Tell Powerful Life Stories
Coaching &
Editing Services
You have a
book idea, but
don’t know
where to start.
If you need help with structure, time management, or setting clear goals for your project, let's talk about a package that fits your needs.
Coaching Services
On-demand
Coaching
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50-minute meeting
Includes minor editing up to 10 pages
Email summary of each session
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$100/hour
As a coach,
I can help you:
✓ Locate the core of the story you want to tell.
✓ Design a plan to guide you through your first draft.
✓ Define and reach your ideal audience more effectively.
✓ Sharpen your writing with advanced tools, such as defamiliarization, extended metaphor, and lyricism.
✓ Craft a persuasive query letter for agents or a proposal for small presses.
Editing Services
Standard
Reading
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A standard reading is a big-picture assessment of your completed manuscript. I transcribe voice notes on my impressions while reading and complete 2-3 page summary report highlighting what's working well and where the narrative could improve.
Think of it as a physical exam for your book.
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Investment: $1,000
Time Frame: 2 Weeks
In-Depth Edit
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I devote every writing tool I've honed over 20 years to sharpening your story. An In-Depth Edit includes line-by-line feedback throughout the manuscript and a 5-7 page summary report highlighting what's working well and where the narrative could improve.
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Investment: $3,000
Time Frame: 4 Weeks
The Process
The secret to my publication record is that I learned to reach one discerning reader. I offer the same 3-step process to you that I learned from my mentor, Ted Kooser.
01 | Planning and Drafting
You bring new pages or ideas to a session. I offer some quick takes.
02 | In-Depth Feedback
After the session, I give your materials another look and offer more in-depth suggestions. Maybe I give you some exercises before we meet again.
03 | Revision
You either do a revision or send me some new pages. We repeat the process until the work is done.
Nigel Beale's Biblio File Podcast
Joshua Doležal on
being a 'Book Coach.'
What’s a book coach? We met via Zoom to answer this question. Topics discussed include: the roles of a book coach and the qualifications you need to be one; writing tools that Josh recommends his clients use; the concept of defamiliarization; horror films and the element of surprise; three-step strategies for drafting manuscripts; Lisa Cron; James Paterson; turning points, resolutions and reckonings; tent poles and cairns; the importance of discovering things while you write; literary agents; advice for me on my podcast catalogue “book” project; Sting's backlist; pertinent questions to ask yourself if you want to write a book, such as: ‘why are you writing this book?’ and ‘why should readers care?’; plus, much more.
What Clients have said
about working with Josh
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“I can’t thank Josh enough for the transformational experience I had working with him as a writing coach. Josh has an uncanny ability to help writers tap into their inner power. His keen eye for detail helped shape the memoir in ways I hadn’t imagined possible. He encouraged me to embrace my unique voice and style, empowering me to write with confidence and conviction."
— DJ Lee, author of Remote: Finding a Home in the Bitterroots
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"Before working with Josh, I had not completed a draft that I loved in about ten years. After ten sessions, I have written several drafts that are quite dear to me. I feel confident that when new ideas come, I have the tools to help them live outside of me."
— Joseph Hirsh, Lecturer for the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin
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"Working with Josh has absolutely improved the quality of my writing. But the greatest benefit is having a thought partner. It’s so easy to treat writing as a solitary experience when writing, for me at least, is really about sharing and being in conversation."
— Beth Anne Macdonald, Grants Manager and Memoirist
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