Lane Therrell :: Writing Process Expert

Lane Therrell helps would-be authors find the right words to express their thoughts and ideas clearly in their own, unique voice. Using her natural coaching and teaching abilities, Lane helps people transform vague ideas into published works. She encourages would-be authors to connect with their own inner truth, believe in the writing process, and take positive, accountable actions that create results.

"Five Secrets to Help You Get Started on Writing Your Book"

How To Cook Up a Soul-Satisfying Book Manuscript From Scratch

So, How's Your Book Coming?

Do you flinch when people ask you how that book of yours is coming along? After all, you've only been working on it for years. You've talked about your book at parties. All your friends and acquaintances know what you're up to… or what you say you're up to. You've got some yellow-edged pages tucked away in a bottom drawer somewhere, but you haven't worked on your book in so long you don't know where to start now.

Does this "plan of non-action" sound familiar? Or, maybe this is more like you:

You believe that writing a book could help you market your product. The book would be a great companion piece, back-end product, or promotional giveaway. It could even be sold as a stand-alone product. But, you just don't have time in your day to work on a book, since making sales is your top priority. You know there are many "write-a-book-quickly" programs out there, but the ideas you want to express in your book are so important to you and your business that you shy away from taking a quick-and-dirty, formulaic approach to putting your book together.

Either way, your book is not a book if it's still just a great idea. Fortunately, all you have to do to turn your great idea into your first published book is take action.

My name is Lane Therrell. As a professional freelance copywriter, I help people put words together every day in ways that convey their ideas clearly, capture their passions and inspire their readers to action. I live a life of passion, myself, spending as much time as I can on remote mountaintops with my beloved mules. (But that's another web site!) I also have a passion for books. Well-written books. Books that speak directly from the heart of the writer to the heart the reader. Books like these always remind me of a well-cooked meal-enjoyable, worth savoring, and infinitely satisfying to the soul.

Over the years, many of my clients have asked me, "Can you help me write my book?" My answer is always an enthusiastic "Yes," but sometimes the conversation never goes any farther than that. You see, most people have no idea what it takes to write a book, or what options they have for achieving their goal.

Basically, if you want to write a book, you can either carve out the time to write your book yourself, or (if your budget allows) you can hire someone to help you or even do it for you. I've learned from practical experience that writing a book is a lot like cooking-you start with an idea, you gather all the ingredients and tools available to you and you work till it's done, improvising as needed along the way. And, there are some peole who enjoy doing it themselves, or making the effort to learn how, and others who know right off the bat they want to hire a pro. The bottom line is, when you're deciding what action plan is right for you, it may help to think of your options his way: Would you rather eat a cake that was made from scratch-thoughtfully prepared by loving hands from quality ingredients-or would you rather eat a cake that was made from a commercial mix, straight out of the box? Both cakes taste sweet, but one creates a sense of satisfaction the other never can.

I'm all for experiencing that sense of satisfaction, myself. And I want to help others experience it as well. That's why I developed my Books From Scratch series of teleseminars. In each 1-hour information session, I lay out the options available to you, and you can choose the ingredients, tools, techniques and skill-building resources you need to write your book-yourself, in a way that is truly satisfying. You'll get everything you need in these jam-packed sessions to help you "cook up" a book you'll be proud of. And, since I'm a professional writer and editor with close to two decades of experience, I can even help you "in the kitchen" as you go.

The Books From Scratch series of teleseminars helps you plug into the heart and soul of the process for creating your own book. At the end of this 3-session course, you'll have a solid foundation from which to start (or continue!) working on a top-notch book manuscript.

Books From Scratch Seminar

Turn your great idea into a published book by taking action.

This course is for you if:

• You've ever thought about or talked about writing a book.
• You have a partial (or complete) manuscript stuffed into a bottom drawer.
• You're open to exploring what it takes to write a book.

Section 1 August 22, 29, Sept. 5, 2007
Section 2 September 6, 13, 20, 2007
Section 3 November 2007 (dates to be announced)

Your book is not a book if it's still just a great idea. Fortunately, all you have to do to turn your great idea into your first published book is take action.

If you think you want to write a book, you can either carve out the time to write it yourself, or (if your budget allows) you can hire someone to help you or even do it for you. Either way, you need to know what tools are available to you so you can get started.

In each 1-hour information session, the options are laid out so you can choose the tools, techniques and skill-building resources you need to write your book-in a way that truly satisfies the soul. At the end of this 3-session course, you'll have a solid foundation from which to start (or continue!) working on a top-notch book manuscript.

• Session 1- Finding the Right Recipe. This session helps you take a close look at the question: "What's my project?" You'll assess the nature, scope and function of your project. Are you really working on a book? Do you have what it takes to work on a book? What kind of help will you need to successfully move through the writing process?

• Session 2- Assembling Quality Ingredients. This session is an in- depth continuation of the discussion we began in session 1 about the kind of help you'll need to achieve your goals. Do you need a writing group, a calendar, a daily routine, a pat on the back, a kick in the butt, a grammar class, a copyeditor, or an agent? While keeping in mind whether you want to self-publish or court a traditional publishing house, you'll learn about the various resources available to help you reach your goals.

• Session 3- Turning Up the Heat. This session helps you establish a tangible plan and put it into action. In this session, you'll learn what a day in the life of a writer looks like. You'll identify the steps in an overall action plan for all the logistics of your project. How will you measure your progress? How will you hold yourself accountable? Through exercises, writing prompts and sharing, we'll look at the mechanics of your daily activities as a writer. You'll get a taste of the process, and your project will be underway!

The questions you'll answer throughout the course are the "Tough Questions" of book writing, so be prepared. You may discover you are not fully committed to writing a book. Or, you may come to understand that what you want to write isn't really a book at all. Or, you may find you're not able to manage your time and hold yourself accountable to working on your project alone. And, that's okay- because that's what these sessions are designed for-to help you explore your desire to be an author. And by the end of the course, you'll know what to do about it.

The Books From Scratch series is very different from other courses on "how to write a book." My program is detail-oriented and speaks directly to the heart and soul of your project, and how it relates to your individual needs and passions. During the course, you'll get personal attention from me, including free e-mail feedback on your project. And some very useful continuation and accountability options will be available to you once the course is over. This ongoing access to feedback and encouragement holds you accountable to your commitment.

Register NOW

The next session starts September 6, 2007. The cost for the course is $97.00 for all three classes. Each session is conducted via conference call at 4 p.m. Pacific Time. NOTE: You will be provided with a call-in number prior to each session, and you will be responsible for any long-distance charges to make the call.

To register for BOOKS FROM SCRATCH, send me an e-mail via the form below . You can pay by personal check or use your credit card via PayPal invoice. (You do not need to have a PayPal account to pay by credit card. Please indicate your preferred method of payment in your registration e-mail.)

FREE BONUS! If you register for all 3 sessions by September 1, you'll receive a free half-hour editing consultation/manuscript critique with me. That's an additional $50.00 value at no charge.

Contact :: Lane Therrell

Bio :: Lane Therrell

I help people succeed in business by putting words together so their messages are clear, concise and compelling. My experience has shown that effective communication is one of the most important and yet one of the most often overlooked and underestimated keys to business success.

During my 15-year career in agricultural public relations, I learned that what you say and how you say it can have a powerful influence on your return on investment (ROI). Word choice can make the difference between success and failure; sale and no-sale, excellence and mediocrity. I strive for excellence in everything I do, and share that with my clients by helping them choose the right words to sell their products and services.

While your success in business depends on saying it right in writing, good copy involves much more than just writing -- it's about packaging and delivering the full message in a way that stands out and allows your voice to be heard.

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications/Public Relations from North Carolina State University, and a master's degree in Rhetoric and Communication from the University of California, Davis. I have nearly two decades of experience in writing, editing, public relations and organizational development.

I have written copy for a variety of agencies and public- and private-sector organizations including Ciba-Geigy, Dow Agrosciences, Crop Data Management Systems, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Developmental Services, the Placer County Farm Bureau, Elysian Fields and Resolution. My articles have been published in The Sacramento Bee, The California Farmer, The American Biology Teacher, Cowboy, The Shepherd, The Anvil's Ring and Inside Roseville, just to name a few.

My expertise is making high-level scientific or technical topics interesting and easy to understand; distilling complex concepts down to their bare essence. I'm especially good at transforming an individual's personal story into something that is interesting and inspiring to others. I have a knack for writing and delivering presentations simple, interesting and easy to understand.

I am uniquely qualified to help you put the right words together because my writing skills and experience combine product knowledge and technical expertise with sales ability. I deliver top-notch customer service and have the people-skills to work well with your existing team to achieve all your communication goals.

I write clean, clear, credible, persuasive copy about a wide range of products and services from the simple to the highly technical. I am able to quickly grasp complex concepts and understand sophisticated technologies. My clients always appreciate the fact that I can sit down with anyone, whether they are farmers, construction workers, engineers, scientists, CEOs, artists, politicians or dignitaries and ask intelligent, insightful questions.

I am a well-educated and experienced, yet down-to-earth, professional. Common sense and personal accountability drive everything I do. What that means for you, as a customer, is peace of mind. When we work together, you know you are receiving my personal attention and best work-nothing less. Each of Right Lane Enterprises' clients benefits from my personal commitment to service, creativity, follow-through, cost-effectiveness, passion and professionalism. Guaranteed.

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