#160. How Tim Grahl Wrote His Best Book Yet In 6 Months
Sep 24, 2024
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Tim Grahl, CEO of StoryGrid and seasoned author, dives into the secrets behind his latest novel, The Shithead. He shares how blending real-life experiences with fiction fueled his creativity. Tim explains his agile writing process, finishing the book in just six months through effective planning. He highlights the importance of crafting compelling scenes and discusses innovative marketing strategies for launching his work. Discover valuable tips and insights that can transform your own writing journey!
Tim Grahl completed his novel 'The Shithead' by focusing on strategic planning and scene-writing skills, demonstrating a structured approach to enhance storytelling.
The podcast highlights the growing field of book coaching, providing resources for aspiring coaches to assist writers in developing their craft effectively.
Deep dives
The Rising Role of Book Coaching
Book coaching is emerging as a valuable profession within the evolving book publishing industry. For individuals passionate about reading and writing, becoming a book coach presents an opportunity to transition away from traditional jobs, enabling them to assist aspiring authors in honing their craft. The podcast highlights resources available for those interested in pursuing this path, such as free training videos that offer guidance on establishing a successful book coaching business. This growing field not only supports writers in improving their skills but also opens new avenues for coaching professionals in the literary landscape.
Tim Grawl's Journey of Writing
The discussion centers on Tim Grawl's recent novel, 'The Shithead,' where he shares insights into his writing process. Grawl managed to plan the novel within 13 weeks and wrote it in just 12 weeks, showcasing a highly structured approach to novel writing. His primary focus was on crafting each scene to be compelling and impactful, rather than becoming overwhelmed by the overall project. This method allowed him to produce a polished book with minimal need for extensive edits, emphasizing the importance of scene-writing skills in engaging storytelling.
Balancing Real Life and Fiction
Tim Grawl's novel incorporates elements from his personal experiences, particularly reflections on therapy and emotional struggles. The character Eric Bauer is designed to resonate with readers by expressing the complexities of modern life, providing a mix of relatability and discomfort. While some may find Eric's actions polarizing, those familiar with the pressures of adult responsibilities often connect strongly with his journey. This blend of personal narrative and fictional storytelling serves to connect deeply with the audience, challenging them to confront uncomfortable feelings through Eric's experiences.
Proven Strategies for Book Launching
Tim shares effective strategies for launching a book, emphasizing the importance of connecting with an audience that will read and promote the work. His approach includes giving away physical copies to trusted colleagues and readers to generate initial interest and feedback. By encouraging readers to provide reviews within a specific timeframe, he increases accountability and engagement, underscoring the belief that genuine reading leads to word-of-mouth promotion. The emphasis on establishing a support network and generating authentic interest reflects a well-thought-out method for navigating the complexities of book marketing.
How do you know if you’re actually getting better at writing?
In this episode, my guest, Tim Grahl, the CEO of Story Grid and the author of multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction, shares his answer to this question. Tim believes that his new book, The Shithead, is the best book he’s ever written—and I happen to agree with him! So, how did he get here? What did he do to become a better writer? And more importantly, what can YOU learn from Tim’s story to become a better writer yourself?
Tune into this episode to hear things like:
[04:26] Where the idea for Tim’s new novel, The Shithead, came from, and how he blended real life with fiction to create a compelling story
[13:18] How Tim went from brainstorming to finished draft in about six months—and why spending time upfront to plan the foundational elements of the story saved him a ton of time (and stress) in the long run
[15:15] Tim shares what he believes to be the secret to writing the best book he’s ever written (spoiler alert: it’s learning how to write a really good scene!)
[32:46] Tim’s plans for launching and marketing this book—you won’t want to miss this part. Tim is the book launch guy, and his insights are golden!
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a better writer—and what you can do to practice your craft in a meaningful way—then you’re going to love this episode!
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