The 4 S's of Alchemical Authoring

You know the feeling you get when you can see through what people are doing in your industry and know the strategy being sold isn’t the whole truth.

The heart-wenching gut punch. The ‘please don’t fall for it’ thoughts.

The guilt for being judgy, because you know there is no one size fits all, but…..!

That’s how I felt in conversation recently with someone who shared the advice a book coach had given her.‘Sit down, make sure you write 2000 words a day for nine weeks’, and hey presto! there’s your book done. 

While said book coach isn’t wrong. Their Maths spot on. 126,000 words over 63 days leaves space to cull and edit a non-fiction book into its industry standard of 50,000 - 80,000 words.

What they didn’t speak to is this:

Writing the book you’re being called to write is more than putting down one word after the other. 

If what you’re after is a finished book in your hands that:

★ is brilliantly written and clearly articulates your message

★ matches your high standards when it comes to quality

★ has your readers referring it on as ‘the next best read’

★ grows your business and solidifies your credibility

What is required is deep foundational work that will hold the space for these intentions to be realised. 

And it’s what I’ve broken down into The 4 S’s of Alchemical Authoring

These 4 S’s are the elements that enable the craft of your best writing. 

And learning how to keep them in balance as you write is key.

★Because too much soul without structure means your streams of consciousness, although beautiful, will mean nothing to anyone except you. 

★ Too much structure without soul means your book will lose its energy and aliveness. Your message developed but dull.

★An unsupported self will allow your inner critic, people-pleaser and imposter parts to dumb down your truths as you write.

★And an imbalanced sense of space will foster a writing journey that simply won’t feel good. 

It’s these 4 S’s that I support my clients to get into right relationship with when we work together.

Grounding into these takes time and a willingness to go deep into your message, into your reader and into yourself - which is why the 2000 words a day for 90 days strategy won’t to do justice to the power of the book you’re being called to write. 

So here’s my invitation - take a few minutes and have a look, where in your book writing journey do you need to strengthen your relationship with the S’s?