What Military and Small-Town Life Taught Me About Writing

In my twenties, I was an Air Force wife. Military life is a different world in general -- a lot to get used to - but one of the most difficult things for me was adapting to moving every three years. This constant change taught me valuable lessons about connection and feeling seen, something that's crucial in writing for an audience.

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Learning to grow temporary roots was a challenge, having lived most of my life up to that point in the same small-town community. Some days, being in a place where I felt totally anonymous was liberating. Other days, it was incredibly isolating, like wearing an invisibility cloak. No one knew or cared what I was doing or if I showed up.

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This experience was vastly different from the everyone-knows-everyone's-business atmosphere of my youth. While I didn't appreciate it as a teen, during those far-from-home military days, I often longed to be acknowledged.

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By thirty, I returned to small-town Maine, and one of the very first things I noticed, the thing that felt like being wrapped in a warm hug, was the waves. Not of the ocean variety (though I'd missed that, too) but of the strangers who waved as they passed by me. I might not have known them personally, but I think that's what felt most comforting and familiar. I didn't have to know them to feel acknowledged and shed the feelings of being invisible.

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How awesome is it to know that we can provide that feeling for someone not just in person but through the pages of our books, as well? The way we write about their problems, thoughts, and experiences creates a connection because it makes them feel seen - even though we are essentially strangers. Knowing your reader and writing for them as an individual rather than an anonymous face in the crowd is powerful.

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One of the ways I "wave" to future readers of Profit Write: How to Create Books That Grow Your Business, Brand, and Impact (coming November 2024) is by calling out the fact they don't consider themselves to be a writer. I talk specifically about negative thoughts that show up in the process of considering creating their book. I also acknowledge their brilliance as well as the wisdom they've gained through their life experiences.

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I can do this authentically because:

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1)??? I am very clear about who I'm writing this book for and...

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2)??? I was once exactly where my ideal reader is now -- being more than ‘qualified’ but feeling ill-equipped to write a book. I get them.

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When our readers feel seen, they know they're in the right place with someone who understands them and their challenges. It helps them trust we can lead them to the right solution.

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When you think about your future book, who is it you're writing for? How can you 'wave' to them in a way that makes them feel seen, acknowledged, and less alone? Share your thoughts in the comments. Let's chat about how we can make our readers feel truly connected and understood.

Hi! If we haven't met yet, I'm Lanette.

Need help distilling your expertise and wisdom into a business-boosting book? Let's talk. Message me or schedule a ProfitWrite? Introductory Call HERE.