Books for Creatives

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.

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.

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.

In case you didn’t know this about me, I am a culture monster. I soak up movies, books, podcasts and TV shows like they’re a limited resource. Honestly, I relish my travel times because I get to be in the real world and dial back the gobbling up good stories.

The last two novels I read with my book group were outstanding! It’s rare to read such good books, the ones you can’t put down and then want to force on everyone you encounter.

North Woods by Daniel Mason is lovely, lovely, lovely. His writing is evocative and descriptive and brings so many emotions to the surface for me. Set on one plot of land in Western Massachusetts, this novel spans decades. We get to witness each inhabitant of the home come and go. This long view of time and nature somehow gave me hope. Beautiful.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver won the Pulitzer Prize in 2023, and I can see why. You might have heard how she modeled the story on Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. This is true, but it’s not a reason to read about a character growing up in Appalachia. I love stories that bring ‘issues’ to life. We all could use more empathy and understanding of the forces at play, and Kingsolver’s storytelling skills are at their finest here. She had me at the first line. “First, I got myself born.”

And here’s a random recommendation. I’ve watched it twice: The Old Man and the Pool by Mike Birbiglia. This Netflix comedy special has me obsessed. It’s a masterclass in humor and storytelling, especially about a very serious subject.

Mike’s use of repetition is masterful. Watch how he weavess one main idea and uses phrases repetitively for great comic effect. Also genius is his weaving and balancing of levity and seriosity. Mike does such a good job of speaking about his health challenges without insulting himself or leaning into self-deprecating humor. Also, his pacing is genius as well as his physicality during the show.

What great examples of storytelling do you recommend to me? Share them below. I’m looking for a good novel to bring with me to Lisbon and Paris. 

I feel like I shouldn’t say “I’m writing a novel.” The truth is, I am learning to write a novel. It’s been a long time since I wrote my first novel, and the world, and I, have changed.

There are so many resources for writers. I’ve been reading books and taking classes. Working through a novel gives me the chance to practice what I am learning immediately. It’s challenging, and I am grateful for all the resources that are helping me. A few of them are:

Books for novel writing

Jane Friedman hosts online classes for writers featuring different teachers.

Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin has been super helpful as I go through my first, super rough draft.

Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody offers a template for character arcs using beats.

Story Genius by Lisa Cron gives another method for ‘looking under the hood’ of the character arc.

Story Wheel is another character arc resource

What resources are helping you learn and create this summer? Share them here.

Last month, I had the great fortune to speak to a book club in Costa Rica about my novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach. I am so honored when people read (and like) my book. It’s fun to hear their thoughts about it and answer questions. 

When I published CSB, I focused on the themes of the book as a way to spread the word. I always want to know what’s going on underneath. 

Discussing the themes with the Costa Rica group was even more special. Sylvia Beach was an American who moved to Paris and refused to leave when the Nazi Occupation happened. I was obsessed with her in part because to live in another country is not easy. It’s a big choice and one that affects one’s life dramatically. 

We talked about being an expat, and I was able to hear about why and how these book group members had moved to CR. What values were they honoring? What was important to them? What did it take for them to live in another country. 

This conversation was rich, enlivening and fun. It was a great example of my belief that books are conversation starters. We can go beneath the surface of plot and story to delve into things that affect our own lives and move us. 

I hope the books you read and the conversations you have about them touch you in a meaningful way. If your book group reads historical fiction, give Chasing Sylvia Beach a read and invite me to join the discussion.

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