Today, I am delighted to welcome Louise Wiles to guestpost for me about how she overcame her blocks by writing Turning Points.

Can I Really?

When the email from Kate arrived in my inbox I was intrigued. It was the title of the book that initially caught my attention, Turning Points. As someone who has relocated as an expat/repat five times in the last twelve years there have been a number of turning points, some good some not so good. But as far as having an impactful story to tell as a result I was unsure.

Kate and I had a chat and she encouraged me to give some thought to those Turning Points. I realized that I did have a story to tell. Mine is not a story of tragedy or heartbreak but more about how I have reacted to circumstance and change. I decided to give it a go.

I have always had a nagging thought somewhere in the very deep recesses of my mind, that one day I might like to write a book and so the idea of writing was already there. I write blogs for my business and have done a lot of academic writing for endless qualifications, writing is something that I do – my question though was do I do it well enough?

For these reasons I decided to give Kate’s book a go. I also hoped that sharing my story would encourage accompanying partners to give their business/career ideas a go, and would also raise my profile as an Expatriate Coach.

Expecting trauma and heartache as I settled down to write my first draft, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it flowed – but was it good enough? I tentatively sent draft one off to Kate expecting an encouraging email (Kate’s always encouraging) and the request to “please have another go”. To my delight only a few edits were suggested and then it was sent on to the editor.

I waited with bated breath; a professional was reading my writing for the first time ever. How would I react if she told me it read really badly? She did not, some small edits and I was done!

An easier process than I could ever have imagined. I think this is for several reasons. The subject matter, Turning Points is something that spoke to me and my situation as an expatriate. I had a story and message about “all that” that I wanted to get out… and so out it came! This taught me a valuable lesson, write about what matters to me and write from the heart. From a more practical perspective, Jo and Kate also provided a great structure and good writing tips which made the task easier.

Now I find that there is something more than the writing I struggle with, and that is feeling comfortable with sharing what I write. It’s a bit like standing on a stage. In opening ourselves to others through whatever means of communication, we open ourselves to judgment, both good and bad and that feels scary.

I’ve been writing a blog for a few years now. Only my newsletter subscribers know about it. Occasionally I post links to articles on Linked-in and my personal Facebook page, but that is the extent of my promotion. I’ve used lack of time as my excuse, but now I am beginning to wonder if the lack of promotion was more about me not feeling that what I wrote was good enough or worthy of being shared.

Becoming involved in the Turning Points project has made me realize that we all have worthwhile story and message to share. I may not write brilliantly, but if I don’t step out and share what I write, then the time I take to write is wasted. Promoting my blog has now become a much higher priority.

I have learnt:

• To write about what matters and write from the heart. If a topic doesn’t grab my interest or emotions then I leave it alone and write about something else instead.
• Structure is my friend. It might not sound very creative to work with a basic outline or structure but it makes writing so much easier.
• I need to write with the full intention of sharing.
• Plan my promotional and PR campaign for each written piece of work, schedule it and then if there really will be no chickening out!

Louise Wiles: Success Abroad Coaching website and BLOG!

Email: Louise@SuccessAbroadCoaching.com

Linkedin: Louisewiles.

Twitter: @LWexpatlife

Turning Points Book – Turning Challenges into Success.

I have just read this super book in one sitting. Written clearly and accessibly, reading Kama’s words is like sitting down over a cup of tea with a friend. With a lifetime of international moves behind her, a divorce, the experience of an empty nest (and her children in another country), few authors could be more suited to writing such a book.

The Happy Migrant.  I love the title and the book’s content and voice is consistent with the cheery, upbeat tone of its words. Divided into chapters, covering before the move, leaving family and friends, embracing the new location and relationships, Kama has shared every scrap of her experience and knowledge, it’s evident from her ideas and solutions that she knows a lot about spirituality, mindfulness, Neuro Linguistic Programming and counselling techniques. Each chapter has checklists and tasks and that makes the book practical as well as comforting.

I tell authors that they should be sure that their book does one or more of the following:

• Inspire
• Support
• Inform
• Entertain

Kama’s does the first three very well.

Her book is available from her website TheHappyMigrant

TURNING POINTS – 25 INSPIRING STORIES FR

Putting together a collaborative book is not easy. From experience I know that the only way you can make this work is to have a strong, resourceful editor. Kate Cobb, a Brit who has emigrated to France, is that editor.  Orchestrating a team of 25 collaborators, using the internet to the full, Kate has done a sterling job.

Perhaps the cleverest by-product of this book is the fact that each of its contributors has now become its promoter and salesperson.

Find out what Kate did  here

It was a no-brainer – asking my local bookstore, here in a city teeming with foreigners – to start a section specifically for people living abroad. But, you know, sometimes the most obvious things are the ones we never think to do anything about.

Books about life abroad do not traditionally have a section just for them, and often, bemused booksellers end up putting the books in the Travel, Memoir, Education and Psychology sections.

But thanks to the far-sightedness of Agnes at the American Book Center in the Hague, we now have three shelves all to ourselves!

Result!

I was thrilled to see my books  up there alongside its natural shelf-fellows – Ruth van Reken’s Third Culture Kids, Simone Costa-Eriksson’s The Mission of Detective Mike, Mike Harlings Postcards From Across the Pond.

Even better, Agnes tells me the books are selling fast and she has just ordered extra copies of everything.

So, if you have written a book that belongs on the bookshelf of your local bookstore, why don’t you do what I did and JUST ASK?

Back in 1998 I published an anthology of humorous writings about living overseas and called it Forced to Fly. I sold over 2,000 copies and one forward-thinking international oil company even bought 200 copies to give to their international staff. Now, thanks to constant prods from satisfied readers I have decided to republish it in a second edition later this year.

So, to celebrate, I would like to include 20 new pieces of writing of up to 1,000 words in length. They can be on any specific incident or any theme that could only have happened to you because you were living abroad. Like how amusing your life became when you lived in Holland and began to travel everywhere by bicycle, or how you entered into the local Oktoberfest with more gusto than was appreciated, or the pickle you found yourself in when driving in India.

Laughter is the best medicine and Forced to Fly not only makes readers laugh with its funny stories, but also inlcudes chapters on coping with culture shock and how to be happy. In the second edition we will also have a brand new chapter on developing resilience.

Entries will close on August 31st 2011. All winning entries will appear in the book and winners will not only receive two free copies and have the ability to buy additional copies of the book at discount but their entries will be included on the blog throughout 2012.

Please send your entries to me via email.

I’ve been a published writer for over 25 years and have made a pretty decent living out of doing what I love despite being a ‘trailing spouse’ for almost all that time too. Many of you know that I have written books and mentor others to get published, but maybe you are not totally familiar with all the different types of writing I have tried along the way? What you may also not know, is that I wrote a book called A Career in Your Suitcase, now in its 3rd ed, and that I am regarded as someone who knows a lot about portable careers.

Tiffany Jansen, American in Holland and blogger at Clogs and Tulips, recently asked me to guestpost about both of my specialisms together in one article – how to create a portable career as an expat writer. I was delighted to oblige, and in doing so compiled a list of six top tips for wannabe expat writers.

To read the post and discover the tips, please click here.

Authors need to get publicity and lots of it, every which way, all the time. So, when Andrea Martins of ExpatWomen.com asked if she could interview me about my new online program, called Definite Articles: how to write and sell winning articles based on your overseas experience I jumped at the chance. As the program only went on sale this week and isn’t quite even up on Amazon yet, this only goes to show that Andrea knows the value of being first.

She sent me a few questions by email and this is the result of the piece that appeared on her blog today.

Expat Women: Jo, last time we talked, you had just launched your Write Your Life Stories online program. How did your new online program, Definite Articles, come about?

Jo: Actually, I created this program first (in 2002) and ran it as a live one day workshop for many years.  In about 2005, I turned the notes from the live workshop into an ebook and that became part of an eight lesson correspondence course.  I have been running it ever since in that way.  However, since 2005, I have adjusted, amended and honed the course, adding new stuff to such an extent that it became about twice as long as before.  I added material about blogging, marketing yourself online, pitching and writing a book review too.

Expat Women: You say that your program is for people living abroad.  Is the content only suitable for expats?

Jo: Definite Articles will work for anybody, sure.  But my writing experience is mainly for the expat market, so this is the area I know best. The examples and markets mentioned target this niche too, so I believe the program is of particular interest to people living abroad.

Read the rest of the article here.

One of the first things that I teach the students attending my book-writing workshops is that they need to have the authority to write about their chosen topic. I say they need to have ‘been there, done that and got the tee-shirt’.

Stacie Nevadomski Berdan fulfils that objective brilliantly. She is a marketing and communications consultant, an expert on international careers, an award-winning author, and an engaging and lively speaker sought-after by multi-national corporations, professional organizations, and universities around the world.  Focusing on the elements of globalization, she provides practical and relevant advice to succeed in the global marketplace, including the value of understanding cross-cultural environments, the benefits of female leadership, and the changing role of managers within the context of an increasingly global and virtual workplace. Her book, published by HarperCollins, and co-authored with C Perry Yeatman is the book every woman needs if she is contemplating whether to accept that overseas posting or not….

JP

Tell me about your book. What is it about? Can you describe it in just a few sentences?

SB

Get Ahead By Going Abroad: A Woman’s Guide to Fast-Track Career Success is a groundbreaking, award-winning book that highlights a growing trend among successful, globetrotting women: Working abroad can fast-track a career, broaden professional capabilities, increase one’s pay and expand personal horizons.  It is the go-to resource revealing successful strategies on how women – single, married, kids or not – can leverage this trend to catapult their careers. Providing step-by-step details on how to make it happen, the nitty-gritty details cover the essentials you need to be aware of from picking the right market to deciding what to pack to making the most of it in your new home – all brought to you by seasoned pros who’ve been there and done it successfully.

JP

Why did you write it?

SB

My co-author, Perry Yeatman, and I had a hunch that it was no coincidence that the two of us, plus hundreds of our friends and colleagues, who had lived and worked abroad had fast-tracked our careers. We conducted research with more than 200 women who had lived and worked abroad confirming our theory. We felt compelled to share the news with women around the world: One more means of breaking through the glass ceiling and getting to the top was available to those women who wanted to go for it.

JP

Why do you think needed to be written? What will your book do for other people?

SB

First and foremost, the trend backed by research would help other women go for global careers that would lead to success. Second, our research had also revealed five traits that the vast majority of these women had in common and attributed to much of their success.  These traits – adaptability/flexibility, great communications skills, team- and relationship-building skills, patience and persistence, and curiosity/open-mindedness – were, many times, the same traits that women were cited as having that held them back. These traits, however, are necessary for cross-cultural success and women had them. We feel as though this information empowers women to not only push for global assignments but to go global confidently in their innate ability as women. Based on the feedback we’ve received from readers, Get Ahead By Going Abroad has inspired thousands of women to seek out international careers.

JP

Who do you think will read your book? What made you think that there was a market for it? Now that it’s been out for a while, what proof do you have that you were right?

SB

Female professionals around the world. Global is everywhere.  Companies and organizations are expanding their businesses. International experience is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a “must have” for the vast majority of large-scale organizations. Those who know how to play in the global market will increasingly be more successful. Proof is in the news almost every single day that highlights the importance of international experience, foreign language skills and an ability to lead and manage cross-culturally and virtually to business success. Proof is also in the thousands of emails that I’ve received from women and men, experienced professionals and recent graduates, that book inspired and motivated them to go global. Proof is in the thousands of copies sold and the demand that still exists for the book – as well as for me to speak on the topic in a variety of forums.

JP

It does not matter how good a book is, or how good your writing is if no one knows about it. What steps have you taken or do you plan to take to promote your book? Are you a speaker or trainer? Do you have a blog? A website? A newsletter? Do you use Facebook, Twitter or other social media tools? What about press releases and sending out review copies and free articles? Have you had any other ideas? Which methods do you think work best and can you give me any examples?

SB

In the first 6-8 months, I worked closely with my publicist at HarperCollins to secure about 30 Tier 1 media interviews, including 10 major broadcast (e.g., CNN International, NBC “Weekend Today”, ABC’s “America This Morning), international print magazines (e.g., Time, More, Fast Company) and major daily newspapers (e.g., Wall Street Journal, USA Today, International Herald Tribune), as well as targeting expat- and women-specific web sites, blogs and media. Since the book’s launch, I have written regularly for the Huffington Post and serve as an on-call international careers expert for major media outlets. I write and publish articles in magazines and newspapers on the importance of working abroad. I take every legitimate interview that contacts me, whether a major network or a personal blogger, to promote my message.  I write a blog that is posted on www.getaheadbygoingabroad.com and linked to my own web site, www.stacieberdan.com. I am an active speaker within corporations, organizations and on campuses; I am represented by two speakers bureaus but also allow people to contact me directly via my web sites. I use LinkedIn to post comments to my professional network, and to a lesser degree, Facebook. I adapt my message to the evolving climate, and I work hard at it. It’s a full-time job.

JP

How did you publish your book? What was your route to publication?

SB

I wrote my first non-fiction business proposal with the help of a professional coach. We circulated it to agents, one liked it, and pitched it to editors at the major publishing houses. Within four weeks HarperCollins bought the book.

JP

Self-belief can be a big problem for writers. How did you manage to stay confident in your ability and remember that you were good enough to write your book? How did you cope with the days when you thought you could not do it and that it was rubbish?

SB

I left a successful marketing and communications career after 15 years. My co-author and I believed in the trend passionately and, although Perry went back to work full-time and I conducted the interviews and wrote the entire book, she provided wise counsel and expert editing throughout the process.  Even after developing a detailed outline for the book, I found that certain chapters were harder than others to write. Having a partner to bounce ideas off was incredibly helpful.

JP

It’s easy to procrastinate, to blame writers’ block and to put off finishing your project. How did you keep yourself motivated? And how long did it take you to write it? What was your routine?

SB

I believe that discipline is one of the secrets to writing a book – or finishing any long-term project. I am a wife and mother. My daughters were six and starting first grade when I sold the book in September of 2006. I got up every morning, went for a long mind-clearing walk before they awoke, had breakfast with them, and sent them off to school with my husband’s help. He worked at home – he is a travel writer – and I would then go to my office and write until they came home from school – sometimes longer if I was in the throes of a chapter. We’d play, have dinner, story time, and we’d put the girls to bed. I would then go back to writing until 10 or 11 pm. I wrote the book in four months.

JP

What was your biggest challenge regarding the writing of your book? How have you overcome that?

SB

Although it was the greatest asset, having a co-author was also the biggest challenge. Both Perry and I are strong-willed, confident professionals. Working through the obstacles was difficult, especially since we are truly “married for life” with co-ownership of the copyright. We overcame it through constant discussions, dialogue and always remembering the respect we have for each other.

JP

I believe that getting feedback is really important to help you recognise when your writing is really good and to find ways of making it even better. How did you get feedback on your work?

SB

In addition to my co-author, I also had a great editor at HarperCollins and a terrific agent. Both read it and gave terrific feedback in a timely manner. I think it helps not to have too big an ego, especially for a first-time published author. In addition, I had several friends and colleagues whose perspectives I respect and admire read it for comments. But most of all, the person who gave me the most helpful feedback overall was my husband. He is a professional writer and has an amazing command of the English language. He provided thoughtful advice and comments while never rewriting a sentence. It was always big-picture recommendations for he knew how important it was for this book to be mine.

JP

If you were to give advice to someone else who is thinking about writing a book based on their life experience what would be your number one tip?

SB

Make sure that you are committed to both telling the whole, interesting story, as well as the process, which can take on a life of its own and often out of your control. Writing and publishing a book takes a great deal of energy and time and is not for the faint of heart. With that said, publishing a book is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.

I love book reviews. I love to read them, write them and get them published. Why? Because they are quick, easy, generally short, easy to place and can have a catalytic effect.

Today, I heard that Rosie Reay, over at Catalunya Chronicles had posted a review of my book, A Career in Your Suitcase, see, that’s it over there on the left. I immediately thanked her, then I sent a tweet about it and now that review has become a blog. See what I mean about the catalytic effect of a book review? Then, a few minutes ago I got an alert that my author, Tina Quick’s book The Global Nomad’s Guide to University Transition had been reviewed at The Sentinella over in Spain by my student, Sian Witherden. If you are an author you need reviews too. Let me explain:

Authors need reviews

Authors need reviews of their books. Of course they do, that is why they send out advance copies, extracts and prepublication PDFs of the final draft as soon as they can and continue handing them out as soon as it is hot off the press. The more reviews you have  the more likely it is that people will take your book seriously. I don’t know about you but if I find a book for sale online and it has no reviews I am acutely suspicious of its quality. The more reviews you can get the better. But who wants them? Where can you place them? Here are some ideas . . .

where to place reviews

• websites
• blogs
• online bookstores
• magazines
• newspapers
• newsletters
• free papers

hand them out like smarties

Many brand new authors are reluctant to hand out free copies of their books willynilly to people claiming they will write a review. Some authors consider it to be a risk, or even a cost to them if that person is not writing for a major newspaper. Rubbish! A review is worth gold, wherever it appears, even if it only gets in front of a handful of people. Because the moment someone places a review, even if only one other person reads it and is tempted to buy the book, that makes one more sale and compensates for the cost of that one you ‘gave away’. These days many people are happy to review a PDF of a book, so I recommend you offer these to anyone who offers to do a review, yes, even if that review is ‘only on Amazon’. Emailing a PDF costs nothing but could pay dividends if that review ultimately converts into sales.

Of course you aren’t going to be silly and give away copies of your book to everyone and anyone, but if that person is prepared to place a review on Amazon, has a blog, knows someone with a blog, has a connection with a friendly website owner or is already a freelance journalist then do consider offering them a copy. Please.

Working with reviewers

If you find someone keen to do a review of your book, then I suggest you do the following:

1. Ask them where they will place it.
2. Ask them to let you know when it appears.
3. When the review is out use it for your own PR, blog about it, tweet about it and extend its value as far as you can.
4. If the review is good, and you can see that the reviewer is a good writer, suggest they take another step and write an article, interview or blog post on the same topic as the book, with you front and centre.
5. Keep a note of whom you gave your books to and follow up to check they have done the review. If not, offer them help or a sample review they could tailor.
6. If they are still stuck, send them a copy of my free report called How to Write a Book Review.
7. After the review is published thank them very much indeed.

You can guess what’s coming next, right?

If anyone would like to do a book review of one of my books just ASK!

I just wrote this piece about how to write life story for Cyprus Mail. It includes examples of the different ways you could tackle writing your own memoir if you too, like me, live abroad and just know your experiences have value and can help other people.

click here to read the story