Words that Teach,
Words that Heal:
Secrets of Self-Help and Spirituality Writing.

Live, online classes with Hilary T Smith, senior editor at
Hierophant Publishing.

Next course begins October 8, 2024

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Details

October 8 – 29

Every Tuesday, 8-9:30pm, Central Time on Zoom

4 Live, Interactive Classes

Grow together as you learn with this season’s cohort of fellow authors

Insider Knowledge

Learn every aspect of self-help writing from a publishing industry insider.

1-on-1 Guidance

Optional office hours with in-person coaching and consulting.

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Here’s everything you’ll learn…

Week One

The Pain Point and the Promise

All great self-help books identify a clear pain point, then give readers the tools and techniques they need to solve it. 

In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Identify your book’s pain point
  • Craft compelling promises in response to your book’s pain point
  • Leverage your unique credentials as an author to further refine your pain point and promise
  • Write a compelling introduction for your book

Week Two

Delivering On The Promise

Once you’ve made a promise, it’s time to deliver! This week, we’ll look at the various ways that self-help and spirituality authors deliver on their book’s promise. 

In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Write great anecdotes, thought experiments, and parables
  • Incorporate research, exercises, and worksheets into your book
  • Deliver on your book’s promise ethically and responsibly.
  • Breathe new life into time-honored advice.
  • Identify a blueprint for your book.

Week Three

Finding Your Voice

As a self-help or spirituality author, you are not only entertaining and informing your readers, but acting as a teacher, coach, guide, or friend. It’s important to choose a voice that you’ll be happy to sustain through your following books, as well as in any future classes, workshops, or retreats.

In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Turn your existing class, workshop, or retreat into a book—or turn your book into a class, workshop, or retreat!mportance of establishing a strong personal connection to your topic.
  • Choose a voice that feels authentic to you
  • Refine your voice so it delights your target audience
  • Plan for sequels, workbooks, journals, and other spin-offs from your original book

Week Four

Self-Help Stumbling Blocks
and How to Overcome Them

As you draft your book, you are almost certain to run into common stumbling blocks unique to this genre.

In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Use your pain point and promise to give your book the tight
    focus it needsse, and discuss several classic blueprints for self-help and spirituality books.
  • Use personal stories without turning your self-help book into a memoir
  • Give your tools and exercises wide applicability
  • Generate materials to flesh out thin areas of your manuscript
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