Coaching Services

Woman in a superhero outfit flying confidently ahead. 'Top Coach | Ryan Southwick | CoachFoundation.com'

Finish Your Book with Confidence

Writing your first novel, let alone publishing it, can feel like an insurmountable challenge. You don't have to tackle it alone, however. A coach can provide the motivation and confidence you need to cross the finish line, along with the expertise to help you do it right.

About Me

I love writing. I love helping people grow. I love the personal touch of working one-on-one. Becoming a Writing Coach felt like Nirvana — and, so far, it has been.

I began writing my first novel in 2010, a process that took 5 years from inception to publishing. I loved it so much that I have written over a dozen books since then and I don't intend to stop. Several went through a small publisher, while others were self-published. I also have over 15 years of experience coaching teams, manangers, individuals, and executives in the tech industry, along with a host of authors I've mentored along the way.

My combined experience earned a Top Writing Coach spot on Coach Foundation, which was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

I currently live in California, and am a recent transplant from San Francisco to Eureka. Gotta love those redwoods.

My Services

Every author has different needs. We'll choose the right combination of services for you, including:

  • Regular one-on-one virtual coaching sessions (camera required)
  • Email / messaging correspondance
  • Manuscript reading
  • Developmental editing
  • Line / copy editing
  • Building your author platform
  • Finding a cover designer / artist
  • Formatting for publication
  • Marketing strategies

All services are billed hourly. (Why hourly instead of per word? "No two manuscripts were created equal." Some authors or their works may require more help than others. Billing hourly keeps it fair for everyone.)

Am I the Right Coach for You?

Maybe! Finding the right coach depends on many factors, including the coach's preferred genres, writing style, personality, cost, and experience in your particular area(s) of need.

My speciality genres are science fiction, fantasy, and urban fantasy. For other genres (romance, horror, mystery, etc), I will probably be unable to provide the guidance necessary to make your manuscript shine.

To evaluate if my writing style suits yours, you may want to read a sample of my latest book, Enigma, available from most of the major online retailers. You can also preview it on BookFunnel. Feel free to browse my entire catalog, but Enigma best represents my current style.

Still interested? Then it's probably time to chat. Send me an email including:

  • Your target genre(s)
  • Where you are in the writing process (idea stage, stuck at page X, finished with first draft, etc)
  • Your goals for your manuscript (find an agent, self-publish, just want to finish the darn thing, etc)
  • Where you feel you need the most help
  • A few dates and times you would be available for a 30-minute video call. Please bear in mind I'm on the US west coast, Pacific time zone

You'll hear back from me soon, promise.

Resources

Find a range of writing-related articles on my blog.