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Books for Creatives

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Do you keep a book book? 

I used to keep a list of the books I read. I don’t recall why I filled this little notebook*, because this was back in the ‘90s. I worked at a bookstore, and I was gobbling books up as fast as I could. Month by month, I chronicled the books I read and the ones I half-read.

Somewhere along the way, this practice ended. Perhaps I was more in love with the notebook than the process. I tried to pick it up again but it didn’t stick. One year, I used Goodreads as a place to chronicle my books, but that digital method didn’t light me up.

Now, I use my library reading history and my book group list as a partial way to keep track. I wonder what would help me get back into this practice? As a coach, I would ask:

  • What’s important about keeping track of the books you read?
  • What values are you honoring when you do this process?
  • If it’s important to do this, what would make it easy to record the books you’ve read?

I haven’t answered these questions yet, but I wanted to share them with you for any habits you may have let fall to the wayside. If I were to resume, I would use this notebook, which I found on my shelves while searching the archives.

*I thought that aforementioned little notebook was right there on the shelf. I spent some time looking for it. Then I realized that I waste a LOT of time trying to find images to go along with these boosts. I decided you and I would both rather me spend my time writing and coaching and making things than search for photos. 😵‍💫

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The Author Care Kit I Wish I’d Given Myself

What a month! I almost feel like a different person. After launching the novel, I slid into what authors know is the inevitable letdown. It makes sense – for 2.5 years, I have had quite a force of momentum. Writing, editing, and publishing Her Lisbon Colors consumed the bulk of my creative energy. It also gave me a lot to focus on and quite a bit of meaning.

Cover for Her Lisbon Colors novel Cynthia Morris fiction book I’ve moved out of my funk and have shifted to promoting the book. It would be easy to move on! People ask, “What’s next now that the novel is out?” Making sure it has a life! It truly is like a baby that needs a lot of nourishment to stay alive. I’m committed to a year of putting the word out there.

This requires a lot of bandwidth, courage and focus. For all the hard work of writing and turning a manuscript into a book, the work of promoting is much harder. I am sharing about this through December at Stumbling Toward Genius. Are you subscribed?

My author self-care kit for publishing a novel

Oh I wish I had an ‘author care kit’ of sorts! In retrospect, I know what I needed, and I will share it here. This is for the sake of helping me debrief and sharing with you in case my bloops are of service to your own projects.

1. Take a break with rejuvenating treats. It really felt like I was zoomig on a highway for months and months and then exited. But I still had the feeling of movement, like I needed to keep working toward the launch deadline. I went away with Steve for a hot springs weekend and it was bliss to be offline and soaking in the water.

2. Lower expectations I have informally renamed myself the ‘lower the bar coach’. I know that our high expectations do nothing but turn around and bite us hard.

I don’t know what I thought – that I would get rave reviews right away? All I know is it felt very quiet for the weeks after the launch. A lot of friends said “I’m reading your book and loving it!” and then weeeeeeeeeks passed and I didn’t hear anything.

My inner critic had all kinds of stories about this, mainly that they didn’t like the book and didn’t know what to say. (Tip for friends of authors – say nothing until you’ve finished reading!)

3. Stay connected to the original impulse. Why MUST I put this book into the world? When we put stuff out there, we are now connecting our ideas and values and creative soul with the world. This is the cool thing about art – once it’s out there, it has a life of its own.

Staying connected with my WHY helps me know that the book is important to me, no matter how it is received by the world. I loved writing this book, I loved how it turned out, and my job is to keep loving it.

4. Have therapeutic supports in place. If you know me, you know that the reason I help creative people bring their bright ideas to life isn’t just for the sake of getting stuff done.

I believe in stretching and growing as humans. I love coaching people through the fears and insecurities we all face. I was so focused on all the details of making and launching a book, I didn’t take time to tend my emotional self. Luckily I have therapeutic support in place now and am feeling much more grounded and sane.

5. Forgive yourself for not doing everything, and for not doing everything RIGHT. My goodness, there are a million things involved in getting a book out there! We’re advised to stay focused on a few avenues of promotion, but it’s hard! I have made so many mistakes and I often still feel ‘all over the place’.

6. Make a plan for ongoing promo. I was sitting poolside on a Friday afternoon when clarity around how to stay on track with my novel promo came to me. I felt that recognizable spark of enthusiasm light in me. I made notes and now am on week two of 100 days of Book Promo.

With a million things to do, coupled with the emotional labor of that work, it’s easy to lose steam and do nothing. Having structure is vital for me, and I suspect for you, too. (This is why I love Write ON so much! Structure + camaraderie hosted by a certified coach = much more writing joy.)

What surprised you from this list? What would you add to your own author care kit? Tell us below.

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What a Book Coach Does: Developmental Editing and More

This year marks my twenty-sixth year as a coach. I knew when I came upon coaching that this would be my lifelong career. It's an honor and pleasure to serve the smart, soulful people I call my clients.

This week, I want to share a peek behind the scenes of my work with clients. Once, my dad, with a puzzled look, asked me, “What do you do?”

I get it. As a coach, a lot of my work is not visible. Recently, I shared about my client Donna Erickson’s newly published book. Not every day is a pub day, and the labor of our creative efforts make up the moments of our days. I believe they deserve attention.

You may wonder what Cynthia does with her clients and how she might help me.  I want to share what my other clients are up to and how I am helping them.

Come into my coaching studio to see the magic that happens!

Synthesizing a message for a keynote

Since her book launch two years ago, Paula has been busy speaking and publishing her new newsletter. Recently, she was in Mexico City to give a keynote and an all-attended workshop at a Montessori conference.

She worked hard to get her talk right but was still frustrated. She had too much in there! (Sound familiar?)

After hearing her out and acknowledging her frustration, I helped her shift her thinking about what to include so it would be easier to trim the presentation.

After we did this, I restated how we’d made this shift so she now has those skills to edit anything she writes more easily.

Making the most of an in-person event

Paula had a blast, and we debriefed afterward. Hearing her stories was so inspiring. I pointed out that she had at least six pieces she could write as a short series about the Mexican Montessori community and what she took away from the conference.

I am always on the lookout for ideas that my clients may miss. Highlighting what is of interest to others is one of my gifts.

Developmental editing for novels, non-fiction books and memoirs

Several other clients are writing their books. My role is to help them shape their ideas into a cohesive message. We talk about organizing their ideas. No matter how smart and articulate we are, it’s super hard for us to get to the essence of an idea and communicate it succinctly. Even for clients writing a book based on a model they’ve worked with for years, it can be hard to shape that into a book.

This work is called Developmental Editing.

I well know the challenge of this work, both mentally and emotionally. Then there's the work of organizing our materials. Documents, spreadsheets, outlines, drafts...this really is at least half of the work of making a book.

Crafting a compelling message for a book proposal

I’m helping another client with his book proposal. This is similar to developmental editing, and it’s also about thinking about how our books will sell. It’s incredibly hard work to shift from author to seller of your idea.

I hold space for the thrash that we all endure when we are trying to crystallize our ideas into something compelling and saleable. I'll often feel bad that it's so hard for them. I have to be tough. Sometimes I think - am I too tough? Then I realize it's not me that is being hard on them. The work is hard. I hold my clients to a high standard that equals their dreams and goals. I would expect the same from my coach.

 A book coach is more than an editor

Speaking of emotions, a lot of my work with clients is helping them navigate all the emotional churn that accompanies our creative work. You know what I mean, TET. The doubt, the insecurities, the overwhelm and confusion…that stuff is real. The emotional churn is the real thing that keeps us on the sidelines of our creative dreams.

Everyone, no matter how smart and accomplished, feels the full range of creative ‘crazy’. 

As a trained and certified coach, I have skills to help people navigate the ever-shifting terrain of their inner lives. Beliefs, feelings, and thoughts can work in our favor when we are aware of them and make choices.

As someone who has created and launched books, programs and creativity workshops in Europe, I know full well this rainbow of emotions. I bring empathy and, when useful, brief stories from my own creative work to help normalize the challenges.

Thank goodness I discovered coaching all those years ago in a magazine article. Thank goodness I trusted my instincts to follow this path. I continue with ongoing training and development, and I continue to love this work that brings so many of my skills and gifts to bear.

Do you have a project you could use an ally on? I’d love to help. I am accepting new clients this month. If you want to get me on your team, book a discovery session now to see how I can help you bring your ideas to life.

Get a sense of how I work with my book, The Busy Woman's Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book.

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Celebrating a new book by Donna Erickson

I celebrate my client Donna Erickson’s book, Rooted at the Edge: Ranching Where the Old West and New West Collide. (University of Nebraska Press/Bison Books, 2025).

Donna Erickson book This is a great book that speaks to one of the biggest issues the US faces now – the conflicting interests that have sprung up in different communities. Think farmland that has been repurposed for big box plexes.

Donna’s family story and her professional background come together for a compelling and informative read about how land use and communities are changing in Montana. 

It was a true honor to be part of this project. Donna wanted a book deal, so she hired me to help her write her book proposal. 

I knew when I read a sample chapter that this book would be a big hit. And yet, the work of writing a winning book proposal is not for the faint of heart. I call it a ‘stand and deliver’ moment. It’s a TON of work, and is very emotional. 

Luckily, Donna was up to the labor. She finished her proposal in four months. We had discerned that a university press was the best choice for this book. Within hours of submitting it to the University of Nebraska Press, they called her. Shortly after, she had a book deal.

This was a glorious moment, and today, holding the book in my hands, filled with her wonderful writing and her photographs and illustrations, I am thrilled for Donna. 

Donna’s writing is personal and professional, heartfelt and super-smart. Get your copy of Rooted at the Edge now. 

Bring yourself closer to creative success with me

My coaching calendar is open for new clients starting in May. Make real progress on your book or other creative project by booking a discovery session now. 

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Paul Wyman: Part of Me

Coaching Paul Wyman was a joy. Paul, a seasoned coach, wanted to take a program he designed and make it into a book. When he came to me, he had done several drafts but didn’t feel able to pull it all together. Smart, accomplished and driven, he is like many of my clients who have a specific idea but struggle to organize it.

Paul Wyman It seems counterintuitive that someone would have a model they teach, live programs that they deliver and a solid sense of their material – but still struggle to turn it into a book. But this is super common. Writing a book is its own animal.

But we did it. Paul was able to find time and space to bring his draft into finished form. I don’t often edit clients’ books, but Paul also hired me to edit his manuscript. Now, his book, Part of Me: Learn Who You Really Are, What’s Driving You, and How to Get Out of Your Own Way, is now available in paperback. Paul trains coaches in Inner Team Dialogue, and works with executives and leaders to help them understand themselves better.

Part of Me book Paul Wyman It was such fun to work with Paul on this book and I am thrilled by how well it turned out and how quickly he brought it to the world. From the acknowledgement page of Part of Me:

A huge thank you to my brilliant writing coach and editor Cynthia Morris, for her unwavering support as I discovered my winding path to being an author. This book wouldn’t exist without her clarity, flexibility and insight.

About Part of Me

Based on the premise that we have many parts to our personality, Part of Me reveals not only answers what parts are, it reveals how they work, how they can help you understand your thinking, your emotions and your behaviors, and most importantly, how you can work with your parts to get out of your own way.

This book takes self-awareness to the next level. Fifty of the most common parts of the personality are profiled in detail, so you can identify which is most active in you, which is causing the problems you repeatedly experience, and what to do to get your Inner Team working for you, not against you.