Shows / Nothing but the Words
Nothing but the Words
Thinking about writing a book? Find out exactly how successful authors write, publish, and sell books that make a difference for their readers and for the author's business, platform, or career. Whether you choose self-publishing or go after a traditional book deal, these are the steps and strategies you need to know.
Your host, former PEN Emerging Voices fellow, award-winning writer, copy editor and developmental editor, and ghostwriter of more than 30 books, Candice L. Davis, is also a…
Episodes
Nothing but the Words90. Find Your Writing Superpower
Writing a book can feel like a struggle, especially when you're convinced you're not good at it. The good news: Everyone who wants to write a book has a…
Nothing but the Words89. When Writing a Whole Book Feels Overwhelming
When you think of writing a whole book does it feel like a huge task? Lots of would-be authors get stuck at the start because the process seems overwhelming…
Nothing but the Words88. Write More with Writing Dates
Yes, writing can be, and often is, a solitary activity. But even the most introverted among us can benefit from writing with other people in a structured…
Nothing but the Words87. When You Don't Feel Inspired to Write
There's nothing quite like the feeling of writing when you're totally inspired and the words just seem to flow. That's every writer's dream. But what happens…
Nothing but the Words86. Your Unique Writing Personality
There's more than one way to write your book. Trying to fit your writing into someone else's schedule and process can make writing your book seem impossible…
Nothing but the Words85. The Big Lie about Creativity and Writing
Do you ever question whether or not you have the creativity to write a whole book? Our culture is rife with myths about creativity and who's lucky enough to…
Nothing but the Words84. Trust but Verify
Even if you're writing your very first book, you bring experience to the process. You have experience as a reader. Over the years, you've absorbed a lot of…
Nothing but the Words83. Finish Strong (Your Own Way)
Everyone's pushing you to finish strong with your goals at the end of the year, and that includes your book. It can feel like a lot of pressure, and if you're…
Nothing but the Words82. Create Your Own Lexicon
Do your readers speak your language? By the time they finish reading your book, they will. In this episode, discover how creating a unique vocabulary can help…
Nothing but the Words81. Book-Cover Mistakes Every Author Can Avoid
Have you ever looked at a book cover that made you absolutely sure you didn't want the book? Maybe you didn't know why, but you knew the book wasn't for you…
Nothing but the Words80. How to Borrow Experience to Write a Better Book
Great writers study and practice writing for many years to get that good. So how can you write a great book the first time around? It's not as hard as some…
Nothing but the Words79. Set & Achieve Your Writing Goals
It seems like everyone around you is finishing their books, and you're still trying to figure out how to get yours written. You're not alone. In fact, most…
Nothing but the Words78. Boost Your Self-Confidence & Write Your Book
How confident are you in your ability to write a phenomenal book that does what you want it to do in the world? If you're like most authors, a lack of…
Nothing but the Words77. Lessons from a Successful Book Launch Party
Every great book deserves a great introduction to the world. In this episode, we'll cover 10 lessons from a successful book launch party. Don't underestimate…
Nothing but the Words76. Writing a Book That Competes with the Best
It can be intimidating to write a book when some super author seems to already dominate the category. In this episode, discover why another book's success in…
Nothing but the Words75. When Writing Your Book Gets Difficult
The biggest reason most people who want to write a book never do: they quit every time it feels hard. In this episode, I share a simple change in your thinking…
Nothing but the Words74. 5 Signs You're Ready to Write Your Book
As you probably know, wanting to write a book and actually feeling ready to write it aren't the same thing. In this episode, I share the clear signs you're…
Nothing but the Words73. Writing about Hard Things
Sometimes the hard part of writing your book is reliving your painful stories. If you're writing a memoir, you'll likely have to write about some difficult…
Nothing but the Words72. Essential Lessons from Traditional Publishing
Self-publishing is a fantastic option for most new authors. But there are some crucial lessons all authors can learn from the world of traditional publishing…
Nothing but the Words71. Your Vision for Your Book
Every year, thousands of authors write a book, publish it, and do absolutely nothing with it. That doesn't have to happen to you. In this episode, discover why…
Nothing but the Words70. 4 Writing Habits to Unlearn
Your teachers meant well when they taught you the rules of formal academic writing. But many of those rules don't apply when it comes to writing your book. In…
Nothing but the Words69. Coach Yourself Past Your Doubts
You want to write a book, but sometimes, you feel like you just can't do it. The doubts creep in and you start to wonder if your book can possibly be good…
Nothing but the Words68. 3 Types of Books You Shouldn't Write
Everyone who wants to write a great book, should go for it. And you should do it knowing you're creating value for your readers. In this episode, you'll…
Nothing but the Words67. Measuring Your Book's Success
Writing a book is a significant investment of your time, energy, and knowledge. And you want some kind of return on that investment. But only you can decide…
Nothing but the Words66. Open Your Book with a Hook
If you don't catch your readers' attention on the first page of your book, in the first paragraph, you're in trouble. Luckily, grabbing them from the very…
Nothing but the Words65. Print, Ebook, or Audiobook?
As a self-published author, you have more options available to you than ever. You can publish your book in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and/or audio versions…
Nothing but the Words64. Is Your Life Memoir-Worthy?
Not everyone feels called to write a memoir, but if you do, it's perfectly normal to wonder whether or not you have enough of a story for a whole book. (Hint…
Nothing but the Words63. How to Commit to Your Book
Every author faces doubts along the way. But successful authors all have one thing in common. They know how to commit to their book and keep coming back to it…
Nothing but the Words62. The Power of Comparison
Who are your favorite authors? And what do you love about their books? It can be dangerous--even paralyzing--to compare your book to theirs. But there's also…
Nothing but the Words61. Bring Your Reader into Your World
Telling a story is more than just writing down the facts. In this episode, we explore how you can put the reader in the place you were in when your story (or…
Nothing but the Words60. How to Write When You're Too Tired
Family, friends, job, business, social life! You have so much on your plate. And sometimes, you're just too tired to write. Unfortunately, those are also the…
Nothing but the Words59. Design Your Writing Space
Does it really make a difference where you write you book? It absolutely does. In this episode, we dive into how you can create a space that supports your…
Nothing but the Words58. Stop Chasing the Wrong Readers
It's completely normal to want to find as many readers as possible for you book. You're writing to reach people. But focusing on the wrong potential readers…
Nothing but the Words57. Focus on Value to Write a Book Readers Want
Only a small percentage of people who want to write a book ever actually make it happen. But there's no reason you can't be one of that group. If you're…
Nothing but the Words56. Promote This Book Before You Write Your Next Book
As you write your book, you're almost sure to have ideas for more books. Your creative juices are flowing, and you see book ideas everywhere. But hold on just…
Nothing but the Words55. Stealing Quotes from the Bible
If you've ever thought of quoting Scripture in your book, there are important guidelines you need to follow. Bible translations belong to their publishers, and…
Nothing but the Words54. Pros and Cons of Collaborative Books
Taking part in a collaborative book can seem like the perfect compromise. You only have to write a few pages, and you get published in a book. But don't say…
Nothing but the Words53. Write the Book You're Called to Write
People can tell you what your book "should" be about. Clients can beg you to write a book about what they see as your specialty. Logic might even dictate that…
Nothing but the Words52. Story Mistakes You Should Never Make
Everyone loves a good story. But even the best stories can be ruined when you make one or more of these common writing mistakes. In this episode, we dive into…
Nothing but the Words51. Secrets of the Best How-To Books
Writing a how-to book doesn't have to be difficult or boring. In this episode, I share 5 secrets from successful how-to books to help you make your book the…
Nothing but the Words50. The Truth about Traditional Publishing
Self-publishing is the most accessible path for most new authors, but is it the best path for you? In this episode, I share 5 truths about traditional…
Nothing but the Words49. The Truth about Self-Publishing
The business of self-publishing is booming. But there's also lots of misinformation about what it takes to successfully self-publish a book and what it says…
Nothing but the Words48. How to Hire a Ghostwriter
Sometimes, the best way to get the job done is to hire someone else to do it. In this episode, I share exactly what to look for in a ghostwriter if you decide…
Nothing but the Words47. Your Next Chapter with author Angela Raspass
In this interview with my coaching client Angela Raspass, author of "Your Next Chapter," you'll discover what it's really like to write and publish your first…
Nothing but the Words46. Write Your Gift to Write an Impactful Book
If you're not sure you have the right book idea or you want to write a book but have no idea what to write about, turn to your gifts. You have a unique…
Nothing but the Words45. How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?
You're excited to get your book out to the world. And you probably want to know how long it should take you to write it. In this episode, find out what factors…
Nothing but the Words44. If You Haven't Written Your Book Yet, Something Isn't Working
If you've been wanting to write a book for some time but you haven't, something isn't working. If you've started your book but, for whatever reason, you…
Nothing but the Words43. How to Talk about Your Book
No matter how much of your time and effort you pour into your book, talking about it can be difficult. You don't want to seem salesy or self-centered. You…
Nothing but the Words42. Write Like a Thought Leader
In this episode, discover how to write a book that will position you as a thought leader. Being an expert on your topic is a great start, but becoming a…
Nothing but the Words41. Write Your Book Before It's Too Late
What if you never write the book you dream of writing? That would be a loss for you and for your readers, but it doesn't have to happen. You can write your…
Nothing but the Words40. Lessons from a Writer's Retreat
Even if you can't get away from it all to work on your book right now, you can apply these lessons from my writer's retreat. In this episode, I share what I…
Nothing but the Words39. Writing in the Middle of Madness
Writing a book is easier said than done with so much going on in the world. Yet, many people are still getting it done. In this episode, I walk you through 6…
Nothing but the Words38. Blog Your Book the Right Way
If you're a consistent blogger--or you want to be--that content can do double duty for you. You can monetize your blog posts and use them to take your…
Nothing but the Words37. To the People Who Said You Couldn't Write
If you've ever questioned your ability to write a great book because of what someone else said, this episode is especially for you. Our brains want to protect…
Nothing but the Words36. How to Cut 30,000 Words from Your Book
Most new authors worry they won't have enough to say. But it doesn't matter if you're writing your first book or you're an experienced author. You can still…
Nothing but the Words35. Dealing with Rejection
Rejection is a part of any creative process, and writing a book is no different. People will reject your book idea. They'll reject the possibility that you…
Nothing but the Words34. Is Your Book Too Long?
A lot of new authors struggle to come up with enough content for their books. But at the other end of the spectrum are the authors who write way too much…
Nothing but the Words33. Write Your Flaws Too
Painting yourself as a perfect person in your book is never the way to go. No one wants to read about the expert who never faced an obstacle. You don't have to…
Nothing but the Words32. The Power of Author Coaching
Have you ever wished you had someone to call when you get stuck writing your book? What about someone who can help you figure out how to finally get started…
Nothing but the Words31. Write Better by Revising More
Crossing the finish line and finishing your manuscript is a huge accomplishment. But you're not done yet. Separate yourself from amateur authors by revising…