Ask the Author: Cliff Beach
Answered Questions (7)
Cliff Beach
I have been listening to audio books on Audible this summer by Mel Robbins: I just finished "Take Control of Your Life", I am listening to "Here's Exactly What to do" by her now and I have "The 5 Second Rule" and "The High 5 Habit" in the queue as well all by Robbins. I also always read Success Magazine bi-monthly.
Cliff Beach
Originally the book was entitled from Full to Fulfilled, as I was exploring the idea of why some people have busy lives and some people have fulfilling lives, but as it shaped up more I retitled it Side Hustle and Flow because it really was about my work life balance, working full time and hustling on passion projects on the side full time and how many were doing this "Hollywood Shuffle". I told people about the book and could see how it made them perk up and start to resonate and I knew I was on to something.
Cliff Beach
Inspiration is great to have but sometimes it is not there. When I was writing my first book I just set a specific time in the morning or at night, before and after work and I just showed up diligently to work. When you show up with intention and purpose you will get more done. In terms of what inspires me in music, literature and beyond, I am inspired by all types of art but also by hearing other people's stories. This is why stories and the oral tradition have been passed down, used and remembers so long in the canons of history. The art of the story will always be inspiring because a good story takes us on a journey and helps us to reflect back on our own lives.
Cliff Beach
I have currently working on the audiobook version of my new book Side Hustle and Flow, while also doing PR for the Hardcover First Edition out on Black Spring Press Group. The book discusses my key learnings from a 20 year Career in Music, Radio, Podcasting & TV while also bring a VP of Digital for a Beauty Company and I have 8 music projects in various stages of production. I look forward to more live performances, a book launch party and interviews around the book, music and beyond. I hope that it inspires someone else to do what they love as much as possible.
Cliff Beach
Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act 2 told Lauren Hill "If you wake up and can't think about anything else but writing then you are a writer!" My advice for aspiring writers is too just write. There are so many free , low to no barriers to entry to write and gain practice at your craft. We have to overcome the fears of being judged or looking foolish, having nothing to say or not knowing how to write and simply write. You will find your way by doing, not by thinking about doing.
Cliff Beach
For me the best thing about being a writer is to cross writing a book off my bucket list and to have learned how to work in a new medium outside of music. Some people learn better from the written word than auditory learning so it allows us to reach a different audience. I also learned in Robert McKee's "Story" that different mediums allow you to tell a story in different ways. In a song I may only have 3 mins to convey a message but in a book I had over 200 pages to convey a message. I firmly believe Leader are Readers and that writing allows me to get my ideas out to that veracious audience.
Cliff Beach
I didn't have writer's block writing my first book but I think the best way to deal with it and prevent it some extent is having a great, detailed outline. I received an outline template from Scribe Media's free course and it was super helpful in aiding me to understand each chapter broken down by title and subheadings and anecdotes, stories or supporting statements to make the vomit draft flow out of me. I also was taught to not edit until the book was fully written which helped me stay on task writing.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more