I’m taking time to slow down this August. And a new book coaching program – Your Book Midwife – is rolling out! What’s happening with you? Are you able to downshift, maybe take some time off? Stop and smell the sunflowers? (Do they have much scent?)
I’ll tell you, when I turned the page on my calendar to August it felt like summer was over. Maybe I got a sneak peek at the next page but really, we have at least six more weeks. Is there an autumn version of Groundhog Day?
But I do love this time of year. It feels quieter in my neighborhood. Maybe everyone has gone “down the shore” as we say here in New Jersey. I watch the shadows lengthen, my limelight hydrangeas billow and, look, some of the other late bloomers are starting to strut their stuff. The cicadas are singing and katydids lull us to sleep.
I welcome August.
Slowing down
Many parts of my life have slowed down this month. Some of my regular meetings are on hiatus and my daily focus has narrowed to three priorities: Write, walk, reach out.
I’m spending more time on my novel and taking a writing class in Magical Realism offered by Story Circle Network. I’m increasing my daily step count (got my first 10,000 step day last week!!)
I’m also fleshing out my book coaching program.
After all, I’m a creativity coach; I love working with women in midlife and beyond; I love to write. I love to work with writers and facilitate writing. It shouldn’t take a genius to put it all together.
I’m not a genius and I finally did put it together. I am offering to be Your Book Midwife.
Those who work with me will find the footing of their book, the throughline and the path forward to the end of the first few drafts. We’ll do much more than that but in the end, their book will be birthed.
Why book coaching?
In addition to my reasoning process above, I have personally found that hiring a writing coach/teacher has helped me on many levels. That, in turn, it helps me to help you. For instance:
- I learn more about craft. (What I learn I can teach.)
- I learn about me. (Self-knowledge helps me recognize similar traits in others.)
- I learn about my characters. They speak to me in a clearer voice. (I hold space for yours to do the same.)
- I learn to forgive myself for dropping my writing ball. (We all do.)
- I get to celebrate picking back up the writing ball. (It’s much more fun to celebrate with someone else!)
- I get to talk about my work and hear it through someone else’s perspective. (With clients, they always say this is one of the most helpful parts of our coaching sessions.)
- I get to be in conversation with someone who knows what I’m going through and speaks my language. (This is invaluable.)
- I have accountability. (Do you need that?)
Through all this I have found my own rhythm and throughline. I have gotten to know Katie and Bertie and the little town of Stanley Gap quite intimately. (I hope so! This is at least my fifth or sixth draft. I’m losing count.) I can see the end; I’m almost there.
I can do all this and more for you and your book. And when it’s time to graduate to the next level I have tons of resources.
But first you need to start
Do you have a dream of writing a book? Or have you started and stalled? Or is your project moving at a pace that feels too slow for you?
In a lovely testimonial, Eileen Caroscio of Passageways Coaching said, “Kathy shines with helping those of us take happy “write” steps.”
I’d love to do this for you or someone you know.
Book a coffee chat with me. Not a sales call. Just a chance to get to know each other better, see where our interests intersect and what’s happening in each other’s worlds. To become more than names on a list of emails.
