Fresh SLP

Let’s Celebrate Vanessa Abraham’s Inspiring New Memoir, Speechless!

Hello friends!

I’m honored to share exciting news about my good friend Vanessa Abraham’s new book, Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life. This extraordinary memoir is more than just her personal story—it’s a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Vanessa has poured her heart and soul into this book to inspire and uplift readers from all walks of life. Whether you’re seeking hope through life’s challenges, looking to understand the depths of human perseverance, or eager to learn how we can navigate the hardest battles with grace, Speechless offers something profound for everyone.

Why Speechless Matters: A True Story of Survival and Triumph: Vanessa faced the sudden onset of a rare and progressive neurological disease that left her paralyzed and unable to speak. In just one week, she went from being a mother and full-time speech therapist to being entirely dependent on others for care.

Heartfelt and Vulnerable: This memoir delves into her emotional journey, sharing her ICU experience, struggles with Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), and her fight to regain her voice, her independence, and her life.

A Beacon of Hope: Despite overwhelming odds, Vanessa’s story is a testament to courage and determination, offering life lessons and inspiration for us all.

Insights for Medical Professionals: With her background as a Speech Pathologist and firsthand experience as a critically ill patient, Vanessa provides a unique perspective on the challenges of caregiving, patient communication, and the mental toll of medical crises—an invaluable resource for healthcare workers.

How You Can Support Vanessa’s Book Launch

Vanessa’s virtual Book Launch Party is happening on Thursday, January 16 at 1:00pm Eastern (10:00am PT/12:00PM CT), and I’d love for you to join me in supporting her!

Here’s how:

Get Your Copy of Speechless: Order the book on launch day (January 16) and help Vanessa hit #1 on Amazon! Here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3Pm3w6P

Join the Virtual Party: Celebrate with Vanessa and others at her Facebook Live Book Launch. As a bonus, anyone who purchases a copy of the book on January 16th and attends the Facebook LIVE will be entered to win a special giveaway!

Spread the Word: Share Vanessa’s story with your friends, colleagues, and networks. It’s a story worth sharing. Please invite your friends here and make sure they "friend" Vanessa's personal page so they can join the party on launch day too!

Why You Should Read This Book
Speechless will move you, inspire you, and leave you with a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a book for anyone navigating hardship, for caregivers seeking understanding, and for medical professionals looking to see the patient’s journey through new eyes.

Thank you so much for helping Vanessa bring this incredible book into the world. Together, we can help her reach the hearts of countless readers. Let’s celebrate this inspiring memoir and support Vanessa’s magical launch date!

Warmly,

Mattie Murrey Tegels
Book Ambassador

Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with PrimeTry Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Feeling overwhelmed by the book writing process? Set yourself up for success with clear goals, a solid routine, and a few key tools! From finding an accountability partner to using a simple 23-minute timer trick, these tips will help you stay motivated and productive. Ready to take your writing to the next level?

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Here’s How to Do It: Five Critical Strategies for Writing Your Own Book

Hello, my author friend!

Starting the book writing process can feel overwhelming for new and seasoned writers alike. You can combat this feeling of overwhelm and set yourself up for writing success by creating a plan that will allow you to draw on all of the resources and tools at your disposal that can help you reach your writing goals.

On days when you are tired, distracted, or struggling with motivation (all of which will happen, I promise!), you can fall back on these success tools to help push you through your writing session and ensure you meet your goals. The more disciplined, focused, and consistent you can be in utilizing these tools, the better your writing output will be.

So, how can you set yourself up for success in the beginning?

Set Clear Writing Goals and Benchmarks. Pull out your calendar and plan backward from when you want to have your book done to ensure you are keeping up a strong pace along the way. Create mid-size benchmarks (think weekly/monthly) and smaller daily goals to help keep you on track toward your larger goals. When you have clear, bite-sized goals written down, you will have the plan, focus, and urgency you need to be successful.

Establish a clear writing routine. A strong writing routine ensures that you can be successful and productive during each writing session. A clear writing routine should include the following components:
A quiet, distraction-free place to write (door closed, no phone).
Days/times you write blocked out on your calendar to ensure a consistent writing schedule.
Daily goals for your writing session to ensure you make progress toward your larger goals.
Rituals that help you focus and draw inspiration, such as lighting a candle, drinking a cup of coffee, meditating before you begin, etc.

Find an Accountability Partner. At the beginning of the book writing process, identify someone who can help hold you accountable to your writing goals. You could do this by sending them the writing you complete at the end of each week to ensure you hit your goals, having phone check-ins to problem-solve and get new ideas, or even just texting each other a thumbs up at the end of each successful writing session so you can cheer each other on along the way. Writing is inherently a solo activity, but accountability outside of yourself is key to ensuring you remain consistent on the harder days.

Create an easy system to capture unexpected moments of inspiration. You will not always be in your writing space when a moment of inspiration arrives, so make sure you have an easy plan to capture ideas whenever they come to you. This may look like using voice memos to record your ideas or keeping a small pad of paper and pen in your purse or by your bedside to jot things down.

Use a timer and start writing! This one strategy has served me time and time again. There are days when I just have a hard time starting my writing, and the more I delay starting, the harder it gets. So my trick (and it really works) is to tell myself I am going to set a time and write for 23 minutes. I know, weird number, right? Research shows that our minds can work with odd numbers versus even numbers, so I choose an odd time, set my timer, and start writing. That’s it! By the time 23 minutes rolls around, the hard part is over, and I am usually busy writing. Problem solved.

BONUS Strategy. Utilize an app like Voxer, which allows you to send real-time voice messages to other Voxer users, find other writers, and connect! It’s a great way to ensure ongoing communication with us during your time in the MOGA program. Use it to ask clarifying questions, bounce around ideas, or reach out for support in hard moments. Remember that the beauty of this program is that you are *never* alone, even though writing can sometimes feel like a solo sport. Use the incredible community at your fingertips!

If you can get in the habit of utilizing these five critical tools from the very beginning of your writing process, you’ll set yourself up for maximum success and enjoyment along the way!

Want to keep this conversation going or find more tools for writing your own book? Check us out at www.myownghostwriter.com! Happy writing!

Feeling stuck in your writing? You’re not alone! Every writer faces moments where the words just won’t flow. But don’t let it derail your progress. Feeling stuck is a normal part of the creative process. Remember, your best writing often comes after you push through the tough moments. Keep going, you’ve got this!

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Eight Proven Ways to Get Your Writing “Unstuck”

If you are finding yourself stuck lately when you sit down to write, know that you are not alone. And that you’ve come to the right place!

Every writer knows this feeling well. You have been flying through your book, with copy flowing easily and quickly. You can hardly keep up with your inspiration and ideas! Your fingers race across the keys as you work to capture it all. The writing is coming easily and freely -- an author’s dream.

Then, quite suddenly, things change. One quiet morning, you sit down to write, and nothing happens. No ideas flow. No inspiration remains. You feel stuck. You start to panic and begin to re-read some of what you have already written in hopes that it will get you going again, but it does not. Your heart sinks. Your fingers freeze.

You are stuck.

Every writer has been there. Every single one. The panic and anxiety that can easily set in during these moments is real. Getting stuck – and the anxiety and overwhelm that it causes – can totally derail some authors. They may lack the confidence to sit down again to write the next day, or may even give up on their book altogether, worrying that they don’t have what it takes. I suspect many great books sit unwritten because of authors’ struggles to push past their stuck-ness.

The good news?

This is a *normal* part of the writing process, and there are some very effective techniques that can help you push past feeling stuck, lessen your anxiety and overwhelm, and rediscover the free flow of ideas that makes writing fun.

The next time you are stuck, try these eight proven tips to push past the block:

1. Remember that getting stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed is a *normal* part of the process. Keeping this in mind will allow you to give yourself grace, take a breath, and stay calm enough to implement some of the strategies below.

2. Come back to your “why.” Remind yourself of why you are writing this book –why it matters that it is out in the world for people to read. Refocusing on your “why” will give you the motivation you need to keep pushing.

3. Take a short break. I emphasize short, because you don’t want to stay away too long. Just like you were encouraged to get back on your bike quickly when you fell off as a kid, so too must you keep writing – especially when it’s hard. That said, sometimes taking a short break can give you the space you need to reset and regain some confidence.

4. Set some clearly defined writing goals. When you’re stuck or overwhelmed, simply getting started – getting *something* on the page – will help you regain the forward momentum you need to find your rhythm again. On the tough days, set a small but concrete goal for yourself – number of words, pages, etc., -- and make yourself write. Even if it feels clunky. Even if you think you might hate what you write. Just get something on paper.

5. Connect with mentors and other people who believe in you. Never underestimate the power of accountability partners and good friends to give you the push of confidence you need to get going again. They can help remind you of why the world needs your book, and how capable you truly are.

6. Remove distractions. Revisit your writing routine and make sure you’ve removed all distractions. Your door should be closed. Phone off. Whatever rituals you use to help focus you – coffee, candles, whatever – make sure you have it all to support you in your toughest moments.

7. Skip to a section you’re excited to write. Sometimes all you need is to feel the fun in writing again, and this is easily achieved if you skip ahead to a portion of your book you’re super excited about and feel confident writing. Once your juices are flowing again, you can go back to where you got stuck.

8. Seek inspiration. Read other authors you love, listen to podcasts, talk to people who inspire you most. Sometimes all you need is a little spark of inspiration from an outside source to reignite the passion inside you.

Some of these techniques will work better for you than others, and that’s ok. Try them all on for size. See how they feel and how they affect your writing. When you find some that do the trick, consider integrating them into your regular writing routine in order to set you up for future success.

And if you find yourself in need of more support as you move through the writing process, hop over to www.myownghostwriter.com or send us an email at [email protected] to explore the many resources and programs available to help you move forward with confidence. From guided authorship programs to full service ghostwriting, we deeply understand the writing process and can support you every step of the way – especially on the days you are feeling stuck.

Remember, learning how to push past these tough moments is all a part of becoming the author you were meant to be. You can do this. Happy writing!

Ghostwriters are like master tailors for words, crafting content that perfectly fits a client’s voice and vision. Our talent for listening, understanding, and translating ideas into powerful writing makes us the ideal choice for premium copywriting.

Want more insights? Check out our sister page My Own Ghostwriter and Book Coaching for additional tips and content!



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Tailoring Words for Impact: How Ghostwriters Dress Clients for Success

Have you ever picked up a magazine and read an article from an expert that was so educational and well-written, that you wanted to rip that article out and keep it for later? The odds are that that article was not written by the expert himself but rather by a ghostwriter who is writing for that expert. Who knew, right?

“According to ghostwritersandco.com, more than half of all books published in the United States in 2024 are written by ghostwriters. However, it's difficult to know the exact number because not everyone admits to collaboration. Estimates for the percentage of non-fiction books that are ghostwritten range from 60% to 90%, and some say that 99% of books by celebrities, artists, and politicians are ghostwritten.”

Here’s the difference between a ghostwriter who authors books and also premium copy, and a straightforward copywriter.

The Straightforward Copywriter

In general, a copywriter’s job is to use text to create awareness, or to persuade or encourage their intended audience to purchase something, to do a particular thing, or to believe in an idea. It is typically persuasive writing and is used in marketing of all kinds.

A copywriter is commissioned to learn about an idea or product, analyze the audience, and write copy using language and a creative approach that connects with and is convincing to the target audience.

Ghostwriters are the Whole Package

Who makes a better copywriter, a ghostwriter or a straightforward copywriter? It makes sense that ghostwriters make great copywriters! In my experience, I have found that the talent and skill of ghostwriting transfer amazingly to the business of copywriting. In many cases, as ghostwriters, we can actually offer more. Ghostwriters aren’t simply “able” to copywrite; we also excel at capturing the essence of a client. We have persuasive and creative writing skills and excellent research and communication abilities, and we combine those things with our adeptness in capturing who a client is. Ghostwriters make better copywriters because our natural abilities, training, and experience add a deeper connection with the spirit of a client, website, or project and the desired message.

Ghostwriters Love to Listen

Ghostwriters are very good at listening, it’s our job; we listen, and then we write. We are able to get into the heads of the clients we are writing for. Because of our perceptiveness, we genuinely know and understand the client and can accurately write in the client's or website’s voice. We know the client’s brand, what it is they are marketing, and even their pain points.

Ghostwriters Connect with the Client

Ghostwriters have a detailed system in place that gives us the tools and ability to pull content and thought leadership ideas from our clients. This truly makes the pieces we write not just pieces of work but works of writing that reflect the thought leadership that our clients have worked so hard to achieve in their businesses. We can take on the energy, thought patterns, structure, and flow of the client who provides the material and content and tasks us with creating and communicating a message for them.

Tailoring Words for Success

Think of a ghostwriter as a haberdasher, but instead of dressing people in fine clothes to make them look their best, we "dress" them in carefully crafted words. Just as a haberdasher tailors each garment to fit perfectly and reflect the client’s style, a ghostwriter carefully selects each word and shapes each sentence to match the client’s unique voice and vision. When we do our job well, our clients look their best on the page, allowing them to focus on what they do best—leading, inspiring, and making an impact in their field.

Our job is to wrap our clients in a style of words that makes them stand out, feel confident, and truly shine.

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