From Blank Page To Booked Solid

We sit down with book development consultant and former journalist Stephanie Mohica to unpack how a proven nine-step process helps experts become authors, earn credibility, and unlock real business growth. The talk blends practical guidance with honesty about fear, trauma, and choosing ethical partners.

• why a repeatable writing process builds credibility and results
• how to vet coaches and avoid hype without substance
• turning ideas, dictation, and existing content into a manuscript
• fear of visibility and the reality behind “writer’s block”
• when therapy comes before authorship and how to know
• how a book leads to speaking, media, and new clients
• the limits of social media and the power of long-form content
• guest blogging, summits, and challenges to reach new audiences
• choosing platforms that fit your strengths and sticking with them
• Stephanie’s services and where to get her free resource

Get my free ebook, Three Things You Must Know Before Writing Your Book, at gettheirattentionnow.com/book

Chapters

• 0:18 Host Welcome And Sponsor
• 0:24 Meet Stephanie And Her Mission
• 1:26 Why A Proven Process Matters
• 4:58 Turning Ideas Into Manuscripts
• 6:36 Vetting Coaches And Industry Scams
• 9:17 Fear, “Writer’s Block,” And Visibility
• 13:21 Trauma, Resilience, And Creative Voice
• 18:36 How A Book Grows A Business
• 21:03 Books vs Social Media And Guest Blogging
• 26:04 Virtual Summits, Challenges, And Reach
• 29:28 Services, Free Resource, And Closing Thanks

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:18

Welcome to Wikidly Wise Women Entrepreneurs. I'm Constance Drew, your host of the show. And in this episode, I have a very special guest, Stephanie Mohica, with Get Their Attention Now. The show is being sponsored by Barefoot Marketer at www.bearfootmarketer.com. Stephanie, I am so glad to have you here. This has been a long time coming. I know we've talked about this many times. Very excited to have you here. And I think my listeners will really get a lot out of just your personal story and the different aspects that you bring about as far as being, you are a Wickedly Wise Woman Enpreneur. So with that said, I know Stephanie personally very from the heart here. And Stephanie, I'm going to actually turn it over to you. And if you could please tell us about yourself.

SPEAKER_00: 1:16

Sure. Thank you so much for having me, Constance. Yes, we had originally connected on Clubhouse about a year ago. So I'm glad to be here. So I'm Stephanie Mohica. I'm a book development consultant and editor. And what that means is I help coaches, consultants, lawyers, other experts really ignite their visibility, credibility, and market reach through the power of writing and publishing a book. Actually, one of my clients at the time of this recording, about 10 days ago, launched her first book and immediately landed on 11 best-selling Amazon author categories, real categories too, not the fake scamming ones. So yeah, it's I my passion is really helping people that don't think they're writers get their messages out there. And that comes from my own writing background. I was a journalist for 17 years, still do quite a bit of writing myself, and just over the years have come up with a nine-step process that takes people from their idea to publication.

SPEAKER_01: 2:18

And Stephanie, that's actually a great point that you brought up, like a nine-step, and it's a proven process that you that you've worked on over time. And can you give me an idea like why that is so important to someone and why people should listen for that wording?

SPEAKER_00: 2:36

Yeah, so I've said this several times. I I am also a writer for entrepreneur.com. And I've said this so many times, ever since the pandemic, we have an abundance of people calling themselves coaches. And I'm not trying to knock people in general, I'm not trying to knock someone who like lost their job and create a legitimate business. But all the Facebook groups I'm in, all the communities I'm in, the second people hear anything about coach or consultant or anything, they're like they really get suspicious. And part of it is because there are people out there, we saw this on Clubhouse some who say, I'm gonna help you make six figures and take a whole bunch of money, but they don't have any processes. They're better salespeople than coaches. And I would say my struggle has been I'm like a better expert consultant than a salesperson sometimes. And so, you know, I I think it's possible to be both, but it's just so important to have a process because not because you want to treat everybody the same. And I write about this entrepreneur all the time, but you need to have something to start from. You know, somebody's come to you, they probably don't have in my case, they don't have writing experience, or they have they've written a blog, something like that. They want to write a book, they have no idea how to do it. And without some kind of steps, you know, how you it's kind of like a 12-step program, you know, or you it's like you have to have a blueprint, you have to have a baseline and go from there. And I think that's what separates the again. I don't want to sound snobby, but I'm just gonna be honest. I think that's what separates the experts that can help people to the experts that are just out there trying to make a buck.

SPEAKER_01: 4:28

I I think that was very well put. And yes, I've I've seen some of the same situations that you have recently. It seems like there are people that have claimed that there are certain things or they put a name to themselves, such as coach, and may not have the experience to go behind that. And I think that has kind of hurt the coaching industry. Now, what I really like about you though is like you said, that process. And because you brought up a very valid point as well. If somebody doesn't know, like they just think, oh, I I want to write, that's great, that's the passion, that's the dream. But then you're the one that would help them to take that from that into actually the process and making that become a reality. Would that be a correct way to put it?

SPEAKER_00: 5:17

Yes, very much so. And you know, I've been, gosh, it seems like every week now somebody is publishing a book that I've helped them write, etc. I guess I'm kind of, you know, a midwife, so to speak, although that's not, you know, my my languaging. I mean, I don't take all the credit for their accomplishments. So, you know, they have to show up, they have to be willing to commit to the process, they have to be willing to write. Sometimes it's extremely uncomfortable. I've worked with psychologists literally who are sitting there like, I can't get past this mind block, and I help my patients do this all the time. So it's like a combination of like hand holding and practical steps. Like, I can literally, there's one man I'm working with right now, and he doesn't mind me saying this. He's a retired police chief out of Kentucky, and so he's dictating his book. He's like telling his stories, like the you know, nice Kentucky gentleman he is, and then you know, you can turn that into your book. Other folks I work with have existing content and they can use it as a jumping off point for their book. Others like this client that made 11 bestseller categories, she pretty much did a combination of dictating and writing. So it's just like so important to have the processes and frankly the writing experience. And I'm gonna get on my soapbox a little bit here. There are author coaches out there who have never been paid a dime to write. I have been at networking events where somebody has admitted that they have never been a writer, but they think that they can help people be a writer. I have had to bite my tongue. I've really had to bite my tongue. And you know, I've seen relationship coaches, I'm not trying to trash coach industry, have great respect for coaches and consultants. I mean, I work with them myself, but there's a woman calling herself a twin flame relationship coach who is not in a relationship. It's just you when you see things like that, or the only like there's a business, there are business consultants, business coaches out there, they say they help you build six-figure business. The thing is, the only six-figure business they've ever built is charging you. And so that's why you know I'm on my soapbox. I think it's just so important to vet people.

SPEAKER_01: 7:38

Yeah, let me ask you, because you know, again, I think you're bringing up some really great points, and I I appreciate your enthusiasm.

SPEAKER_00: 7:44

And I usually don't get this bold about it, but lately I'm just getting really tired of people. I've had people come to me like saying they got scammed from Clubhouse. I mean, you've had some of these conversations as well, and it's just disheartening. It makes everyone look bad.

SPEAKER_01: 8:00

Well, and it is sad because, like you said, those of us that are out here trying to do this ethically, honestly, you know, with integrity, we're getting kind of whether we like it or not, clumped into the ones that are doing quite the opposite. So that's why I kind of I was actually clapping that you were on a soapbox because I I think it's a message that needs to get out there, and that people do need to vet when they're working with someone, you know, make like you said, and I've had that question asked to me, you know, how can you help me reach six years in my business if you never have? Well, I have, you know, and there's a difference between building a business and going through that step, just like you're talking about as an author, right? To help somebody write, if you don't have that experience, and because I can I'll just throw this very quickly and get back with in it with you, Stephanie. But like with degrees, like I have an MBA, and I can tell you though, until I've actually built some businesses, the MBA, yes, it helps, but it's until you actually get into the grid of it, which I think is what you have referenced as well, you know, as a writer yourself. Right. Now there is something that has been on my mind with you and what you do as well. Like, what do you say to someone who comes to you and they want to write a business book, but as you start working with them, what if that business book turns into something else? Have you had that happen to you before?

SPEAKER_00: 9:33

You know, I I wouldn't say it has happened entirely that way. So most people come to me, they either want to write a business book or they want to like tell a story, or they kind of want to do a hybrid model, which is what the client I was just talking about did. Like she wanted to honor her daughter's memory because her daughter commits suicide. At the same time, she did want to do, you know, a little bit of credibility building because when you're a published author, especially when you're one of these, you know, coaching consulting professions, it does set you apart. It does show that you actually have something to share, you know, and that you didn't just, you know, you're not just doing it by the seat of your pants. So I think there's some people who, you know, who come to me, they have like a hybrid. Other people, they just want to write the business book. A few people come to me and they want to write a novel or a memoir. Those are usually people who already knew me in some capacity. So, you know, because I've been around the literary world for many years. So yeah, I mean, I've had people come to me and they intended to write one book and it kind of morphed a little bit along the way. Okay.

SPEAKER_01: 10:47

And I know I definitely had a writer's block. I've learned that that writing, yeah. Let me just say, so I had to back off of a few things, but just on a personal level as well, because when you write about some things and I found even writing a business book, sometimes things come up, you know, and you can get writers' blocks. And writer's blocks are real, aren't they?

SPEAKER_00: 11:12

Right, yeah, definitely. And you know, I work with P through Writer's Block and I've had it myself, and I've learned honestly, it's kind of a myth, you know, especially when you get the right support. It's just, I mean, I and I find this like especially when I'm writing for myself, it's not for a client or somebody. It's like I tell myself, oh, I don't have anything to write. And I just sit at the computer and do what I tell my clients to do. You have to sit there and just keep saying you have nothing to write until something comes up. So, but I think I wouldn't call it writer's block. I think part of it is like fear. A lot of people have fear of being seen. I've had a lot of women come to me and they want to write the book, but they're scared to death of what their husband's gonna think, their children, because you know, a lot of women that I work with, they're in very sensitive professions. Like one woman's a weight loss coach, another deals with the women who have been through some sort of trauma, you know, and they have trauma backgrounds themselves. Of course, I have one as well, but doesn't have to come up in my work. I have more like control over what parts of that story I can tell. But when it's very tied in directly to work you do, you can't avoid it. And that's really gets some women scared. They're scared of you know what their loved ones and strangers are gonna think. And, you know, it's just I think it's more of a mindset block and a fear of visibility than anything else in a lot of people I work with.

SPEAKER_01: 12:48

I I think that was actually well put because when I hit my so-called what I thought was a writer's block was when I had a repressed memory of 40 years ago come up and man, just hit me like flat in the face. And you brought up something that I you don't have to go into a lot of detail, but I really admire what you just shared. I admire that you said that you've you've had some trauma in your past as well that you've overcome. And it sounds like you're not allowing your trauma to rule you. And can you speak just a little bit to that?

SPEAKER_00: 13:21

Yeah, I mean, I'm happy to talk about it. I was bullied severely as a child. I mean, you're talking about things like I mean, horrible. I went to a Christian school and was horribly bullied verbally and physically by teachers, kids, just a nightmare. I was also in a domestic violence relationship off and on in my 20s and 30s. I actually wound up, and this is fairly recent trauma, and I haven't talked about much, but when I was in Suriname, I was there for almost three years. The last month I was in Suriname, I was there alone. My friends had one had gone back to Holland, a wonderful Dutch man. The other was a girlfriend of mine who went back to another part of the country because she had a baby, and I didn't realize how insulated I had been from harm during my time there because people were around and I was nearly sexually assaulted twice in broad daylight. I was like physically and verbally threatened, and people would not go away until I was screaming bloody murder. So I've been through stuff.

SPEAKER_01: 14:40

Thank you for being vulnerable with that, Stephanie. I I think that it helps our listeners to realize too that yes, this is a you know women's entrepreneur podcast, but as women entrepreneurs, we are still women, and there's different things that we've gone through.

SPEAKER_00: 14:57

Yeah, and I mean, and in the middle of all that, like I was finishing up my dissertation. Oh my goodness, had like, you know, a bunch of business going on, and you know, I am I am talking to somebody and dealing with it. I wouldn't say I'm severely traumatized by it, but I am noticing that I'm a lot more fearful than I used to be. Like I was very independent, I lived abroad for three years, but it's like, yeah, I can be a little fearful, and I think that combined with COVID, I know I'm back in Los Angeles now. I'm not getting out the way I used to.

SPEAKER_01: 15:36

I think it's an adjustment for everybody, and yes, I'm glad that you are taking the steps that you are get through this. And what would you say to a listener? What kind of uh encouragement or advice would you give them? And let's kind of take it back a little bit to when you were talking about how people, and you're right, like people maybe not get a writer's blog, but they get stuck in that fear. What would you say to a listener to help them to move or at least start moving through that?

SPEAKER_00: 16:08

Well, the first thing I would make sure that if there is some kind of trauma that you have done the proper, you know, whether for you it's therapy, you know, spirituality or religion, because I think there's a huge difference between coaching, consulting, and therapy. And that's a line I really try not to cross. So there have been a couple of women I could tell they just were not ready. And so I gently encourage them to go talk to a therapist. But you know, I would say if you've done all that work and it's really not a legitimate, you know, psychological, you know, issue that needs to be addressed, I would say the only way is to get through it. You know, if you know it's it's like for domestic violence shelters for survivors, they want you to be at least two years away from the relationship before they want you to volunteer. So it's like if enough time has passed, you've done the work, and it's really more of a mindset thing than a psychological thing. I hope this makes sense. It's more of a mindset thing, a psychological thing. I would just invite you to talk to a trusted person. You know, obviously I would love it if you would consult with me, but you know, there are writers' groups, there are, you know, you probably have people in your life and just say, I want to do this, but I'm like getting in my own way. And another thing you can do is literally just put that time on your calendar, your writing time, and just make it happen. That's how my I and my clients have been so successful. You literally have to put it on the calendar as a non-negotiable appointment, and you show up and you write, even though maybe you're writing, I don't know what to write about.

SPEAKER_01: 17:57

Well, but just throw it kind of like you talked about processes, right?

SPEAKER_00: 18:01

Right, exactly.

SPEAKER_01: 18:03

And I think what you're sharing and what you just shared again, I just I'm so glad that we are having this interview. I really looked forward to it because you're really giving some really valuable information and it's coming from the heart and it's open, and that's what I'm really appreciating. Taking it back to writing a book, how does that help a business? Like, let's say that you you are working with somebody who wants to write a business book. How's that going to help them in their business?

SPEAKER_00: 18:36

Well, I mean, there's myriad ways, honestly. Like one guy, I it was a young man I worked with about five years ago. I mean, he got so many requests to speak, he media interviews, I mean, was able to help help co-found a drug rehab facility. He was in addictions recovery, you know, coached some people through that. It's like when you put that book out there and you actually, and this is the second part, it's not just enough to put the book into existence. You have to talk about it just like anything else in your business. But yeah, once you get that book out there and you're telling people about it, it makes you a thought leader. I think sometimes that word is overused, but I really think it does because it's not just putting a few posts up on Instagram. I mean, I write for entrepreneur.com. Yes, that has a level of prestige, but still, I'm gonna be writing a new book because I mean, it's not necessarily easy to write for entrepreneur.com or even get in a door, but it's like a lot easier per se to write a blog article than to write a book. So it just shows a level of dedication and leadership and originality and creativity than you know, even blog posts for and I'm trying to get in Forbes right now. Don't know if that's gonna happen, but I the conversation is open. So it's like you hear a lot of people saying, I want to get in Forbes, I want to get an entrepreneur. I'm not gonna sit here and lie to you. It's helpful. I have people contacting me simply through being an entrepreneur, but I know if I had a new book out there about everything I'm doing with people now, it would be way more people contacting me.

SPEAKER_01: 20:21

Very good. I like the way that you presented that. And because you went a little bit deeper, I think that even myself has gone as far as because I I think, oh, well, if I put out a business book, you know, people know that I'm an expert in business, so to speak, or like I don't see the topic in business.

unknown: 20:40

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 20:40

But what I liked was you took that further. You took that further to like if somebody's actually committed to that, they're a thought leader. You know, there's more to it than just like and not down to playing blog articles at all.

SPEAKER_00: 20:53

I know they are timely and they take, you know, yeah, they're important, but at the same time, you know, and I I'm writing an article about this now. Hopefully, it'll be published soon. Really, the time that people are spending creating social media posts that aren't getting seen is time that you could be devoting into creating your book because I mean the algorithms change, it seems, by the hour. It's really difficult to get seen, even with paid ads. There's so much noise out there, and people, I believe me, I've really reduced my social media because it's just so hard, and sometimes the leads you get aren't the best, you know. So it's like all the time people spend stressing on social media or paying somebody to do their social media, it's gonna be so much more useful to do a book. Or, you know, if you honestly don't feel ready for a book, try the guest blogging thing. That's really coming back in vogue now. It was like, you know, in the mid-2000s, it was a big thing, it's becoming a big thing again because again, it's just it's it's just really important, and it also develops backlinks to your site. I'm not SEO expert by any means, but it's just anytime you get in front of other people's audiences, it just brings I find that when I'm in other people's Facebook groups going live or making posts, I get more attention than from my own social media channels. So it's just like pick a couple things and stick to them. But yeah, I would rather see people working towards a book than spending hours or thousands of dollars on social media, preparing valid points as well.

SPEAKER_01: 22:35

Yeah, I'm kind of seeing that trend myself as far as there's so much noise out there, Stephanie. I could see you like being definitely someone that I would encourage people to reach out to, and on a number of levels, expertise, absolutely, but I think your openness and your vulnerability with us on the show tonight really means a lot. And like that's kind of the way that I like to present my business and everything that I do in an authentic manner. I know you're the same way, and I think that's really important for people when we talked earlier about being careful about who you're choosing to support you along the way. I think you would be an ideal person because you've got all this knowledge, you've got this expertise, you've got the accolades, but I think you bring the heart, and I think that you would be able to be, you'd bring a sensitivity that not all people would bring. And I don't mean it in a in a not a negative way, I mean like a positive sensitivity, so that I think you would know how to work with a for example, if a woman came to you and she had gone through something that was traumatic, I think that you would have a sensitivity to know how to step back or push forward a little more with her, if that makes sense. Would that be a good way to put it?

SPEAKER_00: 23:56

Yeah, and you know, from being a journalist for 70 years, I've learned to like, you know, work with all kinds of people. I've worked with the most conservative Christians to like, you know, transgendered uh, you know, shamans. So it's like, and I can put myself in all of those shoes. So yeah, it's very hard to shock me. And yeah, it's like I know when to push and when not to. There's sometimes when it's not a guy to push somebody. You know, I've had clients where we voted completely opposite ways and we knew it, but we knew each other's reasons why and respected each other and did the work. And I don't want to get political, but I wish we had more of that in the world where it's like it's not black and white, so to speak, why somebody has one religion and why somebody else has another, or not at all, or the political party. I'm not trying to downplay any of the atrocities, especially as a biracial woman, that have been committed in the name of religion, politics, etc. At the same time, I think it's dangerous to lump everybody in the same category.

SPEAKER_01: 25:05

Wait, that is so true. I really mean I had really liked you before, you know that. But the more that you've talked tonight, it just really has brought out this beautiful, intelligent, smart, savvy, expert woman here. So you are definitely a weekly wise woman entrepreneur. Thank you. One last question I would have you before we wrap this up, and then I'll also give you some time if you would like to speak a little bit more to certain topics. But I know that you you're very active in email campaign and campaigns. I mean, you you do your stuff, yes, or and you do it the right way, and that's another thing that I've admired. Can you tell me a little bit about the summits that you put on from time to time?

SPEAKER_00: 25:59

So, yes, uh last year, as the time is recorded, I put it on on the Visible Authority virtual event, and that was a summit we had 30 people. I will probably be running again later this year, probably near the end of the year. That's a great way to really build yourself as a thought leader, build relationships. I would say, interestingly enough, though, being in other people's summits and giveaways, again, anytime I'm in front of other people's audiences, I tend to get more traction. So there's pros and cons to both. And some people don't have the bandwidth to like put on events and be in events, and I have slowed down a little bit, especially since the recent move. But it's just like, you know, maybe try to participate at a couple of the summits and see if you like the energy, the environment, the relationships you're building, and then decide if you want to put on an event of your own. And that's what I did. I've also done some five-day challenges and I liked those as well. It's a different energy. But again, and I used to be really heavy into Clubhouse, not so much anymore, although I have been getting back on the app recently. But you have to be aware that trends are going to come and go, and it's the same principles. I don't particularly like video. I have been making myself do it, you know. But if you're not a video person, then go on something like Clubhouse or host your own event, or you know, do something you feel comfortable with, do the guest blogging, you know, write the book, etc. The key is to just find a couple of things that work and stick to it. Right now, it seems to be for me doing more to guest blogging and being in other people's events, but I will be hosting my event again close to the end of year because I have that collateral. I have the website, I have, you know, pretty much the sales pages would just be a matter of switching some things out and picking some speakers, which Constance will definitely be a speaker this time.

SPEAKER_01: 28:04

Well, you had a really successful summit last year.

SPEAKER_00: 28:06

Yes, it was it was it was successful, it was definitely a lot of work. I think people and I had a team behind me, I had three people work with me because I just made the investment. I can't even imagine if I had tried to do it all by myself. I mean, I had a graphics person, I had a copywriter, I had like a project manager who was also doing all the tech. You don't necessarily need to hire all those people, but I was very busy then. And I didn't and I'm a good writer, but I'm better at writing for other people about other people's stuff. So yeah, it's this, you know, and I had a pretty big event. I've seen people who've had one-day summits, I've seen people have 12 speakers. My intention was to have 25. I wound up with 30. So it just depends. The five-day challenge can definitely be it's less work, but again, they're all definitely work. So you just have to figure out what works best for you.

SPEAKER_01: 29:06

And that's what I admire about you, Stephanie. You you get out there and you do it, and I've seen this. Definitely, you know, that you do it like like you said, you're doing all these different avenues, but you're out there doing it, you're out there putting yourself out there, you're offering your expertise. And is there anything in particular that you would like to share with our audience?

SPEAKER_00: 29:27

So, sure. Like I said, I'm a book development consultant. I also do book editing, proofreading, or if you already have an existing book, I can help you come up with like press releases, publicity, etc. So if you are thinking about writing a book, have written one, etc., definitely reach out. You can get my free ebook, three things you must know before writing your book at get their attention now dot com slash book. That's get their attention now dot com slash book. I'm on Instagram, Facebook. Facebook, LinkedIn, you know, feel free to reach out. And it's been an honor to be here.

SPEAKER_01: 30:05

Well, thank you so much. I just I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I've learned a lot. Thank you. And just really admire everything that you've done and everything you're doing. Thanks. I appreciate it. Again, I want to thank Stephanie and Mohica with Get Their Attention Now. This is Constance Drew with Wikley Wise Women Entrepreneurs. Thank you for listening to our episode and be blessed in your success. Awesome.