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 143: How To Sell Books As A Podcaster & Speaker with Ryan Hawk (The Learning Leader)
SPS 142: How To Land A TEDx Talk As An Author with Corey Poirier
SPS 141: Creating A Genre, Writing Interesting Books, And The Craziest Marketing Ideas You’ve Ever Heard with AJ Jacobs
SPS 140: Everything Is Figureoutable & How To Be A Time Genius While Writing Your Book with Marie Forleo
SPS 139: From The Hood To Doing Good with Johnny Wimbrey (The Millionaire Author Mindset)
SPS 138: Changing Culture & Representation Through Children’s Books with Dr. Thomishia Booker
SPS 137: Launch Week Recap- Results & Lessons Learned From Launching My Newest Book
SPS 136: BEHIND THE SCENES: How I'm Launching My New Book - And How To Get A Copy with Chandler Bolt
SPS 135: What I Learned Writing The Second Edition & Preparing To Relaunch My Book "Published." with Chandler Bolt
SPS 134: The Secret To Writing A Quality Memoir That Changes Lives with Lianne Saffer
SPS 133: How I Write Screenplays & Books While Training For Marathons with Bo Eason (former NFL Standout)
SPS 132: From Blogger To New York Times Bestseller with Matt Kepnes (aka. Nomadic Matt)
SPS 131: Get Different With Your Book Marketing: How To Market In A Way That Stands Out with Mike Michalowicz
SPS 130: How to Re-Launch Your Book The Product Launch Formula Way with Jeff Walker
SPS 129: How I Self Published My Way To 1M+ Copies Sold And $10M+ In Business From My Book with Michael Bungay Stanier
SPS 128: How I Sold 1,000,000+ Copies Of My Book Through An Informercial with Anthony Morrison
SPS 127: Traditional vs. Self Publishing: Dropping The Mic On Which You Should Choose with Ruth Soukup (And How I Sold 500,000 Copies Of My Self Published Book)
SPS 126: How To Turn Your Nonfiction Book Into A Children’s Book (Advanced Publishing & Fulfillment Strategies) with Ellaine Ursuy
SPS 125: Live Your Message: Writing A Book That Readers Actually Implement & Turning Your Book Into An Online Course with Marisa Murgatroyd
SPS 124: How To Sell More Fiction Books & Build A Full-Time Fiction Career with Ramy Vance
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