YOUR FIRST DRAFT

9 Week Online Writing Program

“In the hero’s journey, the wanderer returns home after years of exile, struggle and suffering. He brings a gift for the people. That gift arises from what the hero has seen, what he has endured, what he has learned. But the gift is not that raw material alone. It is the ore refined into gold by the hero/wanderer/artist’s skilled and loving hands. You are the artist.
I will gladly shell out $24.95 or $9.99 0r 99 cents on iTunes to read or see or listen to the 24-karat treasure that you have refined from your pain and your vision and your imagination. I need it. We all do. We’re struggling here in the trenches. That beauty, that wisdom, those thrills and chills, even that mindless escape on a rainy October afternoon – I want it. Put me down for it.
The hero wanders. The hero suffers. The hero returns.
You are that hero.” ~ Steven Pressfield

You have a great idea… an idea that could inform and inspire people… you have hard earned wisdom that if shared, could help someone breathe easier… perhaps people have even told you you should write a book… but something keeps getting in your way…

There’s the relentless demands of work…
Dinner won’t cook itself… (more’s the pity!)
The kids need taking here, there and everywhere…
Procrastination keeps getting the better of you…
Or perhaps you’ve carved out time to work on your book but every time you sit down to write you get distracted by the chorus of the peanut gallery in your head… ‘Who cares anyway…’ ‘No-one would read it even if you wrote it…’ ‘Who are you to write a book?’
Staring at the Word document in front of you, you feel frustration rise up from the pit of your stomach and you try to ignore fear breathing down your neck…whispering in your ear that you will never write your book…

Whatever has been stopping you, it’s time to deal with it so that you can share your brilliance with the world. You ARE that hero and the world needs to hear what you have got to say. There are a lot of people out there who could greatly benefit from what you have to share so let’s get this done together. Refuse to let another year come and go without you sharing your brilliance and wisdom with the world!

“Every day we slaughter our finest impulses. That is why we get a heartache when we read those lines written by the hand of a master and recognise them as our own, as the tender shoots which we stifled because we lacked the faith to believe in our own powers, our own criterion of truth and beauty. Every man, when he gets quiet, when he becomes desperately honest with himself, is capable of uttering profound truths. We all derive from the same source. There is no mystery about the origin of things. We are all part of creation, all kings, all poets, all musicians; we have only to open up, only to discover what is already there.” ~ Henry Miller

I have designed the 9 week Your First Draft Program specifically to help you unlock your gifts and share them with the world. The program gives you a step by step process to follow that will transform your wisdom and knowledge into a tangible first draft of your book.

“When I signed on to do the “Your First Draft” program with Laura, I had an idea of what I wanted to do but no direction and no inkling of how to go about it. I had trouble articulating what I wanted to express. I felt that it might be at best, writing as therapy. I was in for a surprise! Laura guided me each step of the way and the words started to flow. By week 3 I could see how a book was forming from my writing and the design layout became so clear. Each week questions were answered, and the process unfolded so I had the ability to relax and focus on my writing. I’m confident with my first draft. Laura has great skill in mentoring through the writing process, digging into your creative side, even if you think you don’t have one! Authentic and passionate toward writing, Laura makes the process from week 1 to week 9 smooth sailing. I highly recommend doing ‘Your First Draft.’ There is so much to gain, step out of your comfort zone and go for it! Dare to be raw and real. So grateful, thank you Laura!” ~ Paula Jackson

One of the biggest struggles writers face is… writing. Even the best writers in the world face a daily battle with their Inner Critic. With the 9 week Program I’ll help you find your audience, capture your ideas and hone your message so that it speaks to your audience in a compelling way.

If you know you have a book inside you but keep telling yourself you don’t have the time/knowledge/structure to bring it into the world, read on…

Your First Draft program is for you if you want to…
– Educate and inform
– Become the recognised authority in your field
– Inspire and motivate others
– Change lives
– Create ebooks and lead magnets for your business
– Share your stories

Inside of 9 weeks, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step process to turn your ideas into a tangible first draft ready to be sent off to be professionally edited or self published.

This may surprise you but you don’t have to be an amazing writer in order to write a book. To write a great book, you need a solid structure, the right support and the rest can be seamlessly stitched together. Make 2018 the year that you finally get your book out into the world.

Your First Draft is a ‘done with you’ service. I’ll be in your corner, cheering you on as you bring your book into the world.

The Program at a Glance

Six Step Process
I’ll give you an easy to follow six step process that will get your ideas flowing on to the page. With a solid structure to follow, your mind will be free to unleash it’s creativity within the framework laid out.

1:1 Bounce Session
A one on one brainstorming session where we’ll discuss your ideas and hone in on the juicy content for your book.

Find Your Writing Style and Structure
Because no two writers are the same, we’ll work together to organise a writing plan that works for you. We’ll break your book down in to manageable chunks so that you don’t get overwhelmed and can work through your content easily.

Download Your Brain
In these sessions you will begin to get all of the ideas in your head down on the page. I’ll show you how to do this easily and effectively and give you guidelines and checklists to follow. By the end of these sessions you’ll have the structure of your book and chapters.

1:1 Interview
I will use specifically crafted questions that magically draw the content right out of you. The transcription of this interview will form the basis of your book.

Re-write and Edit
Once you’ve gotten all of your intellectual property and ideas out of your head and onto the page, we’ll begin the process of re-shaping and creating your masterpiece.

Community, Accountability and Support
As you work through your first draft you’ll have an abundance of motivation and support and from myself and the other writers in the program.

At the end of the 9 week program, you will have your first draft – a complete and tangible copy of the book that has been inside of you.

“If you are thinking about this. Don’t think. Act. I had a fabulous time with Laura and the other writers and my book has just gone to the printers for typesetting. Follow the dream, even if you don’t think about it, you will be surprised at the book within you.” ~ Caylene Vincent, author Happy Wife, Happy Life

Due to the hands-on nature of this program, Your First Draft is limited to six people only. We’ve already had a few early registrations so get in quick if you want to join us on this exciting journey. The program officially begins 8 January 2018 and we kick off with your first 1:1 session within the next two weeks to get your prepared.

“I just wanted to thank you for putting the course together, and giving me feedback for the stuff I did send you. I might not have finished my first draft, but I came the closest I ever have to writing a book! And I’m really impressed with what I did write. In fact, I had a recent bout of inspiration and using the techniques you taught, I bashed out a complete plot for a new book, which still impresses the hell out of me! So I look forward to devoting some more time to my current book as well as this one in the future and seeing how they both develop, I hope everyone else who did the course got as much out of it as I did. Thanks again.” ~ Wil Barlow

Your First Draft 9 Week Program Inclusions and Price
– 2 x 1:1 sessions with your writing coach, Laura Forbes
– Your own personalised Writing Plan to help you get the most out of the 9 week program
– 9 weeks of coaching, tutorials and templates to help you write Your First Draft
– Accountability and support
– Interactive Q&A webinars
– Review and feedback of your writing
– Access to a community of like-minded writers
– BONUS Unlock Your Creativity Workbook
Your First Draft 9 Week Program Full Program (with 1:1 coaching and feedback): $1297
Your First Draft 9 Week Online Only Program (without 1:1 coaching and feedback): $497
Finally getting that out of your head and down on paper: Priceless

“If you always dreamed of writing a book, and you used to love to write, and were pretty good at it, will it break your heart if it turns out you never got around to it? If you wake up one day at eighty, will you feel nonchalant that something always took precedence over a daily commitment to discovering your creative spirit?
If not – if this very thought fills you with regret – then what are you waiting for?” ~ Anne Lamott

BOOKING FORM

A Little About Your Host…
I’ve always loved reading and writing and getting to the core of what makes people tick. Back in 2010 I became a Practitioner of NLP and then spent the next few years doing anything and everything to get out of my comfort zone and expand my horizons. From moving to a different country to Skydiving, Public Speaking and Stand-Up Comedy… I did things I’d never dreamed possible for myself (did I mention I used to be a massive introvert?!)

Despite conquering many of my fears, getting up the courage to write and share my inner world on platforms like Elephant Journal was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done… but it has also been one of the most rewarding.

When I write something and send it out into the world, I’m always humbled by the responses I get from people (sometimes in far reaching corners of the world – people I never even knew existed), who thank me for sharing… because in some way it helped them. Sometimes in a productive way, and sometimes in a “hey, thanks for being weird and making me feel OK about also being weird,” kind of way.

Sometimes we need a little coaxing and encouragement to give ourselves permission to explore the treasures we have buried inside ourselves.

“So this, I believe, is the central question upon which all creative living hinges: Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert