I will support you with coaching and editorial skill so you write a book worth reading.
Writing a book is hard
If, like all of my clients—who tend to work in the law, or in banks, or as doctors, or university professors—you don’t write books for a living, writing a book is worrying.
You’re used to knowing what to do. You’ve been trained in specialist subjects to a high level, and it’s usually you who leads the way through new projects.
This time is different.
You know you need help.
No-one writes a book alone
Writing a masterpiece in a draughty attic, alone in the world and never talking your ideas through with anyone is a myth.
If you’ve tried it, you’ve probably run into the sand.
Ok. You probably had a snug study or spare room to write in but you still tried to battle on alone.
Take a look at the Acknowledgements page of any book and see how many people were involved.
I support my clients every step of the way
I am your guide to writing a book.
Your expert in the book industry.
Your accountability partner who will gently, but firmly, push you to do the work.
I am your editor and your strategic adviser.
You have a great idea for a book
You want to share valuable knowledge. You know it will inspire people to live the best version of their lives.
But you don’t know where to start.
You suspect there is a process for writing a book. Maybe you even found a book about writing books and read it from cover to cover.
But you ran out of steam a third of the way in.
You’re stuck.
Your book proposal’s been rejected by agents or publishers.
You are in danger of giving up altogether.
I'm trained to coach you
I help writers to frame their ideas and express them clearly so they write a marketable book.
I’ve supported over sixty writers in their book aspirations since 2020, and seven more writers have reached their readers with their books through traditional, hybrid or independent publishing.
Ruth Bullivant
Lawyer with 35 years experience: large corporates in the City of London
Dual-certified Book Coach since 2020. Certification with Author Accelerator on 18 months practical training and examination in fiction and nonfiction coaching
Certified project manager
Member of the Chartered Institute of Editorial Professionals
Author of Blind Chance; short-listed in the UK’s Farnham Festival of Writing and in the Segora Short Story Competition.
What people say
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. Ruth gave me the confidence I need to write the book I want to write. And it got published by MIT and Penguin! Professor Susan Handy, UC Davis
I think that you have magical powers because this is so intimidating for me and you’re managing to make it really doable. And that’s exactly what I need you for. Current client: name held in confidence until her book is published
Ruth 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. She has a deep knowledge of the book publishing industry and provided expert advice and guidance through the process. Walter Coxon, Operating Executive, Board Director
I sought Ruth’s help as the final set of expert eyes for a copyedit. She found things that needed adjusting, and her suggestions for a more well-rounded, on-point manuscript were implemented.
Ruth was generous with her communication, encouraging, prompt and engaged with the book she worked on. Bev Ryan, Smart Women Publish
The data in 2024
7 books published
60+ writers helped
3 contintents
Shifting Gears – Toward a New Way of Thinking About Transportation by Susan Handy
Ready-Made Investing – Taking the Worry out of Managing Your Money by Walter Coxon
*Soft Skills Basics in a Flash (Soul Boss Series Book 4) by Michelle Mains. Published in e-book format. That’s why you can’t see it in the picture.
Blind Eye by Anna Holmes
Illumination by Richard Lazaroff
Confessions of a Woman in Real Estate by Hannah Schuhmann
A Letter I Hope You Never Have To Read by Andy McFerren
Just talking about your book usually helps to move it on.
Even better when you are talking to a trained professional who studies and understands the book market.
Writing groups are wonderful for encouraging you to turn up to write. They can be terrible places to seek objective and well-informed, judicious feedback, leaving you feeling hurt and discouraged.
Writers are writers (and usually a lot of other things as well) but they aren’t usually book experts.
When you want to write and publish a book, you need to know facts and you need a professional to help you articulate exactly what you want your book to be and to do.
I’ve served writers in:
Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, Canada
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, USA
I suppose I could have said, pretty much all over the States.
Autobiography; political or ad hominem polemic; young adult, or children’s books; books dealing with spiritual, occult or any type of religious themes; or short stories, essays, poetry, or screenplays.
Do we sound like a good fit?
If you think I may be able to help you, get started by clicking on the pink button.
You will pull up a form so you can tell me about your book.
Your answers come straight to my personal inbox, and when I see them I will review them and email you back with my advice for your best next steps. Everything you tell me I’ll hold in strict confidence.
My advice might be to hop on a fact finding call with me, so you can ask questions about how book coaching or editing might benefit your book.
Or I might point you in the direction of another resource, book coach or editor who can serve you better.
Book coaching and editing is something I have been doing since 2020. I trained with Jennie Nash at Author Accelerator, the certification body for book coaches. To date, I have supported over sixty writers in their book journeys.
My working life before training as a book coach and editor was as a corporate lawyer in London’s financial services industry.
I still have a soul, believe it or not, after three decades of that.
Before that, I studied Classics at Oxford. So words are pretty much my thing.
If you would like to take a look at the books my clients have produced while working with me, jump over to this page.
Insightful emails about writing?
Would you like insightful and funny emails that encourage you to keep writing?
Twice a month or thereabouts.
And they’re free…
Put your name and email address in the box to get Under 100 words.