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Hello, Reader,
Ah, NaNoWriMo. Every year since 1999, author hopefuls joined forces around the world, busting out their books with fervor during National Novel Writing Month, which took place in November. The goal: write a 50,000-word novel between November 1 and 30. Most writers would write seven days a week, or close to it, to achieve this goal.
They wrote fast as heck, editing slowly—later on. Because, dear writer, you’d need a break after an intense November.
I love the concept of leaning in hard, showing up every day, and getting the draft done. However, a lot of authors go into this month ill-prepared, and while they may accomplish a first draft of their nonfiction book, a question I often ask is: To what end?
If your goal is to write a book, but you write something you can’t use later, or you have to redo, is it really worth such a massive effort?
Alternatively, if you write a crappy first draft (essentially, the goal of leaning in hard for a month) that is well-planned, well-structured, and something you can revise into something great, isn’t that a better way to approach the month?
I would love to know what your thoughts are about NaNoWriMo, and if you will take action this November toward your dream of becoming a published author.
Author Influence Circle Community!
Becoming an author can be completely life-changing. Not only does author status open new opportunities in your career and life, but when you journey with intention, you’ll arrive on the other side better than you started.
But most people miss out on the transformative power of authorhood because they feel confused, unclear, and alone.
Not you—not in the Author Influence Circle! Here, you’ll click into a supportive community of future and published authors, plus monthly education and coaching to help you fulfill your author dreams.
Learn more about our exclusive community, and be the first to know when we open our next round of applications.
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From the writer’s room
From the corporate world to a life of freedom in Greece
Listen now →
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Are 40s the Best Decade Yet? Birthday Reflections from a 39-Year-Old
Read more →
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4 Things Authors Forget They Need to Do Before Launching Their Book
Read more →
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Author panel | BTS on how these authors did it
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Claiming your author’s voice and building community with Tamela Gordon
Listen now →
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How to leverage your introvert strengths with Melitta Campbell
Listen now →
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How to stay connected in a digital world with Fredric Steck
Listen now →
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Branded, Published, Heard: The Thought Leader’s Guide to Influence
Some voices stay stuck in drafts. Others get book deals, stages, and a brand that travels. We’re hosting a short, high-impact event to help you shift from “Who am I?” to “This is my story.”
We’ll be coming together for a shared live event on Zoom, where you can ask ANYTHING! No gatekeeping, but offering real advice and strategy—all to help you get the real information you need, from booking high-paying keynotes to building a stand-out brand to writing a best-selling book.
You bring your questions, we will bring our insights.
Seats are limited. Register now!
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Feautured authors:
Congratulations to authors Fredric Steck and Gavin McMahon on the release of their books this past month. 🥳
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Fredric Steck , author of Connectability: Mastering Relationship Building in Business, Sales, and Beyond.
In Connectability, Fred Steck shares lessons learned across worlds—from his successful career in sales and trading at Goldman Sachs, to his years competing in western equestrian competitions, to his passion for exemplary restaurants—to make the case for relationship building powered by our humanity. Because meaningful relationships that drive success and enrich our lives depend on our deepest human powers.
“I am sending a massive thanks to Stacy Ennis, book strategist and coach. She is everything I am not, as she is detailed and exact about her craft. It is with her attention to detail, along with her artistry, that gave me the support and courage to write this book. Along with her guidance on every detail, she introduced me to my editor. Central to that effort was her kindness, patience, and sincerity that encouraged me to keep going.”
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Gavin McMahon, author of Story Business: Why Stories Rule the World and How They Can Reinvent Your Business.
In Story Business, Gavin McMahon takes you on a journey from ancient cave paintings to billion-dollar tech unicorns, revealing how storytelling is a powerful—and undervalued—tool for driving business success. Drawing on vivid examples of the rise and fall of real-world companies, McMahon exposes a timeless truth: It’s not the best ideas that win but the best-packaged ideas.
“Working with Stacy is the difference between signing up for a gym to going to the gym and building a habit around exercise. Some of it was painful. Most of it was necessary. Page by page, idea by idea, the mess of ideas took form. The jumble became Story Business, a lens I now use in client work, in talks, and in how I help businesses and leaders tell clearer, stronger stories. Thank you, Stacy.”
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💫 Your writing inspiration
💡 Writing tip: Don’t try to write only one day a week to make your goal.
Scientific research has shown that we humans are most productive when our habits are consistent. For most of us, it’s a myth that you need to set aside an entire Saturday to write—actually, you’re scientifically better off if you schedule thirty to forty-five minutes at the same time, four to five days a week. With consistency and frequency, your brain starts to recognize the new habits you’ve formed around your writing and will create new neural pathways that enable you to get into the flow faster and more predictably.
💭 Writing quote by Stephen King
“The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.”
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Let's connect!
That’s it for this month! Have suggestions? Want to say hey?
Hit reply—I love hearing from you!
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