Much of the Live Your Peace audience has told us about stories inside you and your desire of always dreaming of writing a book. We’ve invited Melinda Copp, “The Writter’s Shirpa” to talk about how to connect with that big mission life calling and how to get your message out there to spread your non-fiction message the world.
Live Your Peace interviews Melinda Copp “The Writer’s Sherpa”
How long have you been doing what you do, and how did you become a book writing expert?
I’ve always been a bookworm and a writer—I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s of fine arts in creative writing nonfiction—but I never set out to be known as “The Writer’s Sherpa.” However, several professional experiences really led me to where I am today.
Right out of college as an undergraduate, I got my first professional writing job as an editorial assistant for a small self-publishing company. Aside from working in Barnes & Noble, this was my first experience in the publishing world. While working there, I ghosted and edited articles and books for the company’s clients, who were professional speakers, coaches, executives, and consultants who had a big message they wanted to get out into the world. This was how I learned that books (and even writing, in general) are one of the most powerful marketing tools available.
Back then I also learned just how overwhelming it could feel to be writing a book. I remember the day my boss asked me to take on my first book project—I was excited and completely nervous all at once. It was my first book, a big step up for someone who’d only written five-page articles! But then reality started to sink in. I had to write a book—a whole book—all by myself!
But I dove in and started working. As a person who wanted to make a living as a writer, it was something that I had to figure out. I looked at other books (both good ones and bad) and how they were constructed, how the material was organized, how the author used stories and examples, and how the author led the reader through their information. I read, I analyzed, and looked for clues as to what made the books successful.
In this process I learned that books contain certain elements that make them work as a whole. Once I had all the pieces of the book essentially figured out, I just had to put them together.
Since then, I’ve started my own business, worked on quite a few more books, and gone back to school to get my master’s degree, and really dedicated my professional life to helping aspiring authors bring more great books into the world.
Through these experiences, plus in working with numerous clients over the years, I put together my Summit Book Writing System—a series of steps you can use to plan, organize, and write your absolute best book and ensure it gets done faster and easier than you ever thought possible.
The entire interview with Melinda Copp at:
http://www.writerssherpa.com/about
Ruth Anne Wood the director of Scripting for Success, a publishing and production company dedicated to help her clients set and achieve specific measurable goals around sharing a personal vision and key message of hope, peace, healing, creativity, community, innovation and entrepreneurial transformation in the world. Through the “Live Your Peace” movie, interviews, live events and online community Ruth and her team brings together a wealth of resources from peace makers in our local and global community. To receive more information on the upcoming Live Your Peace events, training and resources contact Ruth at 215-872-5035.
Thanks so much, Ruth, for the great conversation!
You are most welcome, Melinda!
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