457. 3 Years Ago I Wrote A Book And Learned So Much In The Process... Let's Talk About It!

On this episode, Nellie chats about how three years ago, she wrote a book titled "Your Journey to Six Figures" and launched it with an audiobook version. Reflecting on the process, she emphasizes the importance of accountability, making the writing experience enjoyable, and not rushing the process. She highlights the value of taking their audience on the writing journey from the start and the necessity of thorough editing and feedback. Nellie mentions the ease of publishing on Amazon and the potential benefits of offering a workbook and audiobook alongside the physical book. She also discusses the importance of aligning marketing efforts with personal growth and changes, such as becoming a mother. 

We will touch on:

• Reflecting on the Journey of Writing a Book
• Introduction of Rebecca and Her Role
• Reasons for Not Promoting the Book Anymore
• Strategies for Making the Writing Process Easier
• Lessons Learned and Areas for Improvement
• Future Plans and Final Tips
• Encouragement and Closing Remarks

Thank you to Rebecca Hallbach Paciorek with Authors' Allies for sponsoring today’s episode!!!!
Unlock 10 Powerful Book Marketing Steps: Craft a winning strategy in mere minutes with our FREE step-by-step ebook. Download & watch your readership soar! → Unleash Your Book's Marketing Potential! https://mailchi.mp/2809c529966d/10stepsnellie

Transcript

Unknown: 1:23

I am excited to chat, because we are going to be chatting about I wrote a book three years ago. I was sitting there last night thinking about this training, so I wrote this book, your journey to six figures, three years ago, almost to the date like I was finishing up the manuscript this time, three years ago, and then we had a book launch party, like, I think it was like, mid to late August, so almost three years to the date, which just, where does the time go? Like, where does the time go? So I wrote that one, this one, and then I did an audible with it three years ago. And then this one is more like workbook style, like, I'll give you a little like, sampling of it. This is a really great companion to our 90 day wealthy you. So it's a little bit thinner, it's a little bit bigger, and more like workbook style is where this is, like, literally, like, my brain in a book. And so I want to talk about the process of writing a book, because it's it can feel overwhelming, and I'm excited to do the process again, not right this second, but soon. And I hope that this can support one other person, because when we're doing anything for the first time that has a lot of moving parts that feels very foreign to us, it can feel really overwhelming. And then our brain, just like typically human nature, right, behavior, goes, I'm out this is just too overwhelming. Like we want the end result, right? Like we want that proud, accomplished feeling at the end, like I'll never forget when I, like submitted this to Amazon KDP, and how proud I felt like I was literally sitting there with my daughter, and I just felt so much pride. Because it, it did feel hard, like for an ADHD brain to do this big of a project can, it can feel almost impossible. So before I get into all the goodness, this episode is sponsored by Rebecca, and she is amazing, like she is so passionate about helping authors, so I thought she'd be a perfect person to sponsor this episode. I put some of her links in the description so you can connect with her. She's really going to help you. Once you write the book, what do you do now? Which is so beneficial, because when you're writing a book, a lot of times, all you can focus on is writing the book, and then you're so exhausted that then you're like, I don't even have the energy to market this thing, right? So she is a great ally with the author's ally, and she can really support you with all those moving parts and how to really get it in the hands of the people that it can bless. So make sure you connect with Rebecca. She's so, so passionate, like I said about helping authors get their books out to the world, and she she wants to help you, and she's got amazing membership and free resources and all of the things. So let's talk about this. Okay, so this actually isn't available for purchase right now, and there's some reasons why. One I have evolved so much since writing this book, so I did take it down. Um, not because I'm not proud of it, but so much has changed. Um, the so much has changed in the world. So much has changed for me. I'm now a mom of two, and so it just didn't feel right for me to keep marketing this version of the book, um, and like, even like the this photo, I'm so different, like internally and externally, and this was only a year ago, so I'm still so proud of these assets, and equally, I want to always feel good that like what I'm marketing is still One relevant and aligned with who I am and where I'm heading, and so I just made that choice to to not promote them at the moment, but I really want to talk about the the process of it, and how I'm I, how I made it easier, and how I will make it easier for the next book. Okay, number one, number one is, have accountability. So like, right now we're in a co working virtual session with a few amazing women. And like, if I had that every single week where I could just do a chapter at a time, or just even, like, whatever I could get done, it would feel so much less alone, like lonely, and also it would be more fun, and then I would be making so much more progress. I really did also enjoy going to different locations to write parts of the book. So I went to, like. A coffee shop. I went to Panera. I went, I think I went to, like, a pizza place. And so, like making the writing process fun and enjoyable is key. I also think it's important. One thing that I think I did really well was I took my audience on the journey of writing the book, so that way. When I did go to promote the book, it wasn't this, like big shock that I wrote a book. It was like, Oh, she's been taking us on this journey. So, like, from a marketing perspective, the day you start writing your book is the day you start marketing it, in my opinion. And so I then I had like, goals of, like, how many words? So like, when I sat down, my goal was, like, 1000 words, or whatever it may be, and then going back and editing it, I would definitely do the editing part more. It was like, I feel like I rushed that part, and I really wish I would have gone through multiple like iterations after I wrote it, because you always like, I post things and then I go back and edit them, because I'm like, Oh, I didn't think about that, or I want to add that, right? And I even do that with, like, my online programs and PDFs and all of those things. So I would have probably gone through the editing process probably, like, five to eight times. I did it twice, so I would have gone through the editing process more. I would have done a test group to read the book, give me feedback, then go back and edit it again, and then they would be like a part of the promoting team and all of those things. And equally, I really rushed the audible version, and I would have done that differently, because I think more people that I support are going to listen to the audible anyways. So I would have, like, added in more bonuses. I would have, like, had an event or an experience around the the audible production, and just made that more like, again, fun and enjoyable, and bring people in behind the scenes. And equally, the part that I was so nervous about when writing the book was Amazon. I don't know why I was so intimidated by Amazon at the time, but it was so easy. Like, literally, Amazon does make everything so freaking easy. So like, uploading the book, uploading the cover, was the easiest part. And in my head, I was so worried about that, but it it had, like, it's been so easy to do that, and then, you know, putting a workbook with the actual book is definitely something I want to do for the next round. So having, like, an audio, having an actual physical book, and then having a workbook go with it, I've like, it's been unanimous. I've heard so much feedback from my audience in particular, that they love homework, they love workbooks, they love action items, and so having like a bundle where they could get, like a workbook and audio and the actual book, I think, is huge. And equally, like going through the promotion process, I feel like we did a really good job promoting it, and we gave a lot of books away, which I would probably do again. I would do it differently again, like that felt rushed that season of my life. Just everything felt so rushed and hustle and bustle and like I've just changed so much since then, like, I love to, like, be in mama beast mode, is what I call it, and get things done. But like, still with so much, like calmness and like spaciousness and so, you know, the next round, I would definitely do more of a enjoyable promotion, rather than like, go, go, go, go, go, bye bye, bye bye, and then it's just like, bah. Like you you just, you can't enjoy the process as much. It's kind of like having a baby like you want to enjoy, you know, as much as you can. You want to enjoy that newborn baby and all the cuddles and all the memories and not rushing through the process. So I think, like all in all, my biggest tip is make it fun and enjoyable. Have accountability and don't rush the process. Like this is such a work of like, a labor of love and like. So the next version, I do want it to like, be something that can, you know, stand the test of time and reflect who I am. And, you know, something that, like my kids are proud of, which they totally would be proud of, this and even this, but I just, I'm a whole different human and it, you know, it just, it feels good to me to do. I don't want to say a do over, but, like. 2.0 version, and really just using all of what I just did as a dress rehearsal. That's probably, like, my biggest tip is, anytime I do something for the first time, a way that I take the pressure off of myself is that I'm like, this is just a dress rehearsal, right? Like, let's just take the pressure off. Make it a dress rehearsal. You're going to learn so much. And like, the best way that we learn is by doing. Sitting behind a computer, researching, overthinking is not going to get us too far. So like, the best thing that you can do is to go do right to go do it. You actually learn so much by doing and implementing. And that's just one of my like core values is like, let's just go do it. Like, let's just go do it. So if you have any questions on the writing process, feel free to reach out. Make sure you connect with Rebecca. She's got so much free resources like I mentioned, and an amazing, amazing group to help you market your book. So until next time, have a great day. You.