Confessions was never supposed to be published.
In fact, I buried it neatly in the back of my bookshelf. I had done a preliminary print of it back in 2018 under the title Diary of a Dreamer. But time passed and things changed. It was a project that belonged to another version of me and to a vision I was no longer pursuing.
I convinced myself the moment had passed.
That the message was no longer relevant.
So I shelved it.
But last year, while cleaning out my bookshelf, I found it again. And before I placed it in the shred-it pile, I got curious and sat down to reread it. And as I did, something unexpected happened.
Around that same time, I was talking with a friend who shared what she was going through in her own life. As I listened to her, I realized there was still a need for the message…for her, and for anyone who’s ever lived in the tension, frustration, and disappointment of the in-between.
The challenge was this:
I didn’t want people to read the book and assume, “This must be where she is now.”
Even though every page came straight from my journals, the story couldn’t be about me. It had to be personal for the reader. And it had to make sense with where I am and what I’m building today.
So I approached it the way I do with every client’s book project: I became the client, and Confessions became a Book Makeover project, where books are reimagined and redesigned from the inside out.
This issue is the behind-the-scenes view I wish more authors had, the part of the process that happens before design: the positioning, the clarity, and the early decisions that shape everything that follows.
Welcome to the Confessions Edition of The Book Report.
And before we go on, I want to say this:
Just because you wrote something a long time ago doesn’t mean there’s no room, or no need, for it today. Maybe your manuscript needs a fresh start. Maybe it just needs a strategic refresh and a stronger positioning. But before you shelve it or shred it, let’s talk about it.
If you have an old manuscript you’re not sure what to do with, hit reply and tell me one thing:
What’s the story behind it?
I read every message. |
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Most authors finish writing their book and immediately start thinking about design, and more specifically, their book cover.
That makes sense only if you were already clear and intentional about your positioning before you ever started writing. But the truth is, most of us aren’t.
We write first.
Pour out the story.
Get the message down.
And then we try to figure out the rest afterward.
That’s why, at Unapologetic Press, we have a positioning-first philosophy.
Before we design anything, whether it’s your cover, interior or reader’s experience, we clarify your positioning.
Because positioning is the part of the process that determines everything else:
the structure, the design direction, the emotional arc, the reader experience, the title, the subtitle, and the promise you’re making.
When we look at positioning, here’s what we evaluate:
• What is the message?
• Who is it for?
• Why should they care?
• What is the book’s promise?
• How can you create an immersive experience for your reader?
While it is important to focus on the reader, we’re also very focused on the author.
• What do you want this book to do for you?
• What season are you in? What are you building or working on?
• How does this book help you build toward that?
Positioning is not an afterthought. It’s fundamental.
And for a book like Confessions, a book I wrote years ago, in a different place, with a different purpose, returning to the positioning was the only way to make sure it still aligned with who I am today and the message I want this book to carry now.
Once the positioning was clear, I could move into the next phase: The Manuscript Review.
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To ensure we're on the same page, here's a quick guide to the key terms I use to describe how I think through the different parts of the Book Makeover process: 1. Book Makeover Not just a new cover. A Book Makeover is a full reimagining and rebuilding of a book from the inside out, from the positioning to the structure, reader experience, design, and brand extension. 2. Book Design More than a cover. Book design includes the cover and the interior layout - typography, spacing, pacing, and visual rhythm that shape how a reader experiences your message. 3. Manuscript Review A deep read of the manuscript to understand its themes, structure, emotional arc, and visual cues. This is not editing. It’s listening and notetaking. 4. Reader Experience How your reader moves through the book and how you invite them into the world of your message. It includes the emotional flow, engagement moments, and the touchpoints that continue the conversation beyond the page. 5. Positioning
Positioning is your book's blueprint and foundation.
It defines:
• What the book is
• Who it’s for
• Why it matters
• What promise it makes
• What purpose it serves in your current season
• What experience it should deliver
It is worth investing the time necessary to get your positioning right because it informs every decision that follows, from your design to your marketing. If your positioning is unclear, design will fall flat and your messaging will miss the mark. |
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Listening Before Changing After positioning comes the manuscript review. Not editing, not restructuring, but listening.
This is where I sit with the book as it currently exists and pay attention to what’s already there.
I’m paying attention to: • recurring themes
• the emotional journey
• visual cues and imagery
• key terms and phrases
• reader engagement, etc.
This stage reveals the heart of the manuscript, and whether it aligns with your intention and positioning.
Everything you do next, your introduction, structure, design, aesthetic direction, marketing, is built on what you discover here. For Confessions, this review made three things clear: - The message still mattered.
- The tone needed reframing for today.
- The title no longer reflected the book’s purpose.
That clarity led to the next step:
revisiting the title and subtitle so the book could meet the moment. |
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Your title and subtitle are two of the most important decisions you’ll make about your book.
This is not just how you talk about your book. It’s how other people will talk about it, reference it, recommend it, and remember it.
A book title is like naming your baby.
It carries identity, shapes expectations, and it sets the book up for success before a single page is read. That's why your title and subtitle must align with your intention, your message, and your intended audience.
With that in mind, I revisited the title and subtitle for Confessions.
- Original title, Diary of a Dreamer. It belonged to an older version of me and to an entirely different project. It was no longer in alignment with where I was or where I was going.
- New possibility, Confessions of a Motivational Speaker. It shifted the story toward me and unintentionally signaled that the book was for motivational speakers, which it wasn’t.
- New title, When I went back to the heart of the message, it came down to one word - Confessions. It was simple and it reflected the deeply personal nature of the writings without limiting the audience.
Once I was clear on the title, the subtitle required the same clarity. I started with Between the Breaking and the Becoming, which captured the tension of the in-between. But it was slightly too poetic, not as engaging, and it didn’t speak directly to my intended reader. It also didn’t carry the tone or energy of the book.
After many iterations, I landed on Reflections from the Messy Middle.
It worked because:
• it speaks to a universal experience. Everyone knows or can understand “the messy middle”
• it’s relatable and conversational
• it signals honesty without being heavy
• it matches the emotional tone of the journal entries
• and it creates an immediate connection: “yes, that’s me too”
Refining the title and subtitle wasn’t about choosing what sounded good.
It was about alignment and marketability.
Confessions: Reflections from the Messy Middle is easy to say, easy to remember, and part of everyday language. It also makes readers curious enough to turn the page and give the message a chance.
#awinner |
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As you can see, Confessions required more than a new cover or a fresh design. It required clarity and intentionality.
Whether your manuscript is brand new or years old, the same principle applies:
Book Positioning makes your book stronger because it clarifies what it’s meant to do, and who it’s meant to reach.
In Part Two of this case study and we’ll walk through the early design considerations that grew out of this positioning work. |
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Happy Wednesday. I know this isn’t our usual day for The Book Report, but the flood of Black Friday and Cyber Monday emails had me avoiding my inbox altogether. It was a lot. My saving grace in the midst of all of it was staying clear on my top three goals for 2026 and only investing in resources that actually supported those goals. Everything else became a quick unsubscribe. And as I was clicking “unsubscribe” over and over again, I found myself asking, - What would make someone choose not to unsubscribe from this newsletter?
- What would make The Book Report feel like a resource worth opening, no matter where you are in your author journey - whether you’re writing, revising, or simply dreaming about the book you’ll one day create?
That question is shaping a lot of what’s coming next.
More tools. More clarity. More behind-the-scenes. More support for the bold book you’re building. So stay tuned
For now, just know this: I am genuinely grateful that you’re here—reading, learning, dreaming, exploring. Thank you for being part of this growing community and for inviting me into your journey as an author. |
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With you in the making,
Val Editor, The Book Report, Creative Intelligence for Bold Authors Founder, Unapologetic Press, Creative Publishing House for the Bold |
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New York, NY -, United States |
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