Screenwriter – Producer Turned Book Coach – Kim O’ Hara: 2BB 082

We interview Kim O’Hara who is a former screenwriter – producer turned book coach and founder of www.astoryinside.com. Her clients are folks who often have a book burning inside of them. She then helps them make the leap to published author. Some are experts in their field and feel they are at a turning point in their career. Others have incredible histories and stories and want to share them with the world. She loves working with visionaries and leaders who are willing to go to the mat and do it.

Coming to you this time from the Rancho Reseda Reading Room.

Kim’s background

She worked in the film industry as a screenwriter and movie producer for 20 years. After quickly rising up the ladder, she started raising the money for films and was instrumental in getting them made. She produced her first million-dollar movie at the young age of 25. Most of the films she worked on were independents so she worked in a variety of positions. What she liked best was working with stories.

In 2008, the housing market crashed and so did a 10 million dollar movie she was making. At that point, she decided she was done with the movie business. It put her in a dark place trying to decide what to do next. For a while, she worked at a grocery store and then as a story editor for a food magazine but was constantly looking to do something she could be passionate about.

She became a book coach

Kim now works with business owners who use the books they write to enhance their businesses and help them move forward. Sometimes they are fearful and she helps them break through their fear.  They are on the brink of making major moves in their life and need a push to get the process going. As their book coach, Kim holds them accountable and coaches them throughout the process.

When she was a film producer, she had to hustle to get work. Now, she approaches her clients by offering to be of service.

Some of her clients write non-fiction but many are working on their memoirs.  They are telling the story of obstacles they overcame but also how successful they’ve become because of those challenges. Others use their books to mentor those who are younger and coming up in their fields.

Kim’s tips for aspiring writers

* She says the foundation of getting your book started is simply sitting down with a piece of paper and jotting down what you think you’d like to write about.  Put all your ideas on paper without any attachment.  However, the power of brainstorming works best in a collaborative environment. If you’re alone by yourself, you’ll probably keep writing down the same bad ideas. If someone is there to help and give feedback, they can take you over the edge and help you come up with better ideas.

* We don’t always give ourselves permission to come up with better stories. It helps to have someone give you permission.

* Write consistently by doing it for a couple hours every day. You’ll always hear voices in your head telling you that your book will never have a purpose or do anyone a service. If you write every day, you can write through those voices. Before you know it your book will be finished.  Any type of writing works. Blogging, journaling, etc.

* You must be willing to take the first step into the fear and the doubt.  If you believe you’re a writer you probably are and it’s your responsibility to make it happen.

* Kim tells her clients that she is there for them and will be with them on their entire journey, but she can’t make them write.

* Some people only write one theme and they think it’s a bad thing. It isn’t at all, but you have to realize you can explore numerous aspects of a theme. Think about what theme you like to write about and then see how deep you can go.

To contact Kim

Kim offers her services as a book coach by doing 12-week workshops (complete your book in 90 days) and 1-day in...