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The Steve Laube Agency

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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Megan Brown » Page 3

Megan Brown

Empathy Maps: How to Discover Your Reader

By Megan Brownon September 28, 2023
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There are a handful of questions I ask aspiring writers to answer to determine if they have a good grasp on their concept or if their proposal could be a viable option for publishing. The first question is this: “Who are you serving?”

Many times, the look I receive in response is wide-eyed and uncertain. If an aspiring author isn’t keenly aware of their reader–who they are, what they are like, or what they need–it is a clear indicator that the person I’m speaking with isn’t quite ready to pitch. Knowing your reader is arguably one of the most essential aspects of the writing process.  To speak directly to the needs of the reader, an author should have a deep and abiding understanding of their life stages, challenges, unique struggles, and desired outcome or felt need.

How does a writer uncover these facts?

There is a tool I use every time I prepare to begin a project, big or small. I build an empathy map. An empathy map is simply a tool to help you sift and sort through your thoughts and understanding of a particular segment of your readers. And it is important to note that any given project can have more than one reader avatar. So, this tool can be used for all types of readers and will give deeper insight into the wants and needs of your audience.

Begin with a blank sheet of paper, and draw a circle in the center. In the middle of the circle, write down everything you know about your reader. For example, when I wrote my last book, I had three primary readers in mind; I named them Chloe, Jen, and Erin. I named my secondary reader Suzy Church Lady. I completed an empathy map for each persona. In the center of Chloe’s circle, I wrote down the important details about her life. She is young and newly married. She just had her first child, longs for connection, struggles with loneliness, and is desperately anxious. Take a moment to jot down all of the important details about your reader in the middle of the page.

Divide the rest of the paper into four quadrants by drawing a vertical line through the center of the page and another line horizontally through the middle. Label the quadrants the following categories: Thinks, Feels, Does, Wants/Needs.

This is where the fun begins. As you walk through the process of writing the thoughts, feelings, and actions of your target reader, you can really get into their head and shape your content to meet their needs. Let’s go back to our friend Chloe. Under the Thinks column, I would write, “This is not the life I wanted.” Or “Why is making friends so hard?” In the Feels section, I would make note of her feelings in isolation, her disappointment, and her longing for connection. In the Does category, I detail her inability to connect in person and her daily habit of doom-scrolling for friends on social media. Simultaneously, in the Wants/Needs section of the map, I organize the list of things she wants and needs. She wants friends. She wants answers. She needs instruction and encouragement.

How does a writer use these facts?

Do you see how this can help you grasp your readers’ felt needs and why they would want to purchase a book on your topic? If you can understand your readers’ wants and needs through empathy mapping, you can build and tailor your content to meet them in their struggle. Your words can be a well-thought-out lifeline to them and offer them the things they need to accomplish their goals or aims. Empathy mapping can be a handy tool to dive deeper and create content that truly speaks to those you hope to reach.

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Category: Book Proposals, Career, Pitching, The Writing Life

Building a Back-to-School Writing Schedule

By Megan Brownon September 14, 2023
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Writing with kids in the family home is not a task for the faint of heart. When I was finishing up my first attempt at a book proposal, the editing process was completed while sitting on the edge of the bathtub while a tiny child proceeded to slosh seven million gallons of water onto the bathroom floor.  Simultaneously, my two older children were standing in the hallway, screaming at the top of …

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Category: The Writing Life

The Writing Journey

By Megan Brownon August 31, 2023
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I love maps. Very few things make me happier than the excitement of surveying the made-up lands of Narnia or Middle Earth. Scanning the page for landmarks, important features, or new locations makes the reading experience so much richer for me. In the same way, I like to utilize my love of maps and imagination to communicate timelines, identify benchmarks, and check progress. I even use them to …

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Category: The Writing Life

Conference Hacks for First-time Writers

By Megan Brownon August 17, 2023
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When I attended my first writers conference, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. In 2017, a mentor author awarded me a scholarship, purchasing my ticket to the Speak Up Conference with Carol Kent. I had never written an article, much less had any idea how to begin the process of writing a book. In my limited understanding, someone who was interested in writing a book just had to sit down in a …

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Category: Conferences

Maximizing Your 15-Minute Conference Appointment

By Megan Brownon August 3, 2023
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Psyching myself up to sit across from an acquisitions editor to pitch my proposal for the first time gave me heart palpitations. My Fitbit thought I was working out the whole time. I can giggle now; but at the beginning, I can remember how much my own nervousness completely consumed me. Why are these appointments so nerve-wracking? Perhaps, the possibility of failure starts the chain reaction of …

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Category: Pitching

When God Calls

By Megan Brownon July 20, 2023
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Recently, I was on a work trip to Richmond, VA, to visit the International Mission Board. As a military missionary, the work of vocational mission training is at my very core. My heart is for the nations, and I pray often that revival will sweep through the warrior class today. While touring the building, I came across a wall of honor. These carefully curated memorials cause onlookers to pause and …

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Category: Personal, Theology

How Does This Connect to the Gospel?

By Megan Brownon July 6, 2023
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Since we are in the midst of writers conference season, I continue to prepare myself for the hustle of back-to-back, 15-minute appointments with new authors who are overcome with excitement and passion for a particular topic. All the “p” words–from passion to purpose–consume the conversation. The first question I’m going to ask is this: “How does this connect to the gospel?” No matter …

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Category: Pitch, Pitching

Rookie Conference Mistakes: How to Avoid Missed Opportunities

By Megan Brownon June 27, 2023
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“Stop talking, Megan Brown.” I could feel the heat flush in my face. This always happens to me. I realized I was unapologetically spilling my guts about the book idea in my brain without even pausing to breathe and completely dominating the conversation at this roundtable-style workshop. The look of sheer confusion on the mentor author’s face told me I was talking way too much, and I still …

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Category: Conferences

What Are Agents Looking for in a Proposal?

By Megan Brownon June 21, 2023
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What is an agent looking for in a proposal? Well, they want to see your platform, your purpose, and your great writing. Platform Your platform is your reach and the number of readers you already serve. Are you blogging? Do you have a newsletter? If so, how many subscribers do you have? Do you share most of your writing on social media? How many followers do you have? Your platform should also …

Read moreWhat Are Agents Looking for in a Proposal?
Category: Book Proposals

Don’t Write the Book Without the Blueprint

By Megan Brownon June 8, 2023
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What came first? The chicken or the egg? So many people have reached out and shared their amazing ideas for books with me. They have told me about everything from health and wellness to comics or cookbooks. But they’ve made the rookie mistake of writing a book without a proposal, believing a proposal can be easily constructed on the back end of writing a manuscript. No matter the concept or focus, …

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Category: Book Proposals
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