Are you an upmarket, book club or women’s fiction writer? Then you’re in the right place!
Are you also a woman who is discovering (or rediscovering) your writing voice in midlife or later? Even better!
I’m Heather Garbo, a certified book coach who works with writers just like you to help them achieve their book-writing goals as they write their own next chapter in life. I have a knack for helping writers translate their big ideas to the page, seeing the throughline in a runaway narrative, and helping writers deal with imposter syndrome and overcome their fears. (You can learn more about me here.)
Here on Substack you’ll find my posts on the craft of writing, inspiration for your inner muse, strategies I use with my coaching clients, interviews with industry professionals, and (because I’m sometimes a bit of a data nerd!), the occasional industry analysis.
A few popular posts to get you started…
A Simple Trick to Detect If Your Manuscript Is Actually a Hot Mess
10 Insights I Learned from Analyzing the 2024 Women’s Fiction Debut Deals
Should You Stop Pitching Your Manuscript as Women’s Fiction?
The illustrious publishing industry pro Jane Friedman even called out that last one in her industry newsletter, The Bottom Line: “A great evidence-based article that every women’s fiction author (or women’s fiction author by another name) should read.” It’s a compliment that still brings a smile to my face!
What is a book coach anyway?
I’m glad you asked! Book coaching is a relatively new niche in the publishing field and the quickest way to describe it is to say I’m one part editor, one part project manager, one part industry guide, and one part cheerleader. I’ve written about what it means to be a book coach in more detail here.
I love sharing helpful info and insights with writers here, but my favorite thing is working directly with writers. I have writing clients who have come to me with just the spark of an idea and writers who come to me with a completed draft that needs evaluation and revision. Sometimes I even work with writers on pitching their manuscript, but only after I’ve worked with them on the manuscript to ensure it’s pitch-ready. Take a peek here to learn more about my services! Or message me with a question or to schedule a discovery call. (NOTE: I’m currently full and not taking new clients until September 2025, but you can schedule for then or get on my waitlist.)
And please, please chime in on the comments with your own thoughts and experiences! The community aspect of Substack is what makes it stand out, and we all benefit so much from learning from one another in this manner.
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