Want To Write A Book? Here’s How To Write A Good One with AJ Harper | UYGW19

This week I welcome AJ Harper to the podcast. AJ is an editor, publishing strategist, and a developmental editor. Previously, AJ was a ghostwriter, and has written dozens of books, some of which are New York Times Bestsellers (but we’ll never know which ones!). AJ left ghostwriting to create the Top Three Book Workshop, and in so doing has helped hundreds of authors write life-changing books. Her forthcoming book, Write a Must-Read will inevitably help innumerable more.

AJ is on the podcast to share about the first book she’s written that has her own name on it. She shares what it was like to rediscover her voice, how vulnerable it was to share life’s work, and where she’s headed next. She tells us about her own struggles with writer's block and how a shift in her mindset released it.

Join us as we discuss:

01:56 – AJ discovered later in life that her great work is writing however it is more than writing but helping people become the writers they were meant to be.

04:30 – How the War of Art helped her overcome her struggle to finish things and the anxiety it caused.

09:42 – AJ discusses her long-term strategy and how her book fits in with the change she wants to see in the world.

14:19 – Her experiences as a ghostwriter and the importance of understanding who your reader is.

16:35 – Your core message is the foundation of your book, not your slogan or tagline.

22:21 – Don’t become overwhelmed in the process, and you will find that as you are writing one book you may have many more based on your framework.

26:49 – Uncovering what brings AJ joy in her great work.

29:23 – Losing her own voice as a ghostwriter, AJ has recovered her confidence in herself and discovered that demystifying something creates the confidence to move forward.

36:28 – The influence that Dr. Amanda’s book has had on AJ in creating the space to write.

About the Guest:

AJ Harper is an editor and publishing strategist who helps authors write transformational books that enable them to build readership, grow their brand, and make a significant impact on the world. As ghostwriter and as developmental editor, she has worked with hundreds of authors, from newbies to New York Times bestselling authors with millions of books sold. AJ teaches her method in Top Three Book Workshop and the Must-Read Editing Workshop. She is the Head Writing Coach for Heroic Public Speaking, the premier speaker training program created by Michael and Amy Port. She is writing partner to business author, Mike Michalowicz. Together they’ve written nine books, including Profit First. AJ is the author of Write a Must-Read: Craft a Book That Changes Lives--Including Your Own.

https://ajharper.com/

You can find her book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Write-Must-Read-Craft-Changes-Lives_Including/dp/1989603696

About the Host:

Dr. Amanda Crowell is a cognitive psychologist, speaker, author and coach changing our perspective on the world of work. It IS possible to do Great Work-- launch a successful business, make a scientific discovery, raise a tight-knit family, or manage a global remote team-- without sacrificing your health, happiness and relationships.

Amanda is the Author of the forthcoming book, Great Work: Do What Matter Most Without Sacrificing Everything Else, and the creator of the Great Work Journals. Amanda's TEDx talk has received more than a million views and has been featured on TED's Ideas blog and Ted Shorts.

Her ideas have also been featured on NPR, Al Jazeera, The Wall Street Journal, Quartz, and Thrive Global.

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