Book Writing Archives | Jennifer Lancaster

July 31, 2026

A Lifetime of Memories: Leaving your Legacy in a Memoir

Recently I was asked to assist with editing a narrative memoir (one with dialogue). This is not exactly the direction my business was meant to go in, but I’m so glad I took on the project: ‘A Lifetime of Dreams’, by Eddie Robinson. Memories are important. Capturing them with a fine eye for the substance of life, now that’s a skill. Putting in dialogue and creating scenes with details of times long gone by is part knowing creative fiction writing and part knowing thyself. And by the age of 89, you would have experienced love, loss, triumph, despair and funny moments, just like Eddie here. Why trust an idiot like ChatGPT with editing that life story? Some people start with the simple facts about their life. Yet wouldn’t it be much more important to share all of those non-glossy moments…

June 9, 2026

Book Writing, Writers Mindset

Why Your Manuscript Stays Stuck in Draft Mode

You have a manuscript sitting on your computer. You open it every few weeks, read through what you’ve written, maybe add a paragraph or two, then close it again. Months pass. Sometimes years. You tell yourself it’s because you’re busy. Or that you need more research. Or that you’re waiting for the right time to finish it properly. But here’s what’s actually happening: you’re going round and round in circles because there’s no clear thread. The Expert’s Curse When I was writing Power Marketing, I had tips everywhere. Brand advice here, content marketing strategies there, offline tactics scattered throughout. So much valuable knowledge, and absolutely no structure to hold it together. I kept adding more. Every time I sat down to write, I’d think of another important point that readers needed to know. The manuscript became a jumble. This is…

April 24, 2026

Book Writing

Brilliance in Writing and the Actor-Observer Bias

Do you ever think to yourself: my writing is just so-so, it’s not like ….(famous writer you admire)…. they’re brilliant? Welcome to the critical path of being a novice. Novice writers often judge their own writing very differently from how they judge other people’s work. This happens because of a psychological pattern called the Actor–Observer Bias. (Attributing our own behaviour to situational factors/moods/struggle but attributing those observed to personality traits.) Internally, you see every part of your own writing process — the messy draft, the awkward sentences, the second-guessing, the struggles to find the right word. Because you see all this, you tend to explain your “not-so-great” paragraphs as something born not made: “I’m not naturally good at this” “This is not the right time for writing a book as I’m struggling” Attributing initial writing problems to your own abilities…

why clever writing costs you book readers

June 8, 2026

Book Writing

Your Clever Writing is Costing You Readers

Why Clever Writing Fails When I’m editing someone’s work and a sentence tries too hard, I spot it immediately. The writing contains words like “synergistic” or “dynamic”: words that perform rather than communicate. The sentence loses power. Worse, it confuses readers. Here’s what most writers miss: authenticity creates authority, not fancy language. What this means: Your metaphors, anecdotes and explanations are there for clarity only, otherwise readers struggle to extract meaning and might abandon the content. Cliches are out; personal mottos are in. What is the One Clear Idea Rule? Every sentence should carry one clear idea. When you pack two or three concepts into a single sentence, something breaks. The reader’s brain stumbles. They re-read. They lose momentum. Research backs this up. The American Press Institute studied 410 newspapers and found that with average sentence length of 14 words, readers…

How to write the dream book on topic with a writing coach

August 9, 2025

Book Writing

How You Can Write the Dream Book on Your Topic, with a Writing Coach

Many pre-retirees are looking for ways to preserve their ideas, their life experiences and business takeaways for future generations. In fact, about 15 percent of 55-year-olds want to write a book as part of their retirement ‘bucket list’ (Money magazine). However, transforming that dream into a published reality requires careful planning, dedication, and guidance. Why Work with a Writing Coach? Writing a book can be a daunting task, but working with a writing coach makes the process smoother and more structured. A book writing coach helps you refine your ideas, develop a writing schedule, and improve your storytelling. Whether you are writing a memoir, a guidebook, or a business book, expert guidance can be invaluable in overcoming writer’s block, structuring your content, and ensuring clarity in your message. Steps to Writing and Publishing Your Dream Book Step 1: Hone Your…

May 14, 2025

Book Writing, Writers Mindset

Writing is a Process and a Habit

It’s good to keep in mind that writing is a habit — and a book is one potential outcome from that habit. So many want to have the outcome, but they haven’t got room in life for the habit, especially if research is also involved. Let’s take my client BD, a very busy 71-year-old who advises his old business. With overseas trips, interstate trips and 100 family members, he’s got a lot on. His first step involved writing once a week, answering a question on his life (this was a different, automated program). Then he had a weekly or fortnightly call with me for several months to go over small pieces he added to his manuscript. It expanded and I also structured the chronology of events. At the end of nine months, it was almost there. Now just for the…