WOTS Wordshop: 10 Steps to Turn Life Lessons Into an Impactful Book

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Most books don’t fail in the marketplace. They fail to be written at all, or to be published with clear intention. Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and uncertainty about the process leave countless aspiring authors stuck before their book ever reaches the publishing stage. But what if your hardest-earned life lessons—the ones you’ve lived, not just learned—could become the foundation for a book that not only helps others, but brings deeper meaning or momentum to your own journey?

In this inspiring and practical session, Tim Lindsay shares a proven 10-step roadmap for writing, publishing, and promoting a nonfiction book, one that begins with purpose and ends with real-world impact. Drawing on over a decade of experience supporting more than 5,000 authors, Tim reveals how writing a book can be a turning point: a way to transform adversity into insight, experience into contribution, and ideas into action.

Blending storytelling with hands-on guidance, this session also includes a simple, empowering 1-page Call to Authorship plan. Whether your book is for healing, helping others, creating opportunity, or establishing a legacy, you’ll leave with the clarity and confidence to not just begin, but follow through.

This in-person workshop is free to attend. However, if you have the means, we invite you to consider a donation to The Word On The Street as a way of helping to keep these arts events accessible for everyone into the future.

The WOTS Wordshop is located in room 310 of Metro Hall, accessible through the festival site at David Pecaut Square. Take the elevator to the third floor and follow the signage. Advance registration is required. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the workshop begins, and bring something to write with!

Tim Lindsay is the author of Write With Purpose, Publish for Impact and the founder of Tellwell Publishing. Since 2015, he and his team have helped more than 5,000 authors write, publish, and promote nonfiction, memoirs, fiction, and children’s books — from entrepreneurs and educators to faith leaders, community builders, and everyday people with something meaningful to share.

Tim believes publishing a book is more than a creative act — it’s a transformational one. Authorship builds clarity, confidence, and credibility. It sharpens ideas and opens doors to speaking, media, and meaningful impact. Writing and publishing a book is also a rewarding journey in itself. In his talks, Tim draws on a decade of hands-on experience helping authors overcome mental roadblocks, navigate busy schedules, and demystify the publishing process — all to help people share their story and serve others through the written word.

He also oversees Tellwell’s Certified Partner and Imprint programs, empowering writing coaches, editors, ghostwriters, and organizations to grow their publishing businesses and better support their clients. Learn more at publishforimpact.com.

The Word On The Street is an annual celebration of storytelling, ideas and imagination, hosting Canada's largest FREE book and magazine festival annually and promoting great books by Indigenous and Canadian authors year-round.

As an assisted self-publisher, we believe the future of the book publishing industry lies with creators and their readers. Traditional gatekeepers no longer hold the keys to the publishing world, yet not every author wishes to embark on the self-publishing journey alone. At Tellwell, we work alongside authors to supply skilled publishing talent, guidance, and education at every step to produce a world-class book. The author retains full creative control and copyright, and receives up to 100% net royalties. Since 2015, Tellwell has proudly published over 5,000 books worldwide.

Host or Publisher The Word On The Street