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You are here: Home / Author Coach / Transforming Life Experiences into a Saleable Memoir. The Power of Memories.

Transforming Life Experiences into a Saleable Memoir. The Power of Memories.

Last Updated on June 17, 2017 By Dr. Joyce Starr

Helping our client convert hundreds of pages of text, countless speeches and riveting videos into an inspirational memoir was just the first step. The challenge: to revise his epic into a magnetic, highly salable work.

“Dr Joyce Starr (aka, ‘The Book Doctor’), added her unique and special touch to every chapter. Joyce helped me more than anybody else on this ongoing odyssey, adventure.​” – Michael C. Turpen, author, Turpen Time: The Wit and Wisdom of Mike Turpen (Tate, September, 2013).”

Turpen Time by Mike TurpenFormer Oklahoma attorney general Mike Turpin is sought after speaker, popular television personality and a word master tour de force. A star attraction of a local NBC talk show, his  colorful law enforcement background, rich anecdotes  and lessons for life leave audiences clamoring for more. Turpen Time opens with an appreciative Forward by Bill Clinton.

Helping our client convert hundreds of pages of text, countless speeches and riveting videos into an inspirational memoir was just the first step. The challenge: to revise his epic into a magnetic, highly salable work.

After reviewing Mike’s vast material, we held a series of author coaching teleconferences with the author. Mike welcomed our suggestions for organizing and restructuring his content. We also brainstormed a memorable title for the book, aware that a strong working title can help sell a book. Mike produced a revised draft based on our teleconferences and then delivered the project to our care.

Excellent writers like Mike often need a “third eye” to further sharpen chapter content and titles. Fortunately, we provide that service. Content editing involves restructuring and moving paragraphs, tightening sentences and deleting repetitive sentences or clauses.

Content Editing and Line Editing

Content editing took us to the third draft. Now it was time to line edit – to fix minor issues and typos common to most manuscripts. Mike writes as he speaks – folksy, uplifting and engaging. By the final draft, his words still had the power to move me.

Following the editing process, we drafted a combined pitch letter and proposal for the publishing community. The opening sentence was both powerful and unusual, guaranteeing a  closer look.  (Join our coaching program, and I’ll share it with you.) My partner, New York literary agent Karen Gantz, then presented the book project to a honed list of preferred publishers. We’re pleased that Tate Publishing, a leading Christian publisher, is producing Mike’s book. The publication date is September 2013.

Preparing the Draft manuscript for Publication

Once Tate accepted the book proposal, we entered a highly intense editing phase – fine tuning the chapters, copy revisions based on Tate’s suggestions, brainstorming various cover concepts, and preparing Mike’s author pages on Tate. The process took nearly a year to complete, including over 150 emails to Mike and/or Tate! Few aspiring authors understand what it takes to prepare a manuscript for publication or achieve the best outcome with their publisher.

As Mike Turpen wrote,

“Since I have never engaged in an adventure like this before I really had no idea what to expect OR how much everything is worth. With all of the help, advice and editing in the last several months…you have been an absolute Godsend.”

We’re confident that Mike’s memoir will inspire readers to view life’s obstacles as a gift and the gift of life as priceless.

Filed Under: Author Coach, Book Coaching Projects, Recent Client Books Tagged With: book coaching

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