Meet LaNette Kincaide

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaNette Kincaide.

Hi LaNette, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I can’t confirm this, but I was probably born with a pen or pencil in my hand. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved writing. During the day, or should I say, for “my day job,” I am a Writing Coach. What I do differs from Book or Author coaches because they normally focus on helping others write books. A Writing Coach is a person who can help writers, authors, and creatives write and complete their stories or desired writing pieces. My client’s writings are not always centered on the development of a book. I’m able to assist with anything that involves writing, which could range from any writing genre and songwriting. As a Writing Coach, I am passionate about helping others share their impactful stories. I believe everyone has a story, but after starting my business, I realized many people struggle with either writing or self-publishing their stories. Most aspiring authors struggle with not knowing where to start on their book-writing journey.

At night, I co-host a Writing podcast called “Ink Dries Podcast.” The podcast is the number one writing station in my area. Our writing community connects writers and authors worldwide, which was my goal when my business started.

When I started my business, I remember getting a phone call from an aspiring author crying because she had paid someone to edit and publish her book. Soon after she paid for these services, she realized the person she paid couldn’t do any of the work required for her book. I remember hearing the pain in her voice.

If I ever felt like giving up or walking away from my business, remembering this phone will always keep me grounded. I will never forget calming her down and reassuring her that our business could and would help her develop her upcoming book. She might have felt like our company was her saving grace, but actually she was ours. That one phone call proved there might be so many other writers desperate to share their stories, but just don’t know the full scope of writing and self-publishing their books-they don’t know where to start.

Another driving force for creating my business is remembering where I started as an aspiring author. During my first book-writing journey, I remember needing a book graphic designer, an editor, and possibly even a writing coach or ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is someone who writes the story for you. In the development stages of my business, I thought of every service I needed to become a published author, and that’s what I provide for my current clients. Saying that I’m passionate about what I do is an understatement.

Fun fact, I love watching crime and mystery television. It’s my way of feeling like I’m helping someone solve crimes. My favorite food is chicken wings and soul food, which I think twice about because of my Mentor, and Fitness Coach Jasmine Dunn-she keeps me focused when it comes to my health and weight goals.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a business has NOT been a smooth road. At least it’s not as easy as most people make it seem. I’ve seen so many business owners who showcase their business as glitz and glamour, but my business experience has been far less than all of that.

Last year, I lost my mother suddenly, and it was an eye-opening experience. I woke up “motherless” which is how I described the feeling of my mother’s death in my newest book “Letters to Mom: Writing to Heaven.” Yes, I’ve lost other relatives in the past, but I quickly learned after my mother’s death, there’s nothing like losing a mother. Before I could really grieve over losing my mother, I felt like her death was a life lesson to love people really hard, regardless of how people reciprocate their love for me. Within my business, mom’s death taught me not to waste time wondering how to do something for my business. If there’s anything you don’t know about your business, go out there and learn. Don’t make excuses about what you don’t know, just learn it!

In the past, I would literally compare my business to others and say things like, “oh my goodness, I have to get to where they are in their business!” Now, I see other business doing well and I’m like, “congrats, keep up the great work!” I’m not saying I don’t care about the success of other businesses I see, but I will say that I’m now “unbothered” with comparing my business to other businesses. My mindset now is to keep telling myself, “LaNette, you will get there honey, don’t worry.” Since starting my business, I’ve learned that no one really likes to share the real dark secrets of owning a business. You know, the side of business where your business banking account is super low and you ask yourself the question of, “should I really take this risk?” Regardless of how passionate you may be about your business, owning a business is hard and sometimes draining. Owning a business removes you from your comfort zone. It’s truly a stretch.

One thing I learned about my business is I need a mentor. I need someone to hold me accountable in my business. I never thought I would say that, but it’s true and I’m not ashamed of my growth of being open about certain things my business needs to grow. Where most small business owners may feel it’s optional to have a business mentor, it’s an absolute must for me. One downside to having a mentor is hearing the raw truth about your business. At certain points in my business, I wasn’t ready to hear the truth about my business, especially when you felt you were doing everything right.

I remember times my mentor would tell me repeatedly, “you need to show up for your business.” My mentor wanted me to network, read book recommendations, and attend frequent business meetings. I don’t care how many books you read about business, the business meetings or networking events you attend, nothing changes within your business until your mindset changes. My mentor’s suggestion was not realistic. I even asked myself, “who does all of this for the sake of owning a business?” I’m not a “superwoman” but I learned if you want something, work for it!

Recently, my business was accepted into a business program called Thrive Network. This program teaches entrepreneurs who either currently own a business or have a business idea how to start their businesses correctly. The Thrive Network is a 14-week program that shows business owners how to create business plans, complete financial projects and how to find funding for their businesses. The Thrive Network teaches many other skills within the 14 weeks, but I wanted to share a few examples. God always knows what you need and when you need it! As a graduate of Thrive Network Cohort 11, I’m truly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn from experienced serial business owners.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Before being a business owner, I’m a wife, mother and grandmother. My family is my focus. After family, I’m the owner of I Write Writing Academy, LLC. a business that helps writers and aspiring authors to write and self-publish their impactful stories. Writing a book is great and informational, but I’m passionate about writing because I’ve seen so many communities created from writing and publishing books. Can you make money from self-publishing a book? Absolutely! However, the goal for writing e-books, paperbacks, audiobooks and etcetera should be to create communities. The clients accepted into our writing program understand this concept.

I’m also the founder of I Write Conference, a two-day writing conference hosted annually in Denver, Colorado. Tickets are on sale now. Our writing conference educates aspiring authors and creatives to write, publish, and sell their self-published books.

Besides coaching my clients desiring to write their books, I host free weekly writing sessions for writers to feel comfortable about their writing well before they decide to self-publish their work.

If you were to ask anyone about me, they would say I’m a person with many best friends. Not just friends but BEST friends. My clients and customers are my best friends. I honestly feel like an advocate for my publishing community.

What matters most to you?
Earlier this year, I created a vision board with my team. A vision board is very similar to scrapbooking. You simply take old magazines and an oversized board and cut and glue your future goals on the cardboard. While creating a vision board, you can obviously cut-and-paste anything you want on the board, which most people do. For my future, I envisioned more for my future goals than just a big house and more money. As I started out creating my vision board, I remembered posting a big house, but the house wasn’t for personal use, it was for one of the many businesses I pictured in my life. I also posted fruits and vegetables with a lady exercising. At the time I created a vision board, I posted what I thought was cute and expected, especially with my team watching. Fast forward: I currently have a fitness coach and I work out three times a week. My eating habits have changed for the better as well. What matters most to me? I love my family and friends now more than ever. However, what’s most important to me is waking up being a better me. My goal in life is to always be better than I was the day before. As I live life, I pray I’m able to impact someone’s life through the positive work that I’ve done or maybe by something I’ve said.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iwriteconference.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/iwritewritingacademy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/iwritewritingacademy
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/iwritewritingacademy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WritingCoachLK
• Other: www.writingcoachlk.com