Notaras - The book you were born to write: everything you need to (finally) get your wisdom onto the page and into the world

Praise for The Book You Were Born to Write

One of the best ways to help people wake up is by writing a book. In The Book You Were Born to Write, Kelly Notaras has written the exact guide you need to get your message onto the pageso it can start changing lives. From organizing your topic to finding the right coach to writing a rocking proposal, youre getting expert advice from someone who feels like your funny, wise best friend. If you want to become a published transformational author, look no further.

Gabrielle Bernstein, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Universe Has Your Back

If you have a book in your heart to write, you could not have a better guide than Kelly Notaras. Notaras helps you navigate the daunting and strange world of writing and publishing with the deep knowledge of an industry insider, the warmth of a dear friend, and the grace and humor of a gifted writer. If your dream is to become a published writer, then dont walk, run, to the store or your computer to get this book. Notaras gives your dream wings.

Doug Abrams, founder and president, Idea Architects Agency; former senior editor, HarperCollins Publishers; and co-author of The Book of Joy

I love this book. It is jam-packed with true insider advice for would-be and already writers that you wont find anywhere else. Happy warning: The Book You Were Born to Write wont just show you how to write the book of your dreams, it will inspire you to get cracking.

Will Schwalbe, New York Times best-selling author of The End of Your Life Book Club and Books for Living

As a publisher of many years, its very easy to see when aspiring authors have done their research about how the book business worksand when they havent. Reading this informative and inspiring book will offer an invaluable edge, no matter where you are in the publishing process.

Robert S. Miller, president and publisher, Flatiron Books/Macmillan USA

Kelly offers a blueprint of the writing and publishing process that is clear, actionable, and bound to generate results. Her step-by-step guidance befriends and inspires. I have never encountered such a comprehensive, readable, and heartfelt guide to writing and publishing a transformational book.

Tami Simon, CEO and founder of Sounds True

Every author or author-to-be has a deep need: that best friend, that cheerleader, that space holder, that wordsmith, that editor, who jumps inside our vision and helps us set our most longed-for book on its feet. Kelly Notaras has written the most approachable, demystifying, and downright accessible book about writing that has ever been written, and, yes, your book will finally get written after you read hers. Case in point: she paved the way for me to write a New York Times bestseller!

Regena Thomashauer, New York Times best-selling author of Pussy: A Reclamation

In these pages, publishing veteran Kelly Notaras leads you through every step of the creation process, from building a rock-solid narrative structure and crafting a strong hook to pushing through writers block and eventually partnering with a literary agent. The Book You Were Born to Write is the consummate guidebook to getting yourself unstuck and, at last, sharing your masterpiece with the world.

Michelle Burford, #1 New York Times best-selling collaborative writer

Funny, wise, and spilling over with practical advice for bringing your book baby from conception through college, The Book You Were Born to Write is by far the best book I have encountered on the craft of writing and the mystery of publishing. It is also seeded with profound truths about the life of the soul.

Mirabai Starr, author of God of Love and Caravan of No Despair

I wouldnt dream of writing a book without Kelly Notarasand now, quite fortunately, you dont have to either! The Book You Were Born to Write is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide for all things book-writing, publishing, and platform building so you can confidently and skillfully share your message with the world. If youve got a book brewing within you, let Kelly demystify the process with a proven plan of action for creation and success.

Nancy Levin, author of The New Relationship Blueprint

The two best ways to change the world are to have a child and write a book. I cant help you with the former, but if you want to do the latter, you should start by reading master editor Kelly Notarass amazing work, The Book You Were Born to Write. Its the ultimate resource for everyone who wants to share their wisdom with the world in a profound and lasting way.

Scott Hoffman, founding partner, Folio Literary Management, LLC, and agent for multiple #1 New York Times best-selling authors

Every writer walks into a labyrinth between the first and the last sentence, and most of us get dead lost. The Book You Were Born to Write was my red thread. I had a sweaty grip on each of these chapters as I made my way through the maze of what I had to say in the book that I was born to write. The gratitude I have is ineffable. This is the book that Kelly Notaras was born to write. And every writer will cling to it like a sacred scripture.

Meggan Watterson, author of Reveal

Copyright 2018 by Kelly Notaras

Published in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Cover design: Charles McStravick
Interior design: Karim J. Garcia
Indexer: Jay Kreider

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

To protect the privacy of others, certain names and details have been changed.

Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4019-5560-1
e-book ISBN: 978-1-4019-5561-8

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1st edition, November 2018

Printed in the United States of America

For my Dad,
who would have read this book cover to cover
just because I wrote it

Several years ago The New York Times did a survey asking people if they wanted to write a book, and 85 percent of those who responded said yes. If youre reading this book, there is a good chance that you are one of those people who have something to write and share with the world. I can assure you that this book will help you accomplish that goal better than any other book you might read on the subject.