“I don’t care if you think you’re not a good writer. I’ll make you better.” That is what Besty Rapoport tells the writers who work with her. She helps people get heard by helping writers bring their ideas to life, using their authentic voice while telling their story.
Betsy has been a book editor since 1981, most recently as executive editor at Random House working with numerous bestsellers including Martha Beck, Carrie Fisher, Dean Ornish and many more. Betsy’s favorite books to edit are memoirs and she leads numerous writing workshops across the US.
Publisher David Rosenthal from Simon & Schuster says “Betsy Rapoport is like a CSI specialist: she finds the book hidden inside that pile of a manuscript blocking the view across your desk. Patiently, carefully and with a fine sense of adventure, she mines the treasure you always knew was there.”
Betsy Rapoport talks about the writer’s journey. What’s it really like for all writers?
“Sit your butt down and write!” ~ Betsy Rapoport, on How She Really Does It
LISTEN HERE
In this interview we discuss:
- Great writers – what does their journey REALLY look like?
- Muck + mire of early stage
- Eagle vision + mouse visions
- Writing practice
- Commit + faith in the process
- How to cultivate your authentic voice
- Stop judging yourself and how
- Two takeaways
Great questions to ask yourself from Betsy
“Have I succeeded in getting my voice on the page?”
“How many lives would your writing have to change for your writing to be worthwhile?
“What if that one person was you?”
Mentioned in this Podcast
- Betsy’s website
- Fisher bullet space pen
- Evernote
- Martha Beck’s Leaving the Saints
smiling,
