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In her own words: Erin Copelan

If you’re like me, there’s always some wondering…

“Will it work for ME?”

When I’m evaluating something to invest in. And trust me, I invest in myself a LOT – programs, courses, trainings, events… you name it.

Does all of it work?

Actually, they probably all DO work – if I put in my time and energy and Do.The.Thing.

​That being said, I LOVE reading client testimonials. I love knowing that someone just like me, with real struggles, was able to have success.

Which is why I wanted to introduce you to my client, Erin Copelan. Erin attended my event last year – on a friend ticket! In fact, she squeaked in days AFTER registration closed. (My assistant had missed taking down just ONE registration link – Erin found it and got in!)

Here is Erin’s book writing journey – in her own words.

I used to tell people the story of Jerry’s liver transplant. How we got The Call in the middle of our move, how his liver attacked him and he almost died, and how I cared for him over his cancer journey which has spanned over a decade. People were enthralled. I realized there weren’t a lot of caregiving stories out there and I decided I was going to write mine.

At the end of 2018 I started to write. I had started a little blog about my massage business and got good feedback on my writing skills which fueled me to believe a book was a hop, skip, and a jump away. I dove in on the weekends writing my caregiving tale. Then I got stuck. There was more that I had to say, a lot more, but I didn’t know how to say it. Should the book be chronological? Should it be situational?

A year passed with me tinkering and fussing and rearranging words and attacking it from different angles. 2019 came and went. I had two books and while the order of the words varied slightly, it read like this:

​Then we did this….
Then we went there…
Then he said this….
Then I did that….

Which led to:

You should do this…
You should do that…
You should say this…
You will want that…

​Then I was stuck in the mud, just as my readers would have been because it’s likely they would have become incredibly bored with my preachy timeline. It was mid-2020 and my dear friend, an angel in fact, sent me an email, “I’m taking this story writing course, I know you’re working on your book and I don’t know how far you are, but thought you might like it.”

I wasn’t writing a story; my book was non-fiction. It was real life with real experiences, I wasn’t storytelling. But I thought it might be interesting so I joined Kim’s three day event, “Your Bestseller Live”. I signed up at the very last possible moment, so close to the deadline that I thought the Internet would reject me. But I got in. Because the Universe wanted me to finally write my book.

By the end of the three days, I could see everything I didn’t know: how to engage a reader, how to connect with them, how to make your message be heard. Because that’s all I wanted! I wanted my message to be heard by those who needed it in the moment in their life they needed support the most. I realized I didn’t know how to get it out there. I didn’t know how to make my voice clear. I needed someone to help me and to teach me.

​That someone was Kim. And it started at the event.

​Register for Brew Your Book – LIVE​

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*** MARCH 2022 ERIN UPDATE ***

Erin’s book, “Welcome to Caregiving: What Caregivers NEVER Talk About” is launching on March 29, 2022. The cover is finalized, we’re doing last-minute touchups on the interior layout, and then Erin is inviting people to her book launch. (Register Here)

But just in case you think a book doesn’t really ever FINISH… it does!

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My fellow author, I want to help you do this too:

  • Engage your reader
  • Connect with them
  • Have your message be heard

THIS is my complete zone of genius. (Not to mention that I’m REALLY FUNNY when you give me a stage – even a virtual one!)

When you come to “Brew Your Book LIVE – Stop “Percolating” on Your Message and FINALLY Write Your Book”, you’ll learn how to write a powerful book that shares your message – without struggling to get the writing done.

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Here are the details:

Dates: April 7-9, 2022

Location: Prescott, Arizona

Ticket: $297

Link to register: www.BrewYourBookLive.com

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Next year, I want to use YOUR words to invite a future author to join us. It all starts when you register.

 

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Truth: You’ll Always Be “Too Busy” to Write Your Book

Do you ever feel like you’re just… waiting?

Waiting for things to get easier? For you to have more time? For the kids to be in school, out of school, graduated? For the business to be making more money? For the remodel to happen? For summer? For fall? After the holidays?

Before you know it… you’ve waiting yourself right out of opportunities.

I bought my first house in October 2008. I sold it in May 2015. And for the six years I lived there, I had always intended to put in a flowerbed in my front yard. I could just SEE it in my mind – tipped so you could see the flowers more from the living room window, rather than the street. That it would be formed from huge volcanic rocks. That it would be a spill and rush of colors, each plant nestled against each other…

I had always intended…

And one of my biggest regrets when I sold the house and moved out… was that flowerbed.

I was always “too busy.”

When I was in college, I thought I was sooooo busy. I took a full course load and lived on campus. So yes, that was lots of homework. And I went to many “social” activities offered by the College of Humanities and the Honors College.

What I didn’t have was a job. Or pets. Or a house. Or a boyfriend (or husband!) Or a business…

Looking back, all that “busy” was a myth.

So here’s some truth for you, my friend: Keep Reading!

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That time I got it all wrong…

Story time:

That time I got it all wrong…

It was 2012 and I had this wild, audacious idea that I was going to start an online business around books: writing them, publishing them, launching them.

After all, I had a degree in Creative Writing, five books of my own (including a runaway bestseller,) and a deep NEED to leave my dad’s tax practice (where I’d been working for the last ten years.)

A chance email from Ali Brown – who I’d followed for YEARS at that point after taking her pilot course about creating an ezine – led me to THE woman I needed: Lisa Sasevich. Now, Lisa is known for teaching her “Speak to Sell” course… But what she was launching in that moment was “Five Figure Teleseminars” (the ‘webinar’ bit was added later – this was in 2012 and webinars just weren’t a thing yet.)

I sat ENRAPTURED through a 3-hour livestream. Then I ran into Dad’s office demanding his credit card because I was going to buy a $997 course on how to take my “how to publish for Kindle” idea and put it online. My dad, being the supportive man he is, handed over the card without a word.

On her live calls, Lisa kept talking about her event, coming up that October. It was in Southern California (driving distance!) and I had a bonus ticket from being in her class (score!) All I had to do was get there…

What that REALLY meant was finding the money to get DAD and I there. I won’t drive on Southern California freeways. I’ll fast-forward through the gritty details and tell you, we made it.

Now, if you’ve been around me at all, you’ll know that it took THREE YEARS of listening to Lisa make her offer to join her in Sassy, her year-long mastermind, before I said yes. Three YEARS of going home crying because I didn’t take her up on the offer…

But while this IS the first time I heard the offer, this story isn’t about “regret” in not joining Sassy.

Because after she made her oh-so-desired offer to invest $18k in her year-long program, I was in sticker shock. I had NO CLUE that people would ask – or invest – that much. Kim of 2012 decided she’d raise that money – someday.

And then Lisa did something magical…

She laid out what it would take to CREATE an online business – all the steps. And HANDED ME A WORKSHEET.

Looking back, after having DONE events, I know two things:

1. That was actually designed to say “look how HARD this is. Let me guide you!” and as a last pitch to join Sassy.

2. I got it 100% wrong.

Because I thought I had this ROAD MAP. I thought it was clear. I took that worksheet and ran. I was a MONSTER at creating the “things” on it so I too could be successful.

I LOVE a good checklist. I love my to do lists. I love writing things down just so I can check them off. I love ADDING things I’ve done – so I can cross them off.

Now we fast forward three years. Three years of dutifully crossing things off this “Master Plan” that Lisa had given me. I had FINALLY joined Sassy. I had left Dad’s tax practice the year before and was full-time in my business – and 100% supporting myself. Ben and I had JUST bought our house together.

I was sitting in my first every Sassy retreat – in Southern California. (Yes, I went by myself. It’s amazing what you can do when you realize that Dad The Chauffeur isn’t the ONLY way to get there!) And Lisa brought it out… The Worksheet. The roadmap I’d been following for all those years.

And I had a startling realization.

I had done a GREAT job creating all the THINGS that were on the worksheet. Stuff like my optin gift, emailing my list, lining up affiliates, creating my signature talk, having a preview call, etc.

But what I had COMPLETELY MISSED was that these weren’t just THINGS. They weren’t a box of spoons – each one identical and equal.

They were SUPPOSED to be a framework. A system. They BUILT a business – IF they worked together. If they were done in ORDER.

{insert wild cussing here}

No WONDER I was still struggling. I had done the online business equivalent of tossing spaghetti at a wall. What stuck were clients (yay) but MOST of it hit the ground. Enough that I WAS supporting myself.

But not enough that I could EVER stop the hustle. I had pieces but no structure.

Really hard to actually create a functioning online business.

Are you getting that sinking feeling too?

The one that says, “I think I’m doing this too.”

Not about your online business (if you have one.) But about your book.

Because it’s a HUGE myth that all you need to do is “sit down at a typewriter and bleed” (Hemmingway) to write a book.

Writing a book DOES take, well, writing.

But it doesn’t START at the computer. Writing a book doesn’t START with… writing.

(Most people follow that initial burst of inspiration. But it wears off and then what?)

I want to give you the plan to write your book. And I want to MAKE SURE you fully understand Step 1. Together. In person. Where you can ask questions, get feedback, NOT BE CONFUSED.

That’s what we’re doing at “Brew Your Book – Live! Stop “Percolating” on Your Message and FINALLY Write Your Book.”

You need to be there. Yes, this IS a live event. Yes, it takes travel – and it’s 100% fine if YOU need to convince YOUR dad to drive you there! (In fact, you can bring a friend at a wicked-amazing discounted rate.)

But you need to be there.

Even if YOU get it “wrong” – think of all the progress you’ll make on your book.

(This is a small intimate room of up to 30 people. I’ll make sure you don’t get it “wrong.” Lisa’s room was 300+; it’s not her fault I didn’t understand. She couldn’t see my face in the crowd! That will NOT be your experience at MY event.)

Coming OUT of your normal environment and traveling, being in a room with me for three days, letting me pour into you (and feed you), and hearing from your fellow authors will be life changing.

Register Here.

Because, no matter what, YOUR message matters. And it’s time to finally write your book and share your message with the world.

P.S. I don’t even have a PICTURE from me at that event. I was too shy to stand in line to take a picture with Lisa. But at “Brew Your Book – LIVE!” I will really get to know YOU – so you won’t be too shy to get a picture with me!

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Part 2: Why You Shouldn’t Write A Book (or What to Do When Your Business Coach Tells You it’s Time to Write a Book)

Last week I told you that you shouldn’t write a book – read that here.

Today, I want to share another reason why you should NOT write a book – and it goes hand-in-hand with the “because someone told your story should be a book.”

The other time you should NOT write a book is as a feather-in-your-cap moment. As in, you’ve got a coach, mentor, or advisor telling you that you’ve reached a certain level of fame and it’s time to write your book.

Oh that just makes me cringe!

Now I firmly believe that books are great to build your credibility and expertise. Being a published author is GREAT cred.

Why You Shouldn’t Write A Book (or What to Do When Your Business Coach Tells You it’s Time to Write a Book) Click To TweetBut only if you’re writing your book because YOU want to – because you’re ready to share your message.

Years ago, I edited a book for a client. And let me tell you friend… it was BORING. Like dry-as-dust boring. If I wasn’t being PAID to read it… I would have stopped.

When I asked her, gently, about WHY she wanted to write a book (because I was going to offer my writing coaching to help her out!) she told me:

I’m at the place in my business I just SHOULD write a book.

You figured that out correctly: she had no burning desire to write her book. It was just another thing to check off – like creating a sales page, opt-in gift, or setting up a social media profile.

No WONDER the book was so boring – there was ZERO heart in it.

After a few lackluster sales, the book slipped into Amazon oblivion.

Keep Reading!

Part 1: Why You Shouldn’t Write A Book

Ahhhh…

“Should”

The word that killed a thousand dreams and launched a million failed projects.

Typically, when personal development folks start going on about “should” they talk about how you’re “shoulding all over yourself” i.e. you’re beating yourself up about the things you should do, should have done, should be doing, should not have done, should not be doing.

(Take a moment to ponder the grammar in that sentence and freak out about verb tense. I’ll wait.)

And while I’m definitely NOT a personal development guru or self-help expert, I mostly understand what they’re saying:

That SHOULD kills your momentum and dreams. Do it (or don’t) but stop shoulding yourself.

Greaaaaat.

Now let’s talk about how “should” functions in MY world.

It goes like this:

You’re having a great time, chatting with a new friend or acquaintance. You’re telling a story about something that has happened in your life – good or bad – and they’re hanging on every word.

Your verbal storytelling skills are spot-on. You’ve probably told this story so many times before, you know just how to deliver the emotional punch lines, where to speed up, where to slow down. How to change your voice inflection, how to gauge your listener – and make adjustments to your voice, story, and pace to KEEP them hooked.

And then…

And then…

And then…

You get it:

“That was GREAT! You should write a book.”

{Insert dramatic sigh and pregnant pause here.}

Telling a great story to a live audience does NOT mean you should write a book. Or that THIS story should be in the book, the basis of a book, or belongs anywhere except where you’ve already delivered it – live, verbal, and to your listener. Keep Reading!

When is it TIME to write your book?

Time.

It’s been on my mind lately and the topic of MULTIPLE conversations.

With a client:

Moving your thinking time (i.e., recalling details about an event to write a story) OUT of your writing time so when you sit down to write, you’re ready.

With a colleague:

It’s not FINDING an ADDITIONAL 20 minutes in my day for self-care, it’s using time that already exists in a new way. A “crack” of time. (She’s working on a great new product, I’ll share it with you when it’s ready.)

With Ben:

Yes, you can start a podcast – but not right now. You’re maxed out! Nothing bad will happen if you return the equipment to Amazon and re-order in a few months when you’re ACTUALLY ready (and have the time.)

With Small Thing:

You’re tired. It’s bedtime. GO TO BED.

Okay that last one might not REALLY be about time! It’s not usually a fight to get him to go to bed but it was last night… He was 30 minutes late to go to bed and was OUT within minutes of getting tucked in.

For much of my life, I’ve seen TIME as an enemy. There was never enough of it.

Sound familiar?

There have been periods in my life, mentors in my life, who preached that nearly every waking moment should be spent DOING THE THING, in income producing activities, go-go-Go-GO-GOOOOOOO!

Enough already.

Here are my (current) top four tips for time (to write):

1. Move your thinking time out of your writing time.

So you know you need to write the story about that AMAZING birthday party you had. But it was YEARS ago and all the happy memories and warm feelings have meshed together and faded. Was that the year you got what you asked for or the year you got what you really wanted and hadn’t asked for? It blends together…

Now that you’ve identified the story you want to write, you need to recall the details. Good news: your mind has them. Bad news: they aren’t RIGHT THERE so you need to think about it.

And the best way to do that thinking is while you’re doing something that doesn’t need your brain. Showering. Dishes. Laundry. Stretching. Going for a walk. Maybe while you’re driving (just not in traffic!)

And then, when you sit down to write, you’ve already done the thinking to recall all the details!

2. Using cracks of time – wisely.

I am NOT saying to never rest or ALWAYS multitask.

Keep Reading!

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Progress Isn’t Failure

I got a really GREAT email in my inbox yesterday:

Hey, Kim!

Well, it’s almost the end of January.

How ya doin’ on those resolutions?

Did you start the year with so much enthusiasm that THIS would be the year you FINALLY got a handle on whatever “thing” has been dogging you for years?

Only to find… a few days in… it’s a LOT harder than you thought…

I think we’ve all done that. Heck, I did it this year! I started the year pre-planning and scheduling emails, social media posts, the whole nine yards. Weeks out. I used a content planner and everything.

And then… life happened.

The holiday break ended and all our normal activities started up again. Appointments resumed. Deadlines loomed.

And the planning? Well, it flew out the window like so much New Year’s Eve confetti.

She goes on to talk about setting a theme word for the year. (Which I think is powerful; I haven’t picked mine yet.) Read the rest here.

As I was reading this… I thought about MY authors.

I know so many of you set the goal (resolution?) that this is the year you’re going to write your book. No, really, it IS. THIS year. For REAL! You’re REALLY going to do it. THIS year.

Sound familiar?

You’ve got great intentions, lofty goals, and some can-do energy.

The challenge is you just don’t know HOW you’re going to make it happen.

You write for a while, fizzle out, and then…

Get mad at yourself.
Blame yourself.
Beat yourself up.

Worry that you’re wrong, you’ve made a mistake, you’ve wasted time, money, or energy. (Again!)

This is a LOT to unpack so stick with me!

1. Writing a book isn’t a goal you can manifest.

Years ago, I put a picture of a gila monster on my vision board. I’d always wanted to see one in the wild.

And then, coming back from a backpacking trip, there he WAS! On the side of the road – alive – and doing lizard things. I was ELATED! I had manifested seeing him. Right place, right time, right lizard. Completely out of my control.

Writing a book…

You can’t manifest that. No matter how hard you try, it will NOT appear on your hard drive.

So don’t beat yourself up about not “manifesting” your writing desires.

2. Writing a book doesn’t have to make you miserable.

You do not have to suffer. Enjoying it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

3. Writing a book IS effort.

Full stop. It takes work, effort, learning, rewrites, time, and then some MORE work, effort, learning, rewrites, and time.

It’s okay to improve. It’s okay to get better. It’s okay to realize that you’re not “good” when you start.

My darling author, I want THIS to be the year of YOUR book. Yes, REALLY, the year.

It starts by looking at PROGRESS – not failure.

Keep track of how you’re doing:

Words added.
Skills gained.
Stories told.

And know that it all adds up.

Then, stay tuned because I’ve got something GREAT headed your way that will help you build those skills so you’re not doing it alone.

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