Category Archives: Non-Fiction Writing

Book Event, NaNoWriMo, Non-Fiction Writing, Writing Memoir

NEW WORKBOOK FOR NONFICTION WRITERS

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Hello there.

I’m excited to announce my new workbook for nonfiction writers!

White Rose Writers Etsy Shop


WHAT IS CREATIVE NONFICTION?
“A factual narrative presented in the form of a story so as to entertain the reader.” –Wikipedia

Have you ever read a historical book or a contemporary article that was simply full of facts but had you dozing off after the first few pages?

I created this workbook for writers who want to write a nonfiction book from a creative perspective and offer a factual story that doesn’t put their reader to sleep.

I hope it will help you as an author to write your fantastic book with confidence and have fun too. The workbook/planner is a download that you can print out and use for all your nonfiction writing.

Included in the workbook:

  • Ideal Reader Profile
  • Genre List
  • Crafting Your Premise
  • Crafting Your Summary
  • Chapter Ideas
  • Genres
  • 5 Inspirational Posters for your workspace
  • Character Profiles
  • Character Development
  • Setting Worksheets
  • Scene List Worksheets
  • Story Arc
  • Research Worksheets
  • Author Bio Worksheet
  • Checklist
  • Creating a Book Cover
  • Launching, Marketing & Promoting and more…

Not sure if your book idea fits the Creative Nonfiction genre? Here’s a list from the workbook. It may surprise you to see your story idea in there.

Nonfiction Genres that can be written creatively

  • Biography – a narrative of a person’s life as told to someone else or from research.
  • Autobiography – when the author is also the main subject, and the book spans many years.
  • Memoir – a true story focused on particular events—usually the author’s own stories.
  • Narrative nonfiction – factual information about a significant event presented in a format that tells a true story.
  • Personal essays — expressing a subjective opinion about a topic.
  • Literary journalism – personal diaries or career logs.
  • Self-help book  – informational to help readers solve personal problems and could lend to being written with a memoir aspect.
  • Textbook – a how-to book teaching a specific subject with personal experiences in creative form.

I have a series of workbooks in my White Rose Writers Etsy shop that help writers who want to write a nonfiction book–

The From-To Writing Method — which show how to use social media platforms you may already have to create your books using a quick and easy method. They include a writing schedule for writing a nonfiction book in just 10 hours or a novel in 30 days.

  • From Blog to Book
  • From Muse to Memoir
  • From Post to Published
  • From Pin to Print
  • From Tweet to Tutorial

And here’s a handy 15% OFF COUPON if anything in the shop interests you.

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment or message me at the shop.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

Lynne

From-To Method of Writing, Lynne Collier || Books, NaNoWriMo, Non-Fiction Writing, Writing Memoir

Writing A Memoir

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We all have a story to tell. Some write a story about a fictitious character or an historical person. Then there are those who write their own story, their autobiography about their own personal experiences, usually in hopes of their story helping someone else in some way. These are the writers of Memoirs and I have a new workbook for you if you’ve ever considered writing your own memoir.

A young woman sitting at a desk writing her memoir.
From Muse To Memoir
by Lynne Collier

Write Your Memoir in 4 Weeks

This is a downloadable/printable workbook (no physical product shipped) filled with easy-to-follow worksheets for writers who want to turn their memories into a published autobiography — in only 4 weeks!

It’s a 49-page PDF workbook that will show you the “From-To Method of Writing” which uses your own social media content to create a digital or print book. But you don’t need to already have a vast amount of online material. You can create that as you write your book and gain followers who will be interested in your book when you’re published!

Here’s a peek at what you’ll work on in From Muse To Memoir:

  • Scheduling time for your writing
  • Brainstorming and defining your book’s outline
  • Creating Social Media ‘Gems’ so you have something to promote online before, during and after your launch.
  • The White Rose Writer’s method of turning your memories into a book.
  • A look at some of the steps you need to take for publishing your book.
  • Guidance on how to create a noticeable author brand so you stand out from the crowd.
  • Marketing Ideas for your new book.
  • Worksheets for each of the above to keep all your ideas in one place.
  • Printable inspirational posters to spur you on …and more!

This is an easy way for you to divide your life experiences into single chapters for a series of ebooks or a collective full-length book spanning your entire life (so far).

If you follow my workbook to write your memoir I’d love to hear about it in the comments. And watch for my other 3 books coming early next month!

My Other Workbooks

Take a browse in White Rose Writers Etsy Shop where you’ll also find my first workbook From Blog To Book which shows you how to expand on your blog posts to write a book in just 10 hours!

Woman writing at her desk
From Blog To Book

And coming soon –

  • From Pin To Print — use your Pinterest boards to write an ebook
  • From Tweet To Tutorial — use Twitter to write a tutorial or workbook
  • From Post To Published — use Facebook to write a novel in 4 weeks! (Nano anyone?) 🙂

Til next time, remember you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~Lynne

Lynne Collier || Books, New Authors, Non-Fiction Writing, Writing A Novel, Writing Short Stories

Write A Book In 10 Hours!

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MARCH 13, 2019

How would you like to write a book this week?

Through my writing career, I’ve discovered a quick and easy way to create a short story or info book in about ten hours. So Kirstie (my digital designer) and I have been busy putting together five new workbooks for authors of stories and writers of nonfiction and we’re ready to launch the first one!

It takes approximately ten hours to write enough content for your book plus a short revision and you’ll be ready to publish. We’ve added worksheets to help you brainstorm and posters to inspire you as you write. We even give tips on marketing so you’ll be off to a great start right after you hit ‘launch’. The best part is you probably have enough content on your social media platforms already, you just need to organize it into a publishable book.

Workbook to help you write a book in ten hours.
From Blog To Book – the From-To Writing Method

From Blog To Book: The From-To Writing Method series. Now available as a printable workbook on Etsy

So what do you say? Would you like to get that book finally written?

Happy Writing!

Lynne

NaNoWriMo, New Authors, Non-Fiction Writing, Writing A Novel

5 Easy Ways to Create Income From Writing

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Want to know 5 easy ways to create an income from writing?

After two years of little in the way of sales from my first book, I was wondering if anyone actually makes a decent income from writing. I realize if I could just write more, that would increase my income, but who’s got time to write more?

 

Income From Writing
How Do I Create An Income From Writing?

  

Here’s how I did it – I took what I’d already written on my social media and made it into a book!

Seriously. That’s what I did. All my blogs about writing, my posts about my life, my tweets of writing tips and coaching, my pins about my interests, all became tidbits to expand and form into a book! It was a lot of fun, and I’m using these methods to write more books. So, I wanted to let you know how to use what you’ve already written and get started with that income too. Still with me but wondering how the heck I did that?

Here’s How I Used These 5 Simple Ways to Create Income From Writing 

  • From Blog To Book – The Novel Author’s Workbook I created an Etsy downloadable 99-page workbook from blogs I’d written over the course of a year on how to write fiction, as I was doing the research. It takes the author from the beginning premise and outline of a novel, through to publishing and marketing.
  • From Pin To Print/Nonfiction — Hosting a Shire Party is a simple ebook about a cosplay party I had. I wrote about creating easy costumes, food, and games, as I pinned the photos from the party.
  • From Tweet To Tutorial – Your Write Voice For His Kingdom is a course I wrote from tweets about my workshop notes as a Christian Life Coach and writer’s coach. I coach students through the decision process of becoming a writer and how God has equipped them to write for His purpose.
  • From Post To Published – Life at White Rose Shire is an ebook in-progress of a collection of devotionals which I’ll be posting on my blog under a sub-heading and later publishing as a Kindle devotional book.
  • From Muse To Memoir — Raising Benjamin Frog – A Mother’s Journey With Her Autistic Son is a print book from notes I wrote originally for my earlier blog posts on Autism. It chronicles my son’s journey from birth to age 29, and his success as an author.

And that’s how I used 5 simple ways to create income from writing– from ebooks, print books, and tutorials.

A simple way to get to that 50,000 word count for NaNoWriMo!

If this is something you may be interested in doing, I’ve explained all the social media methods in my business school at  White Rose Writers School.

 SIGN UP  to get news on all the new courses as well as exclusive cheatsheets, writing tips, resources, and other insider goodies!

Another Way to Create Income From Writing —

Ann-Margret Hovsepian has a full-time income from her writing and engagements. She shares her success tips on her blog ‘You Asked Me’:

https://annhovsepian.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/you-asked-me-5/

 

I hope you found something useful here. Let me know.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

-Lynne

Resources

Devotionals

White Rose Writers on Etsy

Middle Earth Party on Pinterest

Collier Christian Writing Academy

White Rose Writers School

 

Christian Faith, Lynne Collier || Books, Non-Fiction Writing, Walking With God

‘Reset’ A Book by Brett Ullman

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A few years ago I wrote a personal story in Brett Ullman’s book, Reset. I’d like to share that story with you as I look forward to the new focus of my blog. All the stories in this book are about personal struggles and how the writers moved forward with a new perspective. Brett includes his own story of a dark time in his life.

You can follow Brett’s blog about his work with teens and their families and receive the book for free, or go to Amazon to purchase it:

http://amzn.to/2qazvtz

“Brett Ullman travels North America speaking to teens, young adults, leaders and parents on topics including sexuality, mental health, men, dating and media. Brett’s seminars engage and challenge attendees to try and connect our ancient faith with the modern culture we live in. Participants are inspired to reflect on what we know, what we believe and how our faith ought to serve as the lens through which we view and engage tough conversations in our society today.” – Brett’s blog.

Till Next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

Lynne

(note: I’m an Amazon affiliate and receive a small fee for using their images when I promote someone’s work.)

Christian Life Coaching, Lynne Collier || Books, New Authors, Non-Fiction Writing, Writing A Novel

What On Earth Are You Doing Here?

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Kingdom Purpose – What On Earth Are You Doing Here?

We’re not content to merely exist – we want to matter in this world. So how do we figure out what our own life means? If we’re not a famous evangelist or humanitarian, what’s our purpose for being here?

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” – (Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, 1:11-12 MSG).

We are all unique individuals, with our own unique qualities and our own unique assignment from God.  He gave us all the attributes we’d need to do His work here and feel His pleasure in our completed assignment. Take a look at a picture of space.

star-clusters-74052_640

The God who created the earth and all those amazing nebulas and supernova, dark matter and pulsars, created you and me unique and in His image to be family in His name!

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago”. – (Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, 2:10 NIV).

Whatever God has laid on your heart He has given you the ability to do. What has your heavenly Father asked you to undertake on His behalf in this kingdom on earth?

You can find my 22-page mini-course, Your Write Voice For His Kingdom, on the sidebar of the Homepage.

Lynne Collier || Books, Non-Fiction Writing

Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon

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Finding Love In Unexpected Places
Finding Love In Unexpected Places

I’m very proud to have my short story Dancing On The Bus as part of the new Hot Apple Cider book, Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon! The book contains 67 true stories, short fiction, and poems from 61 writers from across Canada.

The men, women, and children in these stories experienced love in ways they’d never have thought of, from people they might not normally have noticed, and in surprising places…

My story comes from a time in mid-century England, where I grew up before coming to Canada. Each story and poem is just long enough to enjoy with a cup of hot apple cider 🙂

Purchase ‘Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon’

Lynne Collier || Books, New Authors, Non-Fiction Writing, Writing A Novel

It’s a Pleasure to Meet You

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How do you respond when you meet someone for the first time?
Generally we shake their hand like a soggy fish, force a tired smile and say something like, “Nice to meet you” or “Good to meet you”.
Sometimes we really aren’t sure how we feel or we’re disinterested and simply say “Hi”.
How does it make you feel when you meet someone for the first time and they seem genuinely happy to meet you?
Great – right?
They smile, shake your hand firmly and say “It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

What if you could make everyone who follows you feel this way?
You can – at least you can do your best.
Not everyone who reads your work will be pleased to meet you, but those who are deserve to meet the real you.
Some will decide you’re not the kind of person they’re interested in following, some will follow you for a time until they lose interest, but others will stick it out for the duration because they’ve found you to be interesting and likable.

These are the ones you want to give something of yourself to so that they will say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

ID-100159523
It’s a pleasure to meet you!

So how do you get them to know you well enough to put a smile on their face from a distance?
Lets go back to the old school of communication – you tell them something about what you both have in common. If you’re new to writing you need a way to connect with your followers in that common thread.
Start out by showing them what you’ve already written.

  • Do you have a blog of your own?
  • Do you use Pinterest to showcase your work?
  • Do you send out a newsletter?

If you haven’t published any books yet, a blog is a good place to start. This will get you noticed online and you’ll start to get followers. The more followers, the more sharing online and the further up you go on the searches. This takes time, so do a few things and do them often.
It took me about six months before I got the hang of it. I’m constantly learning from other writers I follow.

Share something about you first.

-What’s your passion in life?
-Do you feel comfortable sharing a few notes about your personal life? No details here – just where you grew up and a few places you’ve lived, not necessarily your current town if it’s small.
-Are you married, do you have children or pets? You get the idea. Remember what goes on the internet can be read by EVERYONE!

ID-10041681

Let your followers get to know who you are before you expect them to follow your work. Treat them as pen-pals. (Under 40? – ask your grandparents). I had several pen-pals growing up. We exchanged names and addresses through school. Honest!

Then start to show them what you do.

  • Write an introductory blog about your writing goals. Again, don’t share specifics of a work in progress, rather an idea of work.
  • What inspired you to work on this particular project?
  • How far along are you in this? When I was writing Raising Benjamin Frog – A Mother’s Journey with her Autistic Son, I Pinned about Autism to show followers what I was writing about.
  • Share some excerpts that don’t give away any spoilers. You want them to buy your finished work.
  • Open a Pinterest account to showcase your work and any pins related to it. I have a personal Pinterest account where followers can get to know me, and also a business Pinterest account where I showcase my own work and the work of fellow writers.
  • If you plan on going to events to sell your books/art, or you intend to be a speaker, a newsletter may be of benefit. I use Constant Contact because they make the guide quite easy and they keep track of your open rate.
  • Tweet. I don’t because I think I may become too ‘addicted’, but if you have good self-control, go for it.

Use your blog and Pinterest analytics to find out what your followers like, then write, post and pin like crazy. Set yourself a social media schedule so you don’t get carried away and forget to write! I generally collect ideas and file them into categories for each social media venue. Then it takes me less time to actually share it.

Here’s a great example: In 2013, Commander Chris Hadfield, commander of the International Space Station, wanted to connect with people on Earth and show them what real life was like on a space station, so –

“During his next five-month mission, while performing all his regular astronautical duties, he tweeted, answered questions from his followers, posted pictures he’d taken of Earth, recorded music, and filmed YouTube videos of himself…” – Austin Kleon in Show Your Work

The best part of all this social media sharing is, you get to meet some really interesting people and they get to meet you. Remember to always give credit to those whose work you share on any social media; a link to their own blog, accredit to their Pinterest boards, link to their website to buy their books.

If all this seems daunting, take heart. I learned it veeeeery slowly and I’m still learning, as you’ll come to realize 😉 You can take classes at your local college, at a local business advisory centre, or hire someone to do it for you Webrite Design and Social Media.

Next time we’ll look at different topics to share.

Happy writing!

Lynne