Apply for Book Coaching

Apply for book coaching

Welcome! It takes courage to make enquiries online, let alone an application for one-to-one coaching. You definitely have courage because you are here. It shows you are taking your book project seriously and treating it professionally as you explore your options in seeking expert advice. I'm Ruth, a certified book coach and a trained editor. This application form will help you get a feel for whether you would like to work with me and it will give you a ton of information you can use to plot your book goals.
Grab a drink

This is a long Q&A. I'd estimate you'll need two cappuccinos or a very large pot of Yorkshire Tea. If you end up working with me, you'll discover that I'm wired to give you value. This is your first taste of that discovery. The value of this form lies in helping you to reflect on your book project, and perhaps gain new insights into it.
You want to find out what's possible

You've likely only just become aware that I exist. Naturally, you don't want to commit to my service before you are ready but you are also keen to find out what's possible. You are doing the right thing to take this first step towards applying to work with me.
Good data, good conclusions

I ask you all these questions for a reason. Your answers help me assess if it is a good use of your time and money to work with me. I work with only six private clients at any one time. I've been a book coach and editor since 2020 and I have a lot of experience of assessing if I can support a writer's book project. If I don't think I can help you, my promise to you is that I will be honest and clear with you.
When you press "Submit"...

... your answers come straight to my inbox. I treat everything you tell me with the utmost confidence. I review your answers and email you to let you know if my service could be a good fit for your book project. If it might be, I will suggest we meet on a fact finding call with each other so you can ask questions about what book coaching or editing could look like for you.
So dive right in!

Tell me about your book and your plans for it. I guarantee you will learn something about your book project you hadn't known before and by reaching out to me, you are doing the most important thing by your book. You are treating it with respect.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Best email for me to reach you on*
Where in the world are you based? *
I am based in England (London Time) and work with writers from California to Cumbria, and from Calgary to Canberra. I also work with writers from areas that don't start with the letter "C".
My services are quoted in US Dollars. Tell me if you would like to be billed in a different currency.
How did you hear about me?
If someone suggested you contact me, would you mind sharing their name?
This is so I can thank them.
What sort of book are you writing?*

A book that shares your knowledgeA biography or historyCreative nonfictionA book, primarily, about your lived experienceA book that helps people lead their best lifeA book for general reading (not a scholarly or academic work)A scholarly or academic workNone of these (tell me, in Other)Other
How many words have you written so far?
No judgment. 0 is fine as an answer: I work with writers who haven't yet started as well as writers who have 80,000 words under their belt. Here, I'm just probing how far along in the book-writing process you are.
How long have you been working on your book?
Why do you want to write it?*
Get really specific. Tip: think about what you were doing when you said, "I could write a book about that!"
What's it called?
What's it about?*
Who do you want to read it?*
Are there any books out there like yours? Give me a comparison or two.*
What do you hope that book coaching, or editing, could do for you?*
Generally, book coaching helps you to wrestle with the big ideas and make a compelling business case to a publisher that your book deserves to be published. Editing is where I bring my skill to enhance the reader's experience of your voice in your writing.
Let's take a moment to think about "fit"

If we end up working together, we need to go a little deeper to understand each other better. While it's important to find out if your book seems like a book I can believe in and help you to finish, it's also crucial that you understand what else is important to me.
Books I help bring to life

I am a good coach for books that speak to the reader's heart and mind by bringing a deeper understanding of the real world around us. I work with writers who, by offering their deep knowledge, encourage their readers to live their best lives. If your book brings a sense of optimism and joy in life (think, Steven Pinker's *Enlightenment Now*), all the better!
My outlook

I believe all people should be safe to be themselves, love who they love, and pursue life without fear or oppression. I support writers of all abilities, orientations, gender identities, skin colours, and nationalities.
Topics and genres I don't work with

I do not work with sexual or violent content; polemics, or writing fuelled by hatred; nor with books about spirituality or promoting religious beliefs. I am not a coach for children's books, short stories, essays, poetry, or screenplays.
What you value

You might be writing a business book to support your coaching practice, or a work of history or of popular science, or you might be making an argument for social or personal change. What you have in common with other writers who love to work with me is that you understand the importance of rational thought, scientific knowledge and historical fact. You also value humility, compassion, and more than a dash of humour.
Having read this, would you say:*

"I feel excited at the prospect of working with you, Ruth!""I get a feeling this might not work out between us but I'd like to take the conversation a little further to find out."
Phew.

Now that we are getting to know each other a little better, let's talk about some more details of your book and your writing practice.
Have you written a book before?*

Yes.No.I've written a book before but not published it.I've published multiple books.
Do you enjoy writing?*

To be honest, it's a bit of a chore.I love it: when I'm in the flow it's all I want to do.It depends. It's easier if I know what I need to write.I love that feeling of diving in and just writing until I hit something good.
What are the pressures on your writing time?*

I run a business that occupies pretty much all my waking time.I hold down a demanding responsible job.My writing competes with other demands on my time that I must satisfy.I can devote as much time as I like to my writing.
Which of these statements resonates, even partially, with you?*

This is the first time I have talked about my book with anyone else.I crave honest informed feedback from a single, qualified individual.I've shared my book idea with a lot of people to get their opinions.My partner/family give me a lot of advice on my book that doesn't always make me comfortable.I have a friend or two I trust and I talk about my book with them.I've had bad experience of writing groups.I am a member of a writing group and we share feedback on each other's work.Feedback tends to sting me.My partner/family is supportive of my book.
Thinking about publishing

Further along, I will tell you a little about the various routes to publishing. This is the first thing I want you to know: if you are new to writing nonfiction, and you want to seek traditional publication, you will write a sparkling book proposal. (I help you with that.) You submit the proposal to publishers and agents to try to secure a publishing contract. Usually, you write the book proposal before you write your book. If you already know you want to publish the book yourself, you won't be sending a proposal to anyone but it's worth working on a modified form of the book proposal because it will help you write a really good, marketable book.
I do not guarantee your book will be published.

I want to give you a bit of information about the publishing process, but the first thing to make absolutely clear is that I have no vested interest in any publishing company of any nature. All my advice and research and guidance is completely independent. And so, because I cannot control your publishing experience, I can give you no guarantee that your book will be published, even as a result of my superlative coaching and editing. Nor can I guarantee you will make any money on your book. For 99% of authors, there is very little money to be made. The purpose of writing your book is to write the book you feel you HAVE to write, and not to swell your bank balance.
You have options

Let's canter through the most important things you need to know about the publishing process. The three most viable routes to publishing are these: 1. The traditional, highly selective publishing process in which you pay no money at all to a publisher; 2. Self-publishing and distributing your book through, e.g., Amazon; and 3. hybrid publishing, where you pay a professional team to produce and distribute your book in return for a higher royalty share than a traditional publisher offers. The good news is, you don't need to make a decision about which route to follow yet. But it's good to be informed, so here's some basic information:
1. The traditional publishing process

Books you see in your local bookshop most probably have gone through this process. Publishing is a commercial proposition: if a publisher thinks they can make money from your book, they will contract with you for the right to print copies and distribute it. They choose books that fit their portfolio, books that look like other books that have made them money in the past, and books that fit into their production schedule. (On getting your book to market, we are talking 18-36 months into the future). For all these reasons, it's a highly selective process and, to be brutally honest, your chances of securing a publishing contract are low, even with my expert guidance. All you can do is increase the odds by writing a well-thought out book proposal and executing a careful pitch strategy.
Agents

Not all nonfiction publishers accept unsolicited book proposals submitted to them directly. Most of the Big Five publishers and their imprints only look at proposals brought to them by writer's agents. An agent receives hundreds of proposals a month and will only act on proposals they think have a good chance of interesting a publisher. If a publishing contract ensues (this can take up to 12 months) the agent receives a 15% commission for the introduction. So your focus is on persuading the agent, not a publisher, of the value of your book idea in a brilliant book proposal.
2. Self-publishing

The traditional publishing route is hard work and not guaranteed to get you published. You have options that are quicker to market and enable you to retain greater creative control over your book. The steps you will need to take are: get your manuscript copyedited and proofread; hire someone to format your book for ebook and print; commission a book cover; upload the book's files to a publishing platform such as Amazon; market it. With time and energy at your disposal, you could do all this by yourself except for the editing, formatting, and book cover. If you prefer to delegate the work to a book producer, for a figure in the low thousands, you will save yourself a lot of time and energy. The beauty of self-publishing is that nobody interferes with your creative decisions and you get higher royalties compared to traditional publishing. But unless you have an enormous 'following', you are unlikely to reach a wide audience. It's a perfect tool for getting the book done and out there, so that you can put your book in front of clients and your network. It's important to write the best version of your book as you can, because it will be judged as freely as a traditionally published book by your readers. It's therefore advisable to do the same preparatory work, write under guidance, and get it edited to the same standard as a traditionally published book before you self-publish.
3. Hybrid publishing

There are many highly reputable hybrid publishers: more, perhaps, in the US and for the US market than elsewhere. Unlike traditional publishing, you pay a fee to produce and distribute your book; it's in the nature of a joint venture and so your share of the royalties is likely to be higher. It can be expensive but with the right publisher you will have a supportive team and a beautiful book at the end. Good hybrid publishers tend to be selective and so you will need as good a book proposal to pitch to them as if you were pitching to traditional publishers.
Do you have a feel, yet, for how you would like to publish?

I have no idea yet how I want to publish and will be looking for guidance further down the line.I have a contractual relationship with a publisher/agent.I'm not prepared to pay a penny to get published.I would like to be traditionally published and will try both publishers and agents.This book will be a business asset and I'm prepared to pay to publish.I know I want to submit to publishers who accept direct submissions.Creative control of my book project is important to me so I will self-publish.A good friend has promised to introduce me to their publisher/literary agent.I know I want to use a hybrid publisher.
Do you have a publishing contract with a traditional or a hybrid publisher?*

YesNo
Are you working under a contractual deadline?

MonthDayYear
Date
Have you pitched this book, formally or informally, to agents or publishers?*

YesNo
If you have been pitching and are not yet getting expressions of interest, and want to talk about the reasons why that might be, please upload a copy of your proposal where invited further along in this form.
If you are earlier on in the process, have you begun to draft a Book Proposal?

YesNo
Have you worked with another book coach, literary agent, or editor, on this book?*

YesNo
If you have, may I ask, "Who, and in what capacity?"
Have you taken a course in creative writing, or an MFA?*

YesNo
Most writers come to me because they are experiencing a range of issues with their book. Do any of these sound familiar?

I am not happy with what I've written - I don't think I've nailed my book idea.I keep writing and rewriting and can't move forward.I want my manuscript edited.I don't know if my book deserves to be Out There.I feel stuck and annoyed because I want to finish this book.I need someone to make sure I write to schedule and finish this book.I want my manuscript assessed. I'm not sure it is ready to publish.I want support in pitching my book proposal.
Which of these statements do you feel describes your approach most closely?*

I like to wait for the creative muse to find me.I need structure and a clear plan to feel secure as I move forward.I don't do timelines. I don't like being tied down by plans.I need to be able to visualise what I'm aiming for.Deadlines are tedious. I can tell you now, I'll probably miss every one of them.If I agree to a plan, I'll do everything in my power to honour it.
What's your preferred learning style?

I prefer to listen rather than to read.I prefer to read rather than to listen.I love to talk things through to get clear.I really only learn how do it right by diving in and doing it.
Although I am an editor, not a writing coach, it helps me to know if you have any particular concerns about your writing, such as:

Spelling worriesPunctuation worriesGrammar concernsDifficulty in expressing what you meanNothing specific concerns me
When do you hope to hand a copy of your book to a reader?*
Month or Quarter/YYYY
When writing your book, do you use:*

MS WordPagesScrivenera PCa Mac
How familiar are you with MS Word's Tracked Changes feature?*

Very familiarI think I know what you are talking about.What?
I use Zoom for all calls. Do you:*

Have any issues with using Zoom (rather than other video platforms)?Consider yourself familiar with Zoom?Usually hold calls from your desk?Prefer to call while on the move, because Life gets in the way?
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least committed and 10, the most, how committed are you to your book project?*
Pretend you have no other demands on your time. I know, that's a big stretch.
Let's talk about money

If you got this far, you've already demonstrated significant commitment to your book. Well done! You've got a feeling by now for the amount of care I put into our working relationship. You are also exploring the possibility of making a substantial investment to secure my input. I'm going to make a wild guess that questions about how much this is going to cost you are pushing their way to the front of the queue.
It's a lot

Book coaching and editing is a professional service and I'm highly trained, qualified and experienced in working with writers to get to grips with their book. You get my thirty-five years experience as a lawyer who is practiced in problem-solving thrown in. We are not talking about figures in the tens, or even hundreds. Each coaching cycle is $780 (inc VAT) and to get off to a good start, you will need at least three cycles. To get your book idea out of your head and onto the page, and then all the way to a publishable book could take 10 coaching cycles. I meet you where you are in your book journey. Some writers need only a few cycles to get the support they need to finish their book. I tailor a coaching plan for every writer I work with but this, I hope, gives you an idea of level investment you'll be making in your book.
Payment in advance

I require payment in advance of each book coaching cycle. You and I will agree how many cycles you should start with, based on your writing goals.
Ready money

I never, EVER, enter into contingent fee arrangements ("I'll pay you if I get published by Penguin." "I can't pay you now but let's split the royalties when they flow in, even though you did the work two years ago.") Nor do I agree to wait for funds to be raised by crowd-sourcing or sponsorship ("I'll pay you when I've raised the funds but let's start work now.")
Tax. One of two certainties

I am based in the UK and being registered for UK VAT (GB239376182) I'm required by law to collect it: a sales tax of 20%. If you are registered for VAT in the UK or EU, you may be able to set off the VAT you pay me. (Check with your accountant.)
There is specific detail about the pricing of my services on my website. See ruthbullivant.com/fees. Have you taken a look?*

YesNo
While I am being super-boring and Lawyer Me, we need to talk about AI. Any of these tools, Co-Pilot, Chat GPT, etc, are great for giving you prompts to get started. Using them to write your book will land you in trouble. I don't want that to happen to you. So, can you confirm that no part of the text of your book is, or will be, written using generative predictive text (GPT)?*

Yes - I confirm I won't use GPT to generate text for my manuscript.No - I can't confirm I won't use GPT to generate text for my manuscript.
Please upload a small sample (max. 2,000 words) of your writing. I will not provide feedback at this stage but it would help me to give you the best advice I can when I reply to you with your next steps.*

Select your file from your computer and upload it here. That will make a link in the form that lets me access it. By the way, I have been a practicing lawyer for nearly 40 years and I am still an officer of the Supreme Court and a member of the Law Society of England and Wales. If I breach your confidentiality, by discussing or plagiarising your book or book idea, both those institutions will think of more inventive ways to hurt to me than by just killing me.
Cancelof
Do you want to get my Letters by email, about writing and publishing books?*

No thanks. My inbox is too full already.I already get your Letters and love them.Yes, please.
I realise you drained your last cappuccino ages ago. Sorry. This one's important. Please confirm you have taken a look at my legal terms. (ruthbullivant.com/legal/)*

YesNo
Is there anything else you want to tell me, or do you have any questions for me?
Thank you for answering all these questions. You have saved yourself a lot of work, and possibly frustration and disappointment, in the long run. Hopefully, too, you have learned something about the book world and the context of your book in particular. Your answers will come straight to my inbox. I'll read them carefully and email you my advice on your best course of action.
Should be Empty:

Apply for book coaching

Grab a drink

You want to find out what's possible

Good data, good conclusions

When you press "Submit"...

So dive right in!

Let's take a moment to think about "fit"

Books I help bring to life

My outlook

Topics and genres I don't work with

What you value

Phew.

Thinking about publishing

I do not guarantee your book will be published.

You have options

1. The traditional publishing process

Agents

2. Self-publishing

3. Hybrid publishing

Let's talk about money

It's a lot

Payment in advance

Ready money

Tax. One of two certainties