13th & Joan Publishing House Encourages Women Of Color To Create Their Own Narratives & Document Their Stories
We sat down with Ardre Orie who serves as the founder and chief storyteller of 13th and Joan - a woman owned publishing house that is headquartered in Chicago and hosts an impressive portfolio of author's of color across the globe. Her author roster consists of Africa Miranda, Donnie Simpson, Melissa Hibbert, Nichole Lynel, Candace Okin, Chanita Foster, Dr. Nicole Garner Scott and so many more.
13th and Joan focuses on amplifying stories of color and kicked off the top of the year with making literary history by launching the "Dear Paris 2020" International Writers Excursion and also by launching the "100 Seeds of Promise" Campaign which encourages and empowers black men ages 18-50 to document the narratives of their life’s experiences and create passive streams of income through published works.
Throughout Women's History Month, 13th and Joan launches their #IwillTellMyStory initiative. All month long, they will highlight Queen’s taking control of their narratives to share their stories with the world. What better way to commemorate the celebration of women than to highlight those who are making history today. And we could not agree more!
What made you want to launch the #IwillTellMyStory Campaign?
Ardre: Well, this decade paints the perfect backdrop to live your life more abundantly and to walk in the fullness of who you are called to be. There are at least 200 million Americans who believe that they have been called to tell their stories. 13th and Joan is on a mission to help bring as many of these stories to life that we can.
When do you know that you are ready to write a book?
Ardre: There are countless reasons why you deserve to pen at least one book in your lifetime, and the act of doing so is usually much more fulfilling than your wildest imagination can configure. From catapulting sales for your business or brand to the next level, being recognized as an expert in your field, laying down the burden of a truth that you’ve always wanted to share, daring to inspire the world and of course creating a residual stream of income, the possibilities for your story committed to pages are limitless.
But what if you don't have an audience?
Ardre: In today’s socially driven society, transparency and authenticity have seats at the table, which means that the world is listening like never before. Gone are the days that authors have to search relentlessly to find a few readers...Cues, social media. Your audience is now global and at your fingertips, waiting to hear from you. If you have a story then, there is someone, somewhere that wants to hear it.
With life’s fast pace and bouts of tragedy, everyone desires to know that they are not in the world alone. Discovering stories of those with similar experiences, or those who share similar views on life, is food for the soul.
What are 5 Tips you can share with our audience on seeing there book go from idea to print?
Ardre: Here are my five easy ways to go from blank page to published work:
1. Mind Over Matter
Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. A goal of this magnitude will require you to get your head in the game. If it were easy, everyone would do it but everyone is not you and that is your superpower. A conscious effort to program your thoughts, center your energy and visualizing the finish line are all acts that are essential to realizing the way that you want your book to manifest in your life. You can empower, inspire and ignite the flame of creativity within by engaging in any of the following activities prior to starting your book writing process:
Recite Affirmations
Define and Indulge in Self-Care
Complete Old or Lingering Projects
Mend Broken Relationships
Discover Clarity
Engage in Meditation and Prayer
2. Establish A Budget
Whether you are discovered by a traditional publisher who offers you a publishing deal or you opt to take matters into your own hands to work with a publisher in a pay for services capacity, writing a book requires an investment of your greatest resources: time, talent, and treasure. It is imperative that you view your book as a new business venture and conduct yourself accordingly. As with any business endeavour, plan to make an investment and plan to execute key activities to make your venture profitable. Consider the following:
Initial Investment for Publishing Process (Book Cover, Book Design, ISBN, Book Distribution)
Information Deficits (Online courses, digital toolkits, learning modules, etc.)
Marketing Budgetary Needs (Publicity Services, Marketing Materials, Branded Goods)
Branding Needs (New Headshots, Website, Press Kit, etc.)
Potential Profit Margins (How much will you charge for the book? What is your cost of production? How many units do you wish to sell?)
Book Tour or Book Signing Costs (Venues, Travel, Professional Staff)
Publishing is not a one size fits all scenario. It is advised that you research various options such as traditional, self or hybrid publishing to determine which effort aligns with your desired outcomes.
If you are planning to work with a publishing company, determine how much money you will need to do so. Inquire about payment plan options if they are of interest to you.
3. Activate Accountability
You’ve heard it said that your goals don't work unless you do. This statement could not be more true when it comes to penning your book. Leverage the following tried and true strategies to fill your blank pages:
Create An Outline
A book’s outline can be likened to the skeleton of a body. The structure of your book will not be solid without a clear plan of action for the communication of the thoughts or ideas intended for the book. There are a myriad of ways to create your skeleton and not one is wrong. Take time to discover how to get all of the thoughts and stories out of your head and onto paper and then take the time to research which method you want to use to organize everything that has been produced. The outline has the power to hold you accountable as it brings clarity to the purpose and content of the book.
Create A Writing Ritual
Let’s be clear, no matter how badly you desire to become an author, your book won’t write itself. You must commit to putting pen to paper everyday until it’s done. Setting a schedule that fits your lifestyle is key. Consider waking in the morning thirty minutes earlier to write a few thoughts. You would be surprised by how much content you can crank out in just thirty minutes per day.
Stop Scrolling
The amount of time spent on social media and devices continues to increase. Consider how much time you are giving to checking in on the lives of others versus achieving your personal goals. Do sacrifice some scroll time and reallocate it to your writing. A little goes a long way.
Choose A Goalkeeper.
There are times when you are able to sit on a goal because there is no accountability for you to cross the finish line. Choose a person in your life or a professional who can check in with you to ensure that you are making incremental progress towards your goal. Be careful to select someone who has your best interest in mind and who is willing to be honest with you to achieve your goals.
4. Hire A Coach
The best news ever is that you don’t have to sail the publishing seas alone. You can hire a trusted Author Coach to help you get the job done. There are professionals and creatives who have mastered the art of storytelling process so you don’t have to. From mapping out an outline for your book to providing you with writing homework assignments, consulting with you on the development of your book’s cover and the creation of an Author’s Platform
5. Build Your Brand
Don’t wait until your book is done to develop your brand. Never forget that people buy from people. When your audience sees that you have taken the time to invest in your brand, they will take you seriously as an author and desire to learn more about you and from you. Ask yourself this series of questions to ensure that your brand messaging will align with the book that you desire to write:
What is the single message I wish to share with the world?
What do I want to be known for?
Who is the audience that I am helping?
Why do I desire to be impactful in this space?
What problem am I solving for my audience?
Why am I qualified to solve this problem?
What other ways can I monetize my message?
It is imperative that you recognize your book as the new era business card. Your book can find its way into rooms and spaces that you never dreamt of. The only thing left to do is pick up your pen. The paper awaits. Every face has a story and every story deserves to be told. What’s yours?
Ardre Orie, CEO, Celebrity Ghostwriter and CEO of 13th & Joan Publishing House
www.13thandjoan.com
@13thandjoan