The Written Compass

The ebook version of my new book, Writing is Not That Hard, is now available for pre-order, but how did I get here? In today’s episode, I want to share some fun book marketing experimenting I have been doing. Here are some highlights… early sneak peaks activating your network direct messaging with love becoming a #1 best seller before book release Exciting new affiliate offer: Hey ladies, ready to...

Did you know you have a writing style? Yes, you absolutely do. The trick is discovering what it is and really leaning in and owning that style! In today’s episode, I’m going to give you some support on how to discover your style and how to use it in all the writing you do! To get the most out of this episode, you’ll need: some writing you have done at some point (a social media post, email, letter...

In today's episode, my Synergy Publishing team joins me again to share their experience as both authors in and creators of the Unveiling the Secrets book series. Our chat focuses on: - the power of having a writing community - the uniqueness of receiving editorial, reader feedback with each submission - the power and depth of the stories and writing shared - the radical acceptance journey the auth...

In today's episode, I am joined by my amazing team for Synergy Publishing Group! Each of our authors get customized and unique support, and today we are going to share the behind-the-scenes of what that looks like, why we love the work we do, and what to expect when working with us. You'll meet: Cindy Urbanski, PhD, lead writing coach, writing retreat nourisher and yoga teacher (follow on IG @cind...

We have launched our Unveiling the Secrets book series… Book 2 is out later this year… in today's episode, I want to share an excerpt from the upcoming second book and how our writing retreats inspired it! If you aren’t in a collective, I want to make sure you know about our fall retreat happening Sept 8-12 and you are invited Here are the core components of our retreat Beautiful setting—lake, wat...

I was recently chatting with a friend who is in my Writing as Healing community, and they have been writing what I call bits and bobs of writing, short little bits of writing that we write while journaling or towards a project—book, blogs, social media, or just capturing our thoughts about work, life, experiences, etc. They wondered: “What am I supposed to do with this?” I am here to tell you if y...

In today's episode, I talk about what I have learned from publishing multiple collaborative books. Lesson 1: All the benefits of publishing with way less words Lesson 2: Community is everything Lesson 3: Increased reach And, we have an exciting new process for our Unveiling the Secrets series… head to shanahartman.com/authorsubmissions Two options: You have something written OR want to write somet...

Ok, you've got a lot of words down, but something feels a bit chaotic or disorganized about the writing you've done so far. You aren't quite sure whether to keep writing, start revising, or just what to do next. Here is where your writing anchor can support you and give your writing a clear direction. In today's episode, I break down: 1. What is a writing anchor? 2. The core question to ask yourse...

Imagine this: you have found THE support you have been waiting for, the sign you have been praying for, the very deeply aligned community to help you. You say yes, despite the significant investment, despite the gremlin fear voice you hear, despite never having done this before. You trust yourself! You trust that this decision is your next best step. Then… You tell others, and suddenly… you are co...

In today's episode of The Written Compass, I had the pleasure of interviewing Philip Shepherd. Philip is a long-time expert on embodiment and has published several books on the subject. We had so much fun and deep conversations about... - writing as an embodiment tool - how our words are an embodiment of us - what defines embodiment - 5 pillars of presence and wholeness And much more! Connect with...

Sometimes life is difficult. When you have writing goals, these difficult moments start to hinder your writing progress. What if you being stuck is actually a great time to use writing to support your personal struggles? In today's episode of The Written Compass, I talk you through: - why writing about your personal life is so powerful - how writing can get you unstuck (even if just a little bit)...

Writing is often viewed as a solo act, something we do on our own, because ultimately you are the one that gets the words down. However, we may not realize that all of our writing is influenced by others. So, how do we make the most of the influence: with a powerful writing community. Today’s episode breaks down what makes a great writing community and how it is essential for you to go from idea t...

Many people love a good journal. Consequently, publishing a journal seems like an easy book and publishing asset. But, there is more to it than pretty pages made in Canva! In today's episode of The Written Compass, I break down the tips and tricks for creating a quality journal. Highlights include: - focusing on the user experience - deciding whether you want to create a guided or open-style journ...

You've got a book. Now what? Can I really build a business from my book? The answer is YES! I share 3 common models for building a business around your book: Focus--the book(s) and your writing is the focus of the biz Parallel--the book(s) coordinate and work together with your other business offerings Empire--the book(s) is a section or branch of the larger vision and aspects of your business If...

It's normal for fear to show up at various stages of your writing process and journey. One of the places I see it show up the most is at the beginning and ending, especially right before we hit publish. Tune in to find the 3 key questions to ask to coach yourself through the self-sabotage moments that can show up. If you want some help kicking things off, download my Embodied Book Writing Kickstar...

I often hear people say, “I feel like I have a story to tell.” Then, they go on to share how they don’t know where to begin, what to include, how to organize it, etc. In today’s episode, I walk you through some clear steps on how to get your story down (and it doesn’t mean starting with your birth story!). Here are some highlights: don’t hold back, get it all down look for patterns and themes that...

In today's episode, I had the pleasure of connecting with a good friend, colleague, and author, Dr. Cindy Urbanski. In today's episode, we dive into her newest self-publication, Getting Schooled on Resistance: An Exploration of Clashing Narratives in Urban School Reform. Highlights from our convo: - how we all had moments of not fitting into the traditional model of school - the importance of tell...

We have all heard about the importance of journaling, but what is really happening when we write in a journal? In today’s episode, I breakdown what is going on when we crack open a journal or daybook. Here are some highlights: A space just for you Slow down Tap into your “intuition, knowledge, and imagination” (from https://iajw.org/journaling-for-self-care/ ) Reflect and notice what is working fo...

When do you need to know the order of your ideas? Well, there is no one right answer! In today’s episode, I share when and why organizing your ideas and having a clear structure is helpful and when it is potentially a form of procrastinating. Here are some highlights of what I share in the episode… My process of writing a recent structured article What we really want when we seek order and structu...

When clients come to work with us, there is a common part of the journey that almost everyone experiences: fear. Often this fear can manifest as questioning and doubting ourselves and wondering “who am I” to share my words in a book?! In today’s episode, I share a story of how this showed up recently with a client as well as how you might work with and through this very common feeling as you are l...

In today’s episode, I share how transformative book writing is not only for yourself but for all that you desire in your life and your career or business. And here’s the kicker, it’s not about the book! The book is a vehicle for so many amazing opportunities! Here are some highlights from this episode: Book as Legacy (it lives on after you) Books as a way to reach more people and in an accessible...

My team and I are all about supporting our clients in finding the book they want to write. We have published personal growth books, business strategy books, lesson memoir books, and more! Lately, we are seeing our clients explore what feels like a new genre: interactive books. It’s a mix of longer, chapter writing combined with journal prompts and space for the reader to write. In today’s episode,...

Many folks who write a book want to be a #1 Best Seller! On KDP, this doesn’t necessarily mean what you think it does. In today’s episode, I share how we support our clients in achieving #1 and top 10 rankings on KDP! Highlights: - it’s important to know what the KDP rankings actually mean - it’s important to know your “why“ for wanting to be “ranked” - there are some key codes to crack to help yo...

I love talking to folks about their writing ideas. I get giddy hearing them go from thought to thought, verbally laying down one powerful word after another. Then, something shifts. Almost like clockwork, they begin telling me all the things they need so they can actually write what they just shared. In today’s episode, I dive into what you really need to write vs what you think you need. I discus...

I am celebrating 100 episodes of The Written Compass. In the episode, I discuss what I have learned, what myself and my team are celebrating, and I share the amazing books we have published. Highlights on what I learned: do it before you are ready Let it be messy Trust yourself Stay the course Celebrating the books and authors we have supported… 13 books published—name books Supported over 40 auth...