So you have committed to writing your book.
You have embarked on the journey of telling your story, you now have a regular practice of writing and some ideas for book titles.
Things are progressing nicely, the narrative is evolving, good progress is being made and you are considering where your project is going.
Among things to consider are your book cover design, the overall theme or tone and the purpose or intention, how your book will be received together with any potential marketing concepts for your book.
11-04-2025 Carl J Ashley Book Laaunch, The Power of the Written Word in the Urban CoOp, Eastway Business Park, Ballysimon, Limerick. Picture: Keith Wiseman
Cover Design
You may have a concept in mind, or you may be open to ideas.
Making the cover something personal, which means something to you, is one angle. Maybe a picture that has sentimental value, a place or a reminder connected with the story.
A theme or a colour scheme.
You could even speak to a graphic designer and see what they suggest.
Write Coach Ireland recommends Dee O’Connor at Orange Cow Publications and can arrange for a free consultation with the lead designer and business owner.
Outsourcing cover design to a professional can alleviate any headaches – let them worry about impressing you with their suggestions.
Orange Cow may even offer to publish your book for you as well as some online marketing services to help get your book seen, bought and read.
Tone
Your book will have its own tone, an overall theme running throughout.
Your reader will be able to get an insight into the type of person you are through your writing and empathise with your story.
Your book essentially needs to be an extension of your personality and you can create the perception you want but I would always recommend reflecting authenticity.
Telling it like it is and reflecting truth and honesty is of paramount significance.
Ensure that you come over as honest, authentic and relatable.
Doing this work, we come to see that 1/. We are spiritual beings having a human experience and 2/. Essentially our ‘personality’ or ‘character’ is the sum of our control dramas, defence mechanisms, survival adaptions and unhealed trauma responses.
We can therefore choose to keep or let go of certain traits and behaviors, in our quest towards self-empowerment!
Intention
Writing a book without a purpose is like going on a road trip with no destination in mind.
The journey of telling your story has one key purpose.
Healing.
Healing from family trauma, healing from traumatic circumstances, healing from emotional abuse and healing from multigenerational family trauma is important work on many levels.
Healing from blame, shame, lack of self-love, lack of self-esteem, criticism, lack of authenticity, and negative emotions such as depression, fear, anxiety is not the work of anyone lacking courage.
Aside from the cathartic process of telling the truth and expressing things that may have been buried, brushed under the carpet or hidden, is the role of inspiration.
If one single person is inspired or gets some crucial advice or help from your book, or feels better about themselves as a consequence of the sharing of your story, you may feel it will have been worthwhile.
Aside from healing, courage and inspiration, other ideas for your book’s purpose could include to educate and inform, nurture, share, persuade and reveal.
You are taking your reader on a journey, so please bear in mind how they will be able to relate to you and your sharing of the narrative, and what it means to them.
If you have any questions, please let me know by email, or use the whatsapp button on the website to avail of a free guide, or book in for a free session with me.
My latest book, The Power of the Written Word, a guide to help authors with what to expect while navigating through the journey of sharing their own story, is now available on Amazon worldwide.
Good luck!
Best regards
Carl J Ashley
Write Coach Ireland and Orange Cow Publications
P.S. If you haven’t made it to the book launches in Limerick, Tipperary, Mayo or Wexford, we will be hosting another in Charleville, Cork, on Friday 26th September, at the Charleville Park Hotel. For details pls see the flyer here or click on it for details of the event!