Gretchen Reuben is the author of bestsellers Better Than Before and The Happiness Project. Her tribe follows her both in print and online. She also produces her own podcast Happy with Gretchen Reuben, where she talks about good habits and happiness with her sister Elizabeth Craft and is named an all-time best podcast on iTunes in 2015. She started her career in law when she realized she wanted to be a writer.
She says of her transformation from law to writing, “For my transition, it wasn’t one moment, it was a series of events that happened over time.” At one point, she considered that writing could be a job for her instead of a hobby. Also, at this time, she went over to a friend’s house, and after talking with her friend, she realized that she wanted the same activity for her work and fun time. With an idea in mind for a book, she came to the realization that “if I was to ever try, now was the time to try.”
Gretchen remembers the ecstasy of getting an agent because, for her, that felt like the most significant milestone in her writing career. She was thrilled that someone would put money on her writing career and ambitions.
As for her writing process, Gretchen has never deviated from her original procedure. She does not recommend this to everyone; however, this is what she has found works best for her writing endeavors. Using mostly books and a passion for a topic, she fervently engages in going down the rabbit hole of investigation.
Listen in to find out why Gretchen focuses on using stories from her own life, how she grounds her writing when using specialized terms and how she came up with her idea for her book, The Happiness Project. Learn how novel and challenge make people happier, how she finds time to write, and the easiest way to make an action a habit.
Show Notes
[01:51] Moving from working in a law office in the Supreme Court to becoming a writer. [03:21] Gretchen realizes that if she is going to make a career change, now is the time. [05:02] Toughest part of her transition when working on her book. [06:30] Her writing and research process for each of her books. [09:02] Turning research and investigative notes into readable material. [11:42] For Gretchen, taking notes is a way for her mind to connect the dots of a story. [14:53] When writing, she focuses on using clear direct language and using stories from her own life. [18:39] How being on a crowded bus after running through a rainstorm gave her the idea for her book. [21:32] What is happiness and where can you find happiness in your life? [23:30] How Gretchen finds time to write her books. [27:00] Her personality framework and how she categorizes people. [28:30] “You’ve got to have a consistent habit if you’re going to be productive” and the Four Tendencies Framework. [33:18] Advice for new writers who are in the process of writing their first book. [37:20] Engage with Gretchen on social media!Links and Resources
Self-publishingschool.com Spsfreetraining.com Circle of Profit Recorder Plus Visit Gretchen on the web Gretchen on Instagram Connect with Gretchen on LinkedIn Take the Four Tendencies QuizSPS 037: How to Land Big Name Endorsements with Kelsey Humphreys
SPS 036: How to Build an Author Platform with Steve Scott
SPS 035: Using a Book To Get Booked with Grant Baldwin
SPS 034: Clinton White House Speech Writer at Age 23 with John Corcoran
SPS 033: How I Used My Book “Podcast Launch” to Help Create Podcasters' Paradise with John Lee Dumas
SPS 032: Growing My 8-Figure Business With A Book with Ryan Deiss
SPS 031: Building my Business & Group Coaching Program with Jaime Tardy
SPS 030: 6 MONTHS TO 6 FIGURES with Peter Voogd
SPS 029: How I Used A Book Trailer, Facebook Ads & a Launch Team to Launch My First Book with Andrew Ferebee
SPS 028: Getting Your First 10,000 Readers with Nick Stephenson
SPS 027: How to Write a Timeless Book that Sells 500,000 Copies with Josh Shipp
SPS 026: How I Built the Largest Success Training Company in the World Using My Book with T. Harv Eker
SPS 025: You Are a Writer, So Start Acting Like One with Jeff Goins
SPS 024: From Self-Published Author to Front of Store Placement with Eileen Wilder
SPS 023: How to Use Books to Book Yourself Solid & Grow Your Speaking, Coaching & Training Business with Michael Port
SPS 022: Behind the Scenes of Multiple NYT Bestsellers with Daniel Decker
SPS 021: Using Books to Grow My Blog, Following & Online Business with Crystal Paine
SPS 020: How to Punch Worry in the Face with Mitch Matthews
SPS 019: How I Self-published My Way onto the Wall Street Journal Bestseller List with Pat Flynn
SPS 018: Scaling Up Your Business Using Books with Verne Harnish
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