In the beginning…
I was a poor and starving writer… Just kidding. I was 6 or 7 years old. My mom home pre-schooled us (us being my twin sister and me) and taught us the alphabet and how to write, so we got a head start when we got to kindergarten. As a result, I picked up a pencil and started writing the moment I was inspired by the children’s book, The Jolly Postman. Fast forward to 6th grade, age 11, and things took a dark turn… I found Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. In an attempt to frighten my 6th grade teacher, I wrote scary stories in my “reflections” notebook each day. She loved them. The rest is history.
In the middle… I always came back to writing.
Though I took time off here and there, I always came back to writing. I even dropped out of art school after taking an elective (I know… electives? In art school?) in creative writing, which I knew would be a walk in the park. What I didn’t expect was how my love of writing burst into flames inside of me! It was as if my dormant writing persona caught fire and burst forth like a phoenix!
My passion for art and drawing and animation fizzled and died. No more art school (though I still LOVE and watch every animated film that comes out). That was back in 2002 or 2003 maybe? Fast forward many many years to 2019.
I’d had it with the traditional publishing world’s gatekeepers. Why did a select few get to determine if my work was good enough?
Plus, I was tired of telling people I’m a writer and not having anywhere to point them to to find my work. I took things into my own hands and decided to go indie (I call it indie and not self-publishing, because the term self-publishing has a lot of stima around it. Also, I actually started a legit company to publish my books under, hire cover designers and editors, and essentially do everything I can to make my books stand out and against traditionally published books). I’ll get off my soapbox now.
I learned a TON along the way. Including how to juggle a writing life with a 40-hour per week corporate day job, an active dog, a lovely marriage, and my own health and wellbeing. There’s more to the story, of course. I learn something new with every book I write and produce.
I got my start with helping other writers by doing beta reads for my writing friends, one of whom is USA Today bestselling author LS Hawker, who told me the notes I gave her rivaled those she got from her editor at Harper Collins. #justsayin.
In the end… I help aspiring novelists.
Well, the end hasn’t actually arrived, has it? Unless I’m writing this from beyond the grave… spooky. Hehe!
In the end I decided to become a book coach, so I can spread everything I have learned about writing and being an independently published author to other writers who may need support in all areas of writing the first draft and making sure their final draft is in ship shape to release into the world.
My forte and first love is manuscript evaluations, followed by accountability and mindset coaching. I also have a wild imagination and excitement for story.
In fact, no one else will be as excited as I am about your story as you are (and even when you aren’t, my job is to reignite your excitement)! And I love it.
Here’s why:
- I love talking shop with other writers where the focus isn’t always on me me me.
- I love helping writers see their story from a fresh perspective, see the light flash in their eyes when a light bulb turns on in their brain, and the re-ignited passion for a story they were about ready to give up on.
- I love providing a place where writers can safely brainstorm* their stories without fear of getting advice that’ll change it into something unrecognizable.
- I love sharing my excitement for stories with my writers. No one else but you will be SO excited about your book as I will be!
- Most of all? I love to inspire other writers on their creative journeys, reignite the passion for a stalled out novel, and motivate them to reach The End.
Life is too serious.
We need more creativity!
We need more stories!
*By “safely brainstorm” I mean, I will not tell you what to write or what you should write like most people you talk to probably do (friends, critique partners, family members, strangers). I won’t tell you what to do nor how to do it. With excitement, enthusiasm, and honesty, I’ll guide you to develop and write the best story that still actually looks like your story in the end. I’ll bring my crazy imagination along for the ride on all brainstorming adventures. No one else will be as excited about your story as I will be.
And then… I got certified!
Back in 2021, I listened to Jennie Nash’s interview on Sacha Black’s podcast, The Rebel Author podcast. She talked about the necessary qualities one needs to be a great book coach. Before I heard this episode, I didn’t even know book coaching was a thing.
As I drove along a twisting road through Colorado’s Indian Hills neighborhood (I had just dropped my beloved pittie mix, Kira, off at daycare), I perked up. As Jennie spoke of each quality, I checked a box in my mind. “I could be a book coach,” I whispered. I’m prone to talking to myself in the car… and on walks with Kira (no, really I’m talking to her), and when I’m home alone… let’s face it, even when I’m not home alone, which drives my husband crazy!
ANYWAY, Jennie has a book coach certification course, so naturally, the second I got home I searched it up, skipped to the registration page, and signed up. It was a no-brainer to me (and back then, I was a lot more… impulsive… about things).
For years, I’d been looking for a way to quit my day job so I could write full time. But I knew I needed to have some sort of money coming in for my fiscally responsible husband to agree to my leaving Corporate America (which, as of this writing, I still have not left, but that’s a story for another day). What better way to have a side gig for my writing than to help other writers?
As I began the training to become an Author Accelerator certified book coach, I realized this was not your typical course.
This was time intensive. Thorough. And it wasn’t your typical, “finish the course, get a certificate” deal.
There were practicums.
Three of them, to be exact (story development, full manuscript evaluation, and a pitch package)!
There were requirements (as a project manager, I’m super familiar with requirements) that had to be met to qualify to even just apply for certification.
Each practicum had its own set of requirements. It was harder than getting my Project Management Professional (PMP) credential, if I’m 100% honest (which, I am… it’s one of my core values after all). I picked away at it here and there. I even had times of doubt, like how could I ever finish this massive course, run my business, create things for my audience, AND write my own books?
Then, Jennie made the decision for me. She made a major change to the program. I no longer had “unlimited time” to complete it. She put a deadline on anyone who had purchased her legacy course. I had until July 14, 2024 to submit my application for certification (I don’t remember when that news came out, but I had approximately 9 months to finish it… or maybe a year… either way, I hadn’t even completed the first practicum yet!).
For the practicums, we had to find practice clients. I got really lucky in that area. I’d seen some coaches in training wailing in the message boards about not being able to find anyone. I started to panic before I’d even tried to find my first practice client.
I submitted my application on June 14, 2024. I sighed a huge sigh of relief. I celebrated with bubbly (I’m all about celebrating things). The application review would take 4-6 weeks. I wrote in my calendar when the 4-week mark was, and the 6-week mark.
Fast forward to July 25, 2024. I’m on vacation with my husband celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary in the Portuguese Azores (Ponta Delgada and Ribiera Grande, Sao Miguel island). I knew I would get the results of my application while on vacation, I just didn’t know when. I tried so hard not to obsessively check my emails, but, you know, I’m obsessive, so it was hard.
The subject line said: “Certification Decision.” Without ANY hesitation, I tapped it and read the news. I don’t know if I was THAT confident, or I was that antsy.
Either way… I read:
Hi Claire, I am delighted to tell you that you have earned certification through Author Accelerator’s Book Coach Certification program!
I cried.
Literally burst into tears. Like sobbing, ugly cry face, tears and snot, the whole thing. I may have even crumbled to the floor, hand over my mouth.
Full on dramatics. Luckily my husband was in the shower, otherwise he might have thought someone had died. I ran into the hotel bathroom and shouted, “I got it! I got my certification!” and ran back out to the bed area and continued crying.
You see, the certification team didn’t only say that I’d earned my certification. They went on to tell me what stood out to them.
“We feel you are a confident, equipped, compassionate coach, and your clients will be lucky to have you.”
That alone made more tears spring forth.
Your clients will be lucky to have you.
Here are a few other gems:
- “Your enthusiasm practically climbed off the page.”
- “You didn’t hold back in your questioning, which encouraged clarity and depth.”
- “Your editorial letter opened with your signature brand of enthusiasm and encouragement, earning your writer’s trust before you dug into the critique, which was well-reasoned, insightful, and well-organized.” (Emphasis mine. But also, my Signature Brand of Enthusiasm and Encouragement (deserves capital case, if you ask me)!)
- “Your enthusiasm for your clients’ work is palpable and infectious.”
I take great pride in bringing energy and excitement and fun to everything I do. I am often more excited about my clients’ stories than they are, but you know what happens? My excitement and enthusiasm rubs off. As the certification team mentioned, it’s infectious!
I am Patient Zero of an Excitement and Enthusiasm for stories pandemic!
Obtaining this certification was one of my biggest accomplishments. As a person who always wanted to be a writer, who had no ambition to go to college just for the sake of getting a degree (I did eventually do that, but my employer paid for a large portion of it), and as someone who loves helping other writers, this is seriously one of my crowning achievements. You bet your sweet little buns we’ll be popping some bubbly this weekend!
Interested in having my excitement and enthusiasm all over your story? Get started here.
Interested in becoming an Author Accelerator certified book coach?* *This is an affiliate link, which means I will earn a small commission if you purchase the course through that link at no extra cost to you.
