more about how we can work together to unleash the power of your story! 📩💬 Let's make some magic happen! 🔮📖✨

9 Things To Bear In Mind When Self-editing Your Novel You have just finished writing your novel - congratulations. The next thing on your to-do list should be to self-edit it and here are 9 things to note as you get started. 1. Don't expect a perfect first draft. Perfection is introduced while editing. 2. Step away from your manuscript for some time. This will help you return to it with fresh eyes. 3. Read your novel aloud. This reveals awkward pacing and word choice that are sure to throw your readers off. 4. Make every word count. Let each word you use contribute to the wholeness of the story. 5. Vet your story - the structure, the characters, the scenes and how they all contribute to the big picture. 6. Don't fall in love with your first draft. Move your chapters around if need be to strengthen your story. 7. Know exactly when to stop. There is no end to editing; there will always be something to improve on. However, you can get caught up in the editing process that it completely delays the publishing process. 8. Employ the services of a professional editor. At TEBEBA, we polish your manuscript to reveal its true potential. Let us help you edit your book into a bestseller. Send us a direct message on WhatsApp via +2348186808323. #tebebapublisher

As part of my evolving author platform, my website has been updated! Check out the new look at www.darylpotter.com I've also replaced my author bio. Gone are the lightning bolts, snakes, and wolves . In its place is a brief story that I hope inspires your next read, whether something I've written, or another writer's work! Like Comment Share

How Do You Know When A Book Is Done? 🌟 **The Thrill of Completion**   When I finished the first draft of my novel in 2013, I was over the moon! 🎉 Writing a whole book by myself felt like an incredible achievement. Naturally, I shared this milestone on social media, and when friends expressed interest in reading it, I eagerly sent it their way. 📚 **The Reality Check**   But here’s where I stumbled: just because I had completed a draft didn't mean it was ready for the public eye. 🚫 I quickly learned that my excitement didn’t translate into quality. The feedback I received was minimal, and I suspect that many friends didn’t make it past the first few pages. ✍️ **The Learning Curve**   This experience taught me an essential lesson: a finished manuscript is *not* synonymous with a polished piece of work. A first draft is just that—a draft! It requires careful revision and refinement to truly shine. ✨ 💡 **Moving Forward**   Now, I approach my writing with a different mindset. I understand the importance of feedback and the value of multiple revisions. If you’re in the same boat, remember that completion is just the beginning of your journey as a writer! #WritingJourney #AuthorsLife #FirstDraft #RevisionProcess #WritersCommunity

I recently had a great chat with aspiring authors about writing INTRODUCTIONS. How do you create an opening that sizzles and grabs attention—especially in today's world, where people have a 3-second attention span? A few ideas to think about: Ground us in a moment. When we first crack open the cover of a book (and smell that fresh ink smell), we have no idea where we are. Give us the lay of the land, some context for what this book is and why we should care. Or... Start in the middle of the action. This is what they call "en media res" (aka "in the middle of things"). Tension. Conflict. Chaos. All of these work to build curiosity and suspense, and as readers, our brains are immediately working to fill in the gaps and figure out what's going on. Let us hear YOUR voice. Do the words sound like you? Are you being bold and honest with us, showing us a bit of who you are? Are you getting to the heart of what you want to say? Or are you holding back? Often in a first draft, authors shy away from who they are or water the message down. Being vulnerable is scary (especially on page one!) but it's worth it. You build trust with your reader when you get real about things—and fast. The other thing I reminded these writers is that it's okay to not write the introduction first. With most of my books, I actually wrote the introduction LAST. Everyone's process is different, but for me, I needed to have the rest of the book scoped out before setting the opening scene. Do what works for you. (And definitely have someone edit your opening pages! That's where you're making a first impression and the reader is deciding whether or not to continue reading. ) I hope this helps you! Write on! Love, Rachel

Are you writing a draft of your novel for National Novel Writing Month? Here's a little encouragement. An hour a day is more than enough. Do it every day and your imagination will work on your story even when you aren't sitting at the desk. This is a perfect way to write a first draft. Then, you can rewrite it for a solid foundational draft. Writing a novel can add a lot of joy to your life. Creativity is essential for whole-hearted living. If November is just too busy, but you do want to write (and finish) a novel, January may be the time to start. For help with that draft, you can join my Busy Writer's New Year's Resolution class. Wednesdays at 6 PM PST. It's inexpensive and you get the Busy Writer's Brainstorming Journal if you sign up before December 1st. Penguin is publishing my guide on writing: The Busy Writer's Guide to Finishing a Novel in 100 Days. This class will be based on that guide. I've helped hundreds of people finish their books: I believe in you!