Book Coaching, Ghostwriting, & Editing
A Powerful Life Story
Unlocks New Opportunities
Your story deserves more than amateur feedback.
You've been carrying this story with you, perhaps for years. You know it matters, but translating that vision to the page feels overwhelming. Most aspiring authors get stuck in endless drafts or give up altogether because they lack expert guidance.
I've helped dozens of writers transform personal experience into polished manuscripts through a proven process that combines literary craft with strategic structure. Whether you're writing to leave a legacy, build your platform, or pursue publication, I provide the discerning feedback that workshops and writing groups simply can't offer.
Coaching Services
Ghostwriting
From concept to completion, I'll craft your book while maintaining your unique voice and vision. This comprehensive service includes interviewing, research, outlining, writing, and polishing—delivering a publication-ready manuscript without the years of struggle.
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In-depth discovery process to capture your voice and vision
Comprehensive research and content development
Complete manuscript writing in your authentic voice
Structural and line editing for maximum impact
Publication guidance and next steps
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Please contact me for a meeting to discuss the scope of work.
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
In-Depth Edit
Take your completed manuscript to the next level with comprehensive editing that addresses structure, style, and storytelling. I'll help you identify strengths to amplify and weaknesses to address, providing both big-picture feedback and line-by-line improvements.
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Detailed editorial letter analyzing strengths and weaknesses
Comprehensive manuscript markup with specific suggestions
Guidance on pacing, character development, and narrative arc
Sentence-level refinements for clarity and impact
Follow-up consultation to discuss revision strategy
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$3,000 for manuscripts up to 100,000 words.
Standard
Reading
Get professional insights on your complete manuscript with a focus on big-picture elements like structure, pacing, and audience appeal. Perfect for writers who want expert validation before pursuing publication or sharing with a wider audience.
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Comprehensive reading of your full manuscript
Editorial letter highlighting strengths and areas for improvement
Assessment of market potential and audience fit
Recommendations for next steps in your writing journey
One follow-up consultation to discuss feedback
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$1,000 for manuscripts up to 100,000 words.
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; three-step strategies for drafting manuscripts; Lisa Cron; James Patterson; 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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