Work with Me_archive - Ruth Pedley Bullivant

Work with me

A client once said to me in a Clarity Call, “I have so many book ideas, I keep starting over. I worry I will die and never have written my book.”

It is so sad. Too many ideas jostling for attention create confusion.

When we are confused, we stand still.

A book coach walks you through the process to write your book.

I will ask you a lot of questions about your book. The value of book coaching lies in the back and forth of questions and answers. I take your idea as seriously as you do.

We dig deep.

You find the words to say what you mean.

You find the point of your book.

You identify who needs to read it and you uncover your deep purpose.

I help you build the foundations for your book, by examining:

WHAT you want to say
WHAT sort of book it is
WHAT point you want to make
WHO will read it
WHY you want to write it
WHAT you will call it for now
WHERE it will sit on the bookshelf.

Your first step

Your first step is to book a Clarity Call with me.

This is the way I start work with every client.

It’s a free, one-hour session that gives you the chance to work out if I am the right fit for you and your book.

It carries no obligation to continue working with me.

I don’t hard sell. I couldn’t if I tried.

But the Clarity Call is a grown up conversation about how I could help you write your book if you were to hire me as your book coach. So I will ask your permission to tell you what I could do, if I hear something I could help you with.

That way, you’ll have the data you need to make an informed decision.

Where are you on your writing journey?

I can meet you, wherever you are.

I have an idea … but I don’t know where to start.

I’ve started my book but I’ve got stuck.

I want to get my book out into the world.

Have you got a great idea and feel you could make a book out of it?

Maybe you have a friend who often tells you, ‘You should write a book about that!‘

But you are scared you can’t do it.

Maybe you aren’t sure anyone would want to read it. Or you’re worried that someone will say something critical.

How would it feel to know you have hit on the exact idea that serves you?

To feel confident that you understand the process of writing and publishing a book?

If you work with me, I ask you the questions you need to be able to answer to plan and write your book and to give your reader the best possible experience.

I explain how the book industry works, and the choices that lie ahead of you in terms of genre, market and publishing.

I hold you accountable to do work that moves you closer to your goals.

So that you get your book done, because:

* you get clear on your idea

* you are confident you have what you need, and

* you know what lies ahead of you.

Do you find yourself saying:

‘I’ve written the opening chapters five times.’

‘It’s too long.’

‘It’s too short.’

‘I can’t seem to get beyond Chapter 3.’

Have you written a whole book that you feel instinctively isn’t quite right yet. Or your family are telling you, it isn’t. Are you holding back from publishing it?

Have you begun ‘submitting’ and wonder why your book isn’t getting interest from agents or publishers?

You began with excitement and high hopes and now you are more than a bit disappointed. Frustrated, even.

If any of these things hold true for you, I can help you.

I will remove the confusion and show you how you can move forward in a state of clarity, to write the best version of your book.

* You will feel secure in your newfound knowledge.

* You will feel confident that the very next step you take is the right one.

* You will feel invigorated by adopting a fresh approach.

Are you wondering how publishing works, or how to find agents or publishers?

Maybe you’ve heard of self-publishing but you’re afraid of getting scammed because you don’t know if it’s dangerous or how it works.

You are frustrated because you want to make the most of your efforts. You’ve written a whole book, after all!

It’s time to get it out into the world.

I show you how the book buying world works.

I explain how the reputable publishing models work and where financial pitfalls lie.

Maybe you want to start with traditional publishing because you won’t know if you can get an agent and a contract unless you try.

Maybe you want the creative freedom and control that comes from indie, or self-publishing.

Maybe you see your book as an asset and are prepared to invest – judiciously – in a hybrid publisher.

I explain what all this means FOR YOU and together we make a plan for publishing that suits your exact goals.

And then, you will feel that all the effort in writing your book has been worthwhile.

Your next step is to ask me how this applies to you.

When you book a Clarity Call with me, you choose your time zone and data and time.

You get a Q&A to tell me a little about your book and your goals and some free feedback, if you want it, on a sample of your work.

I keep confidential everything you tell me.

QUESTIONS? LET ME TRY TO HELP….

“I WORRY THE CLARITY CALL WILL COMMIT ME TO WORK WITH YOU.”

The point of the Call is for us to get to know each other and for me to understand your book project.

If your intuition is that I’m not right for you, you’re probably right.

Evaluate your options. Don’t feel forced into a decision that you’re not ready to make.

“WHAT QUESTIONS COULD I ASK ON THE CLARITY CALL?”

You can ask anything you like but here are a few you might want the answers to.

❓How exactly would you help me move my book on?
❓What is coaching? How does it work in practice between us?
❓What can I expect to achieve by the end of our collaboration?
❓How much work do you expect me to do in between the sessions?
❓Do you provide a contract for this collaboration?
❓What are your fees?

Cherished clients have said …

Ruth's guidance and support has been invaluable in my nonfiction book writing journey. She somehow managed to challenge and encourage me in equal measure - making sure I did the hard things, but also ensuring that I didn't get disheartened. Ruth has a deep knowledge of the book publishing industry and provided expert advice and guidance through the process. My book journey isn't over yet*, but very grateful to have had Ruth with me thus far!

Walter Coxon Advisor, Board Director

My non-fiction book idea had gone nowhere in five years - and then I began working with Ruth. With her insightful guidance, I transformed my vague ideas into a tight and compelling concept that I am excited about and motivated to finish. The assignments were challenging but they kept me on track and I made more progress than I could have imagined. Ruth’s feedback was invariably spot on, homing in to weaknesses I had trouble seeing for myself. Clarifying the target audience and refining the outline were especially valuable parts of the process. Most important of all: Ruth gave me the confidence I need to write the book I want to write.

Susan Handy, PhD UC Davis, California

I was facing a deadline. I had been struggling to figure out and do what needed to be done on my own, and I knew that if I didn't make my deadline my confidence in my writing would be decimated. Ruth was the calm, compassionate coach who helped me see the forest in the trees. She listened to my goals, came up with an actionable plan, and coached me through it. I met the deadline, which was the most important thing, and the byproduct was a finished manuscript I'm proud of. I highly recommend Ruth to writers who need help busting through blockers.

Amy Goldmacher, PhD Author & Book Coach

*Walter’s book is now published:

Ready-Made Investing – taking the worry out of managing your money*

Susan secured a publishing contract with MIT Press on the strength of the book proposal she worked on, under my guidance. Her book will be published in Fall 2023.

Amy won the Association of Writers and Writing Programs’ competition and her confidence in her writing escalated.

The Kurt Brown Prizes 2022

Turn your book into a book that matters.

Don’t let your story end here.

How does coaching work?

The value in being coached – as opposed to reading a book, or attending a talk, or taking an online course – lies in the back and forth of questions and answers and in the accountability I create for you.