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 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
SPS 123: The War of Art & Turning Pro As A Writer with Steven Pressfield (Fiction, Nonfiction, and Screenplays)
SPS 122: The Bezos Letters: Writing A Great Research Based Book That Sells Well (And Selling International Rights) with Steve Anderson
SPS 121 - Passion To Purpose- Adding A Nonprofit Arm To Your Book Or Business with Amy McLaren (And Advice For Nonprofits Writing A Book)
SPS 120: Building An Email List, The Long Game & Becoming A Full Time Author with Dorie Clark (Behind The Scenes On My Next Book Launch)
SPS 119: Read To Lead: From Podcaster To Published Author with Jeff Brown (And How To Write A Book From Your Podcast Topic)
SPS 118: How To Create & Launch An Online Course From Your Book (And Get Your First Sales) with Amy Porterfield
SPS 117: Why I Published Six $100 Books I'm Not Selling On Amazon (And How I'm Using Books To Grow The Warrior Movement) with Garrett J. White
SPS 116: What I Learned Launching The Most Successful Books Of The Last Decade with Daniel Decker
SPS 115: Using Atomic Habits To Write & Publish A Book (And How I Sold 4 Million Copies In 3 Years) with James Clear
SPS 114: How To Write A Book If You Have ADHD with Chalene Johnson
SPS 113: How To Find A Ghostwriter That Writes A Great Book Without Wasting Time & Money Doing It The Wrong Way with Carol Tice
SPS 112: How To Turn Your Podcast Into A Book (To Get More Subscribers & Sell More Books) with Nick Loper
SPS 111: How My Real Estate Investing Book Helps Me Close Deals & Get Funding with Hayden Crabtree
SPS 110: Supporting A Cause Or Charity With Your Book Launch (How To & Mistakes To Avoid) with Susie Harder
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