5 Questions about Book Indexing

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This guest post was written by Stephen Ullstrom, indexer and proofreader.

Crack open any nonfiction book and flip to the back. Chances are, you’ll find an index there. Although overlooked at times, the index is a useful guide for readers to locate specific concepts and subjects within a book. The author isn’t usually responsible for creating the index—that job lies in the hands of a skilled professional, the indexer—but it’s worthwhile for anyone writing a book to understand how the indexing process works.

Here ar... keep reading

“Writing my book gave me a deeper understanding of my work”: Dr. Vanessa Lapointe’s author journey

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The power of writing a book, for many experts, is in spreading their lessons to a wider audience in order to maximize their impact.

For Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, getting her message out there was a major motivation to write. Author of the bestselling Discipline Without Damage, Dr. Lapointe talks with LifeTree Media publisher Maggie Langrick about the rewarding journey she took with her new book, Parenting Right From the Start (published by LifeTree in October 2019). The act of w... keep reading

“Writing is a battle cry against self-doubt”: Claire Booth’s author journey

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As any author knows, it’s no easy feat to write a book. The dreaded writer’s block often rears its head along the way. But pushing yourself through this challenging process has its rewards.

Entrepreneur, speaker, and author Claire Booth talks with LifeTree Media publisher Maggie Langrick about her struggles with overcoming achiever fever, which is the subject of her first book, The Achiever Fever Cure (published by LifeTree in January 2019). Claire opens up about the transformation... keep reading

6 of the Best Book Outlining Apps

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It’s one thing to want to write a nonfiction book. It’s another to actually do it. A good starting point is to write a book outline, which can help you clarify your message and key points, and structure your arguments in a persuasive and digestible way. Nowadays there are plenty of accessible digital programs to make the outlining process quicker and more efficient.

Here are six top options to help you set your book up for success.

For brainstorming: MindMeister

If you’re a visual thinker, MindMeister... keep reading

Aspiring Authors Find the Roadmap to Success at the Book Publishing Boot Camp

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Can a published book be a business card? Many people seem to think so, if we’re judging by the turnout at the Book Publishing Boot Camp, a publishing conference for entrepreneurs looking to write the best nonfiction book to build their brand.

The all-day event, co-hosted by LifeTree Media and Pink Velvet Couch, took place at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville in downtown Vancouver on Tuesday, March 6. It was a packed day of informative presentations, interactive workshops, and stimulating... keep reading

Three Mistakes New Authors Make When Writing a Nonfiction Book

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Every author starts out with great intentions and ambitious goals, but they don’t necessarily have good publishing instincts. In countless meetings and consultation sessions with aspiring authors of nonfiction books, I’ve found that there are three key mistakes that most new authors make.

1.   They write about what interests them, rather than what interests their audience. Over the course of your career, you’ve acquired a wealth of information, not all of which is useful to your target reader. Your book is not the right forum in which to explore the arcane ... keep reading

Register for Our Book Publishing Boot Camp on March 6

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Writing a book can be a challenging but rewarding endeavour. For all you aspiring authors out there in Vancouver, we have just the event for you. On March 6, LifeTree Media is co-hosting a Book Publishing Boot Camp with Pink Velvet Couch, an all-day conference for women entrepreneurs on what it takes to plan, write, publish and market a nonfiction book that can boost your business, showcase your expertise, and build your personal or professional brand.

You’ll hear from an expert lineup of publishers, editors, agents, marketing experts and publ... keep reading

New guidelines in the Chicago Manual of Style are an enlightened step forward

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This week the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) announced the changes that will be made to its upcoming new edition, which comes out in September. As an editor, a publisher, and a progressive idealist, I am applauding one of those changes in particular: approval of the use of the singular pronoun they.

The English language is one of the most shape-shifting languages in the world. Every year, English speakers add new words to the lexicon and repurpose old ones. Some of these innovations are widely adopted and become part of the language; others fall by the wayside. Ther... keep reading

Resolve: an Interview with Negotiation Expert and Psychologist Hal Movius

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If you dread conflict, you’re not alone.

Research suggests that interpersonal conflict is the biggest daily stressor we face. Whether you experience it when buying a car, asking for a raise, haggling on Craigslist, or even deciding who’s going to take out the trash, our lives are steeped in uncomfortable conflicts, and it often feels like the only way to avoid that discomfort is to avoid the conflicts entirely.

But Hal Movius, PhD, knows that conflicts are an unavoidable part of life, and that there is a better wa... keep reading

Two Great Ways to Beat Writers’ Block

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I don’t believe in writers’ block, any more than I believe in washing-dishes-block, or dealing-with your-taxes-block, or confronting-a-scary-problem-block. I’m not saying that writing will always come easily, or that you won’t sometimes stop and find it hard to start again. Of course you will. What I’m saying is that the reasons for halting your work are perfectly logical, therefore so are their remedies.

When your productivity dries up (and it will), do not deceive yourself that you’re the victim of some kind of creativity flu, or a passive vessel waiting to be filled wi... keep reading