Friends,
It’s autumn which brings its own end-of-year energy. As the weather cools, we find ourselves cleaning, nesting, enjoying open windows, pulling sweaters from closets, and stocking our pantries for holiday cooking. It’s also time to check those year-end goals and tackle Q4! It’s always my busiest season – and it always feels good personally to push through to the end!
In the meantime, if you have a project you’d like completed for the beginning of the year, it’s time to make sure the manuscript is in editing and your production team is set. Two of my current clients need books for events in January – and time grows short!
And while I’m between tasks, here are my latest insights:
Thanks for the Referrals! My best clients come from referrals. In fact, two new clients came from readers of this newsletter! Thanks! My role is help you assess options, connect with experts, refer you to great sources, and even edit your manuscript to help bring your book to life! Reach out or connect me and we’ll set up a chance to meet via video.
Non-Fiction, Narrative Non-Fiction and Memoir. Lately, I’ve noticed authors may need some clarity on the differences between non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, and memoir. The nuances are small, but important. Non-fiction is an exploration of a topic. There may be a narrative thread, but it generally explores something historical or a topic like leadership or health. It may include a prescriptive plan, tips, cautions, or even descriptions of specific processes or research. Narrative non-fiction is much the same, but centered around a specific topic or story. A great example is Patrick Radden Keefe’s true crime/narrative non-fiction London Calling. It’s nominally about the disappearance and possible murder of a London teenager but in it, he explores parts of the Russian mafia and other underworld subcultures.
Memoir is much trickier. While it might be the easiest for some people to write, it’s the hardest for most to write well. Many authors think it’s a simple telling of their life or the story of their life’s work. In reality, it puts a huge focus on great writing and storytelling, forcing authors to become skilled at pulling themes throughout the chapters without hitting readers over the head with them. The idea is for a reader to learn something from your story, not just read it and move on. Writer’s Digest has some guidance, but ultimately, as an author, you want to look at salability, goals, and getting your message out into the world. A memoir can’t always get your message across and you may not want a straight business book. Narrative non-fiction may be your answer.
Checking off the Right Tasks? I’ve long followed executive coach Mike Bensi’s newsletter and a recent edition caught my eye. What happens when we say to ourselves “I didn’t get anything done today.” We’ve all had those days, but what if we looked at it differently. What if we’re checking the wrong things off our to-do lists? My business is all about output – manuscripts edited, chapters written, projects managed – but how do we account for that important time we spent on helping others, guiding clients, and, even, giving our mental focus a rest. Maybe it’s time to give our to-do lists a couple of lines for the intangibles which are often just as important as the deliverables.
Closing Your Social Rings: Most of us are familiar with Apple’s popular health app where you work to “close your rings” each day of steps, stairs, and other activity. But what if those rings also included social aspects of our lives? In an age where people are becoming further apart and increasingly disconnected, it’s worth thinking about the social aspects of life – reaching out to friends, returning that dinner party invitation, or making time for coffee with a colleague. Axios’ Finish Line newsletter pointed me to the New York Times article on the idea, emphasizing that closing our social rings is just as important as our fitness goals. Which made me wonder what my own social rings would be? What about yours?
Learning Something New, Every Day: I was talking with a friend the other day about why learning as we age is so critically important. It was a reminder to me to look at each new project with the idea of “what can I learn from this one”? It fits with a recent executive profile I read on Eliav Barr, Merck’s Chief Medical Officer, on his average day. He said every morning he asked himself “what could I have done better yesterday.” I would challenge you to take it one step further and ask yourself “What could I learn today to move my knowledge/job/projects/clients forward?” What would be your daily question to yourself?
Reading the Odyssey: Speaking of lifelong learning, I’m currently a member of a reading group working our way through The Odyssey. Has it been the book on everyone’s lips this year? It has been, and I’m digging in with a group of like-minded readers and scholars to guide us through. But I’ll be honest, I’ve been struggling. It’s beautiful poetry and a complicated story, and well, I think some of it has gone over my head. Enter my new favorite website: Readingtheodyssey.com. It has everything from how to choose a translation (I’m reading the Wilson edition) to the analysis of each book or chapter. The character listing has been useful and there are lots of clues to help search for more information. It’s good to know that others have needed a little help like I have!
Resurrection Projects: And in honor of October, let me give a huge shout out to Resurrection Projects, those half finished books, ghost clients, and projects that come back to life, even after a year or two. We writers and editors love you! Seriously, we all have those projects that ran out of steam. Sometimes they lost internal support at your company or life simply got in the way. It happens. Good editors know this. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out and say “Hey, I want to bring this one back to life. What can we do?” Good editors will be supportive and happy to see you again. I love to help bring books to life.
Zombie or not, give me a call even if it’s just to explore what we can do to make your project happen! I’m currently bringing projects in that will continue into Q1 of 2027. I’ve got capacity and can help give your project new life! Email me and we can set up a chance to talk. In the meantime, let’s connect.
Renee
Web: connectorcreator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneewilmeth/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feedmedrinkme/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/145293696-renee-wilmeth
What I’m reading: It’s spooky season! Not sure why, but vampire novels are tickling my fancy these days. Devouring Octavia Butler’s Fledgling and may reread Stoker’s Dracula!
What I’m Watching: I’d heard about The Traitors on NBC/Peacock but now I’m in deep. It’s campy reality TV hosted by Alan Cumming at his at scenery-chewing best.
What I’m Cooking: It’s been the season of the quinoa salad. Easy to make with whatever is in the fridge, although my favorite has been white quinoa, feta, pine nuts, cucumber, and oven roasted tomatoes. Switch in black beans, black olives, fresh tomatoes, onion, or even yellow or red peppers if you have them! Dress with a tangy vinaigrette and it keeps in the fridge for a few days.
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