All Ears English Podcast - Episode AEE 2345: 3 Tips to Write a Book in English with Jurriaan Kamer
Release Date: January 23, 2025
In Episode AEE 2345 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan engage in an insightful conversation with Jurriaan Kamer, an organizational change expert and co-founder of the management consultancy Unblock. The episode delves into Kamer’s experience of writing a book in English as a non-native speaker, offering listeners valuable tips and strategies to achieve similar success.
Guest Introduction and Background
Lindsay warmly welcomes Jurriaan Kamer to the show, highlighting his extensive experience as a speaker, author, and consultant over the past decade. Kamer, based in Utrecht, Netherlands, has a global footprint, working with leaders worldwide through his consultancy, Unblock. His latest publication, Unblock: Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization, serves as a practical guide for leaders aiming to accelerate results and enhance organizational effectiveness.
Writing in English as a Second Language
A significant portion of the discussion centers around Kamer’s decision to write his book in English. Despite Dutch being his native language, Kamer opted for English to reach a broader international audience. He explains:
"English is the international language of business at this point in time. So it did make sense." [04:39]
Kamer shares that only about a third of his followers are Dutch, with the remaining two-thirds distributed globally. This international reach influenced his choice to write in English, ensuring that his insights and methodologies are accessible to a wider readership.
Three Key Tips for Writing a Book in English
Kamer offers three actionable tips for aspiring authors aiming to write in English:
1. Utilize the Right Tools
Kamer emphasizes the importance of leveraging modern writing tools to enhance the quality of writing in a second language:
"The first one is to get the right tools in place. So what really helped was to use Grammarly as a writing assistant just to make sure that what I was writing was cohesive and didn't contain lots of spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes." [07:09]
He further recommends using ChatGPT in conjunction with Grammarly to explore different phrasings and expand vocabulary:
"ChatGPT can go a little bit beyond and just, you know, you can just put in a few phrases and like, I don't know, like I want to have five different ways of saying this. Can you help me out?" [07:45]
2. Engage with Beta Readers and Gather Feedback
Kamer stresses the value of receiving feedback to ensure the book resonates with the intended audience:
"A book is only helpful if it actually resonates with the target audience that you have in mind." [09:20]
He utilized platforms like Helpthisbook.com to share early manuscript versions, allowing peers to provide constructive feedback on clarity, engagement, and relevance. This iterative process helps refine the content to better align with diverse reader demographics.
3. Hire a Professional Editor
The final tip revolves around the critical role of professional editing in polishing the manuscript:
"She created a style guide for herself... Which then helped us, you know, get the whole book through." [14:39]
Kamer found a native English-speaking editor on Reedsy, ensuring that cultural nuances and language subtleties are appropriately handled. This collaboration was pivotal in maintaining consistency in spelling conventions and overall writing style.
Challenges and Solutions in Writing
Throughout the conversation, Kamer reflects on the challenges he faced while writing in English. One notable hurdle was maintaining consistency in spelling conventions, choosing between British and American English:
"We went for US based spelling. And that's because that's my... I wouldn't say. Yeah, that's how I write funny enough." [16:23]
He also discusses the complexities of selecting an appropriate title, navigating through numerous options generated by tools like ChatGPT, and ultimately relying on personal judgment and community feedback to make the final decision.
Final Advice and Conclusion
Concluding the episode, Kamer offers encouraging words to listeners aspiring to write in English:
"With the tools that are available these days, don't let it hold you back. It's really not that hard anymore." [17:47]
He advises leveraging available technologies, seeking professional assistance, and embracing the writing journey as a pathway to improving English proficiency. Kamer underscores the advantages of writing in English, from expanding reach to enhancing personal language skills.
Where to Find Jurriaan Kamer:
- Book: Unblock – Available on www.unblockbook.net and Amazon.
- Professional Profile: LinkedIn
Key Takeaways:
- Leverage Technology: Utilize tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT to enhance writing quality and explore diverse expressions.
- Seek Feedback: Engage with beta readers to ensure your content resonates with a global audience.
- Professional Editing: Invest in a proficient editor to refine your manuscript and maintain consistency in language usage.
This episode is a treasure trove for intermediate to advanced English learners and aspiring authors, providing practical insights into the process of writing a book in English. Kamer’s experiences highlight that with the right tools and strategies, language barriers can be effectively overcome to achieve global reach and impact.
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- Website: allearsenglish.com
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- Take the English Level Quiz: allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore
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