I’m almost done with my book—take a peek!
Finishing the writing part of the author’s journey is exhausting—but so satisfying!
I’m so excited! Last week, I put the finishing touch on the draft manuscript of a book I’m coauthoring with Ella Ritchie of Stellar Communications Houston.
What’s the book?
It’s a three-part guide on how to write, publish, and market a book. I’m doing what I do best—writing and revising—and Ella’s doing what she does best—refining the content and doing the research on what will make it as marketable as possible.
For the first half of the manuscript, I was a writer, discussing the writing process, revising and editing, and what to consider at each of those stages (with Ella’s input). For the second half, I’ve been a ghostwriter, meeting with Ella to “download” from her considerable experience in publishing and marketing books.
It’s been an awesome journey. After having completed multiple manuscripts for clients, I get to sense some of what they go through when I ghostwrite.
Excitement.
Anticipation.
Frustration when rewrites don’t do enough to “fix” what you’re trying to express.
And exhaustion—just wanting the process to be over.
Now, I’ve gotten to experience one more step—finishing the actual manuscript!
Why Are We Doing This?
There are several reasons:
- Both our businesses help authors get books into the world. So it makes sense for us to write and publish our own book.
- We wanted to experience the author journey firsthand.
- We wanted an all-in-one resource. When people find out what we do, there are inevitably excited questions and requests to “just take a look” at people’s writing.
In many cases, once we answer or explain the reality of what it takes to write and publish a book, the excitement wanes. Most aspiring authors, no matter how they dream of getting a Netflix series deal or becoming the go-to expert in their industry, think that all they need to do is write something good.
Unfortunately, that’s just the beginning. So the actual process sounds overwhelming.
The latter reason was the big one, at least for me. I want to enable people to reach for the stars. I want them to feel empowered, not intimidated. Most of all, I want to provide a clear roadmap that any author can follow, no matter their budget, genre, publishing goals, or reason for writing.
So when it came time to say goodbye to my readers, that’s what I said. Check it out:
Letter to the Reader
Dear Reader,
Thank you! You’ve stuck with us through the writing, editing, publishing, and promotion of your book. We appreciate you letting us be part of your journey.
Whether you’ve read this book cover to cover or just leafed through to find the sections you need, your commitment to your goal is worth celebrating. A book is no small undertaking. Many people don’t understand the courage, persistence, and new skills it takes to do it well.
Why Did We Write This Book?
Both of us were book lovers long before we worked in the industry, so we are well-acquainted with both the dream and the reality of getting a book into the world.
That’s why this book is for people who want to balance ideas with strategy, creativity with discipline—authors who value strong writing, pursue clarity for their readers, and want to build a deliberate, marketable product that lasts.
Our goal is to walk beside you as guides—one from the writing and editing side, one from the publishing and marketing side—to show you a clear, realistic, end-to-end path that avoids common mistakes. With this roadmap in hand, you can confidently cross the finish line.
Three Things Before You Go
- We invite you to download the book bonuses and freebies sprinkled throughout this book. The templates, checklists, and tools were created to support you as you take your next steps.
- Remember, we’re just an email or phone call away. If you need more help, check the “About the Author” pages for our contact information. Sometimes a conversation is all it takes to get unstuck.
- Please leave your honest thoughts on Amazon. We’d love to hear how this book helped you or one thing we can do better to support authors. Your review helps other authors find this guide and improves how we teach, support, and serve writers like you. Your feedback is gold!
And Now . . . It’s Up to You
We look forward to seeing your book online and in the hands of readers who need it. Whether it’s your first book or your tenth, we hope you finish it with pride, publish it with clarity, and promote it with confidence.
Thank you for trusting us to be part of your author journey. We’re cheering you on. And we can’t wait to read what you write next!
Judy Lane-Boyer & Ella Ritchie
Final Word on the Final Word
Why write a final note to your readers?
As with any author, the main body of the book should immerse your readers in the story or topic, focusing on what they get out of it. An afterword or letter to the reader, however, is where you get to speak directly to them. Now that you’ve earned their trust with a spellbinding narrative, ideas and inspiration, or a clear path to follow, you can give them a glimpse of your soul, of the author behind the written word.
That’s where author and reader truly connect—and isn’t that the point of writing a book in the first place?
Want to get updates on our upcoming book on how to write, publish, and sell a book? Sign up for our author newsletter today!