TELL THE WORLD YOUR STORY
You have life experiences that only you have lived the way you have lived them. There were funny moments as a child, unbelievable (or even wild and crazy!) moments as a young adult, and exciting or possibly scary ones as a professional trying to find your way.
And the truth is every story deserves a life, deserves a moment in the spotlight, deserves to be published. And I mean every story!
So, what’s holding you back?
Are you worried there is no lesson to be learned from your story? Think again. If you pause for a moment, each of your stories taught you something; I’m sure of it. Are you still trying to tell me you’re not a storyteller?
Well, have you ever used examples that you made up—even if they were loosely based on an actual event—during a presentation? That’s a story in the making.
Have you ever been asked to tell a story at a campfire or to a child as they were falling asleep? Then you have a story that is waiting to get out.
What about a client success story? Read that one again. Yes. It’s a ... story!
And did you know that J. R. R. Tolkien only wrote down the Lord of the Rings stories to keep them straight when he messed up during story time one night while putting his son to bed?
That’s right. All the Lord of the Rings stories were bedtime stories Tolkien told his son.
Maybe you are really great at telling a story orally, but when you sit at a computer, the story shrivels up and dies. This happens more than you know.
If this is the case, then you have two options. The first option is to use speech to text software, which is part of many computer operating systems now. The second is to hire a ghostwriter or a writing coach. You could orally narrate the story to a recording, and the ghostwriter takes your oral story and writes the version to be published. Or you can do the writing yourself but work with a coach who helps your story shine.
A good ghostwriter or coach will make your story better in terms of filling in gaps and editing it. However, they won’t change it to be their story; they will only enhance what you told them or what you’ve written. Another thing they will do is give you the reasons why they changed something or, in the instance of a coach, why you should change something. A ghostwriter will keep working on the content until you are satisfied with it. They don’t just write something and end the contract. They work with you in a type of partnership until you get the story you want. The same goes for a coach.
If you don’t have a problem sitting at a computer writing a story, if you used speech to text software, if you worked with a writing coach, or if you worked with a ghostwriter, then it’s time to move on to the editing. Even people who have hired a ghostwriter or a coach should hire an editor. You may not need a developmental editor, but editing is important no matter what.
Next, it’s time for the work of a line editor or copy editor. They do the line-by-line edit and make changes that help engage the reader and keep the cohesion of each chapter.
Once these edits are done and corrected, the proofreader gives the manuscript a once over for any typos and minor errors that can be distracting to the reader.
Are you thinking “All of this just to publish a story?!” For the most part, yes. However, some of the steps can be avoided in some circumstances. But in essence, getting the story on a piece of paper or computer screen is the hardest part. The rest is just polishing it up so people will want to read it.
Don’t want to do all of that yourself? Then, it’s time to talk to our team. We take care of everything, and all you have to do is sit back and marvel at the fact you did the thing!
Now I’ll ask. Are you ready to get that story out of your head and on to paper or a computer screen? Are you a storyteller?
You still may not think you are, but my guess is that you are really thinking about it now because deep down, you know you have a story.
Ready to publish? CLICK HERE to schedule your consultation today!
Content credit: C. Storm
Image credit: Social.Cut