A (Free) Book Written from Experience

In the May 28th post, looked at using the writer's own life-changing experiences as useful book topics, and I mentioned my divorce book. Based on what I'd done right and what I wish I'd known then, the book has helped thousands of people deal with that painful experience.

Tomorrow and Friday (June 5th and 6th), I'm offering the Kindle version for FREE on Amazon. If you're interested in seeing how I structured it, this would be a great time to get a review copy. Since I was writing for stressed out readers, I tightened the writing as much as possible when I edited the first (and later) drafts. It's short, concise, and practical. It's Your Pocket Divorce Guide.

It deals with the facts of separation, divorce, and starting over, and in no way resembles a memoir. Readers will find no direct information about my divorce. It's their own situation they want help with. 

Bookstores often put such books in their Self-Help sections. If you prefer article writing, select websites and print magazines that offer their readers self-help articles in the style of  "How to deal with ..." a difficult situation.

If you do choose to write a book, remember that those ezines and magazines may also be interested in printing excerpts from it. You won't get paid, but it's terrific publicity. And you've already written it!

Happy writing ~

Lin

Write About Your Experiences

What major life challenges have you faced and survived? Can you help others benefit from your experience? If you were telling your story to a friend, there would probably be a lot of  "wish I'd known that" and "I'm glad I did that" thoughts to share - especially if that friend was about to face the same life challenge.

Life transitions, or challenges, come in many different forms, but most will have one common element: Who am I now? They include ...

• loss of a parent or close family member,
• loss of a dear friend,
• birth of a child,
• marriage,
• separation and divorce,
• retirement,
• mid-life crisis or menopause, 
• major career change,
• move to another town or state,

and many other life changes.

When I went through divorce a few years ago, I knew nothing about the process. It was an anxious, stressful time to begin with, and my lack of knowledge made me feel even more vulnerable.

About a year later, I made up my mind to help others facing separation and divorce to be better prepared in the practical aspects than I had been. Since I had been a professional (paid) writer for seven years or more, I chose to write a book.

It included the things I was glad I'd done plus steps I wished I'd known to do. In order to explain the legal process of divorce, I interviews attorneys, took notes, and went home to translate that into plain English. The next step was to check back with them to be sure the new version was correct.

YOUR POCKET DIVORCE GUIDE
published April 2014

The 2nd edition of that book, Your Pocket Divorce Guide, was just released. It's been sold and read on six continents, is on the suggested client reading lists of law firms across the U.S., and the thank you notes I've received from both men and women make my work more than worthwhile.

Which of your life transitions would lend themselves to the same kind of help for others?

Peace ~

Lin