Fully Booked
Business-focused book coaching programme
Get your book out of your head and into the world.
For entrepreneurs who want to write a book that’s a game-changer both for their business and for their readers.
A book can change everything for your business
A book can do all sorts of practical things to build your business, but it’s more than that too.
It’s part of building your legacy. It’s an opportunity to go deep, in a world that mostly keeps us on the surface. It’s the chance to create something tangible and lasting.
It may be the resolution of a childhood dream of yours to write, to become an author.
It’s a way to give back, to reach more people than you could via any other route. Your book could be someone’s trusted companion as they navigate the hardest thing they’ve ever done.
If you want to take your impact to the next level, writing the right book is one of the best possible ways to do that.
Logistics
Fully Booked is a six-month group programme for experts who want to finally write the book that grows their business, their impact and their legacy.
It runs from January to July 2027.
The fee is £300/month for 6 months.
For too long in the publishing world, white, middle class, Oxbridge-educated, media-savvy male voices have been wildly over-represented.
But things are slowly changing. Now it’s easier than it’s ever been to self-publish, or to crowd-fund your book, or to work with hybrid publishers - and there are new small presses looking to publish a wider range of voices. Even some of the big traditional publishers are waking up to the talent they’ve been missing out on.
You have it in you to write a book that will change things - for your readers and for you.
But for many of my clients, the very idea of writing a book brings up all kinds of demons:
I don't have time
I don't have the credentials
I don't know where to start
Who am I to write a book?
Everything has been said already.
You look at the blank page and freeze up OR you have so many ideas you don't know where to start.
How do you know what’s a commercially viable book idea?
How do you go about structuring something as big as a book?
How can you tell whether what you’re writing is actually any good?
If you want to write a book, but these kinds of thoughts are churning round in your head, I made Fully Booked for you.
“I absolutely loved working with Sophy.
From the first moment in our discovery call, I felt comfortable, connected, supported, seen, cared for, and confident in not only her abilities, skill and know-how about books & publishing, but also her connection to and care for me as a whole person. The support was fantastic, all the small and large suggestions she offered were spot on, and the investment was 1,000% worth it.”
Ilana Beigel | Yoga Teacher & Author (former 1:1 book coaching client)
I’m here to help you get your book out of your head and into the world
Hey there, I’m Sophy. I’m a book coach, developmental editor and writing mentor, with 25 years’ experience in all aspects of the publishing and book worlds - and over two decades as a freelancer and business-owner.
Writing (or trying to write) can be a lonely business – if you would like an expert guide to be there to support you, you’ve come to the right place.
I can offer an experienced, book world insider’s take on the sometimes obscure or cliquey-seeming writing world. And more importantly, I can take away the feeling that you have to do it all alone. Instead, someone who understands the challenges you face is right there in your corner.
Imagine that…
You feel motivated, supported and inspired to write, instead of frustrated about NOT writing.
You have guidance from a certified coach, with 25 years’ experience in the books world, to answer your writing or publishing questions, and help you move past your blocks.
You have accountability, connection and peer support from being in a small group of like-minded fellow writers.
You feel quietly confident that you’re on track to finally get your book out of your head and into the world.
If your friends and family glaze over every time you start talking to them about your book and you don’t have a writing mentor to help you to wrestle with big (and small) decisions, then writing can feel lonely. This could change dramatically if you had daily access to a book coach AND your own brains trust of like-minded fellow-authors.
“It's been great to be a part of a supportive community of writers. I'm a loner, not typically a joiner, but being a part of this community has felt really great. So I'd recommend it to people who are interested in creating a supportive community of writers.” - Jen Johnson
Writing can feel pretty isolating. It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re the only person who knows or cares whether you’re writing or not.
I believe that, just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to write and publish a book. We all do our best work when we are supported and fully resourced. Inside Fully Booked we co-create a space that is deeply creative and nourishing.
If you’re longing to make real, measurable progress with your writing, I’ve made this programme for you. Even if it feels like there’s never enough time for writing, I’ve designed the structure to be super-flexible, so that you can still get heaps of support, even if it’s just in 15 minute increments every day.
This isn’t about giving you more to do. It’s about creating a structure that supports you to do what you already want to do.
“Working with Sophy was a privilege and a pleasure. She kept me on track with deadlines, all the while supporting me with clarity, empathy and depth of experience.
During the six months I worked with Sophy I wrote the first draft of a book which has now been published.
As I wrote in the acknowledgments, I honestly don’t know if I’d have ever got there without Sophy’s encouragement and expertise.”
Leonie Charlton | Author of the memoir Marram
Here’s exactly what you come away with after our time together:
Clarity about whether to go for a traditional book deal or hybrid publishing, or whether to self-publish
A completely customised plan so you can create the time, energy and focus to write
You’ll know that you have a strong, market-tested, commercially viable book idea
You’ll know how to outline and structure your book - and you’ll have had detailed editorial feedback on it
All the guidance you needed either to write a Book Proposal and sample chapter OR to write your first draft of your self-published book
Support around launching, positioning, visibility & platform-building
N.B. I can’t guarantee you’ll have written your book or book proposal because ultimately that’s on you - but I can guarantee you’ll have had strategic support at every step of the journey to get you to that result.
“I have written an entire book for my business as part of our time together, something I didn't really believe was possible in such a short timeframe.
Sophy helped me get clear on my concept and proposal, while the accountability of a small, intimate group kept me going even on days when I didn't feel like it.”
-Yarrow Magdalena | Web Designer & Author (former 1:1 and Writing Studio client)
Who am I to help you with your book?
I’m an editor turned book coach, who then ended up with a second business as a copywriter & marketing mentor - I know books, I know business - and I’ve supported literally hundreds of authors and hundreds of business owners over the years.
I worked in the books world for a couple of decades and have degrees (from the University of Edinburgh and Trinity College Dublin) in literature and publishing. I’ve worked (as an editor and as a publicist) for publishing companies, book festivals, bookshops and libraries, run my own small press, been the founding manager of the Edinburgh UNESCO World City of Literature Trust, run the BBC Short Story Awards - you name it, if it relates to books, I’ve probably done it at some point.
I have been a book coach for well over a decade and I’m also cross-trained as a Relational Dynamics life coach, which helps me to support you if you’re experiencing imposter syndrome, writer’s block or issues around visibility etc.
If you know you want to start (or finish!) writing your book, but you can’t work out how to fit such a big project into your already packed life, I can show you how it can be done. If, every time you think about doing this, a little voice whispers, “what do I have that’s worth saying?” - I know how to help you find your voice and your confidence as a writer.
What results do my clients get?
Former 1:1 book clients have been published by Sounds True, Penguin, Canongate Books, Hodder & Stoughton, Saraband and Harvill Secker and include novelists Ryan O’Connor, Helen Sedgwick, Lucy Ribchester, Claire MacLeary, Zoe Venditozzi, Angela Jackson and Booker Prize shortlisted crime writer Graeme Macrae Burnet, plus non-fiction writers Leonie Charlton, Jules Blaine Davis and Clare Hunter.
What do people say about working with me?
“Sophy’s guidance came at just the right time, when I had decided to return to the original version of the book but give it a much tighter focus. She agreed with my approach and gave me other pointers which allowed me to critique it more clearly and know what I needed to work on.” — Clare Hunter, author of Threads of Life
“Before the Mentorship, I would start writing and would then get stuck because I felt it wasn’t good enough. Working with Sophy, I didn’t get stuck and kept writing through my doubts. Before, I would write and stop – sometimes I’d get so stuck, I’d stop before I’d actually written down a word. By the end of the Mentorship, not only had I written lots of blog posts, I could also see the memoir as being more possible. It started to feel like something that I could get going with, instead of being this big tangled ball of ideas that I didn’t know where to start with.” - Michelle Tessensohn, Master Coach
"During challenging times, it was Sophy’s understanding and belief that bolstered my own and kept me from flagging. Her warmth and approachability is matched by a deep knowledge of her subject, helping her get the best out of people. I feel very lucky to have had her guidance on my writing journey.” - Kenneth Stephen, Heartland Media & PR
“I'm excited about my writing. I'm going back into a giddy stage with it, feeling that anything is possible.” - Dr Sheree Mack
“I feel really pleased that my new writing habit seems ingrained. I can honestly say that over the last few weeks, it’s now literally become like brushing your teeth, you don’t even think about it. What I like best is that feeling of ‘that’s it done – get on with your day’ and the lack of guilt. Previously I’d write at various times of the day, depending on what I had on, and the word ‘procrastination’ would whisper nastily in my head all day. I would definitely recommend it, because it works, and I’d encourage any of my writing friends to try it.”– Frances Ainslie
“Thank you Sophy for being rigorous and honest and steadfast. Golden.” — Angela Jackson, from the Acknowledgements for her book, The Darlings
How do our 6 months together in Fully Booked work?
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A Distilled Curriculum
6 modules:
making time (+energy and focus)
book deal or self publishing or hybrid?
origin story - the book only you can write + the strategic choice for your business
plot twist: structure and narrative drive
kindred spirits - audience building + true fans
authority building - podcasts, PR, SEO etc
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4 Q&A calls a month
Get all your questions answered, with on the spot coaching to help you work through resistance, blind spots - or just help to prioritise what to work on next.
Stay in momentum and get regular access to the support you need, when you need it.
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8 Co-Working Sessions per month
Body doubling magic in the Writers’ Room, so you get supported time for implementation, with the opportunity to ask questions. This way, you actually get the work done.
The Writers’ Room is my co-writing membership - you get free access to this as part of the Fully Booked programme.
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Editorial feedback
Once a month you get an opportunity to submit some writing: your outline, a book chapter, a section of your book proposal or a pitch for feedback.
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Community Forum
Can’t make a live call one week? No problem - just ask your question in our private community forum instead. This is also where you can ask for extra accountability or other support from other participants.
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Optional 1:1 Tier for in-depth support
If you would like additional 1:1 support (beyond the 1:1 editorial feedback you will receive), you can choose the 1:1 tier, which will mean you also have 3 1:1 calls with Sophy over the 6 months of the programme.
“I'd definitely recommend it because it's been so helpful for me to clarify my writing goals and move forward to getting the writing done.
I'd recommend it for people who want to write but don't have a clear focus for their project, people who are finding it hard to commit to getting the writing done, people who want to be a part of a supportive community that encourages them to meet their goals, people who need to be a part of a community for accountability to get the writing done.
It's a nurturing and supportive experience that can help you to clarify your writing goals and commit to getting the writing done. Sophy is a skillful and supportive guide. It's inspiring to work with someone who brings such a rich background of knowledge and experience to the table.
It's been incredibly helpful. I feel like I got unstuck from so many places that I kept getting stuck.”
- Jen Johnson | Therapist, course creator & author, member of a former writing-focused group program
Your Investment:
£300/month for 6 months
OR £450/month for 1:1 support tier
Convert to your own currency here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Business owners, such as coaches, whose business is based on their expertise. I’ve previously worked with leadership coaches, nutritionists, retreat leaders, Seo consultants, massage therapists, public speaking coaches, content writers, web designers, business coaches, systems consultants, artists, meditation teachers, PR consultants, educators, health coaches and money coaches.
If you want to turn your experience and IP into a book, this programme is for you.
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Our next cohort opens in October, but early bird sign ups can get started in September, with an extra 1:1 call.
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This is a six month programme. You’ll need to allocate around an hour a week to come to live Q&A calls or work through course materials, then on top of that you will probably need around 20 mins a day and 2 hours a week for implementation (you can use our co-working calls to support you with this).
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You can be at any stage of the planning or writing of the first draft of your book or Book Proposal - you just need to have a large piece of writing in progress, at a relatively early stage. Or you might even simply be committed to writing and seeing what emerges, even before you have a clear book idea in mind. If you want to make big progress on a writing project, it’s for you. It may very well not be your first writing rodeo, although there’s a good chance it may be the first time you’ve written in this format (so you might write a great deal for your business, but this is your first book).
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Several aspects - the size - this is not a big ecourse you’ll get lost in; the combination of personalised accountability with our small group workshops; the extent of the wraparound support (the co-working sessions and 24/7 access to our private online forum alongside the group calls). If you are looking at a number of different options for support (and I would encourage you to do this!) please make sure you dig into the details of what is on offer, and make sure that you are getting exactly what you need to be fully resourced. This might be either more or less than what is on offer here, and inevitably, the different levels of support will come with different price tags.
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A big part of the success of a small group programme is about having the right people in the group - the chemistry is crucial. So, the first step is for us to have a quick chat, so we can both determine if it sounds like a good fit. I can answer any further questions you have and also I can find out more about you. Sign up for a free discovery call and we can talk it over.
“I would definitely recommend working with Sophy to anyone who has a specific writing project or wants to commit to writing regularly in a practical way.
I got lots and lots of ideas on how to write, rituals and routines etc - it's really helpful to have that from Sophy and from different people in the group.I feel like through this time I've really got that sense that I'm a writer. Something on a physical, visceral level feels like I have a call to stand up and speak about what's important to me.
When I write I feel a lot less inhibited, and I'm typing and it's just coming out. The aspect of becoming a writer has been really important. It's not a word count thing, it's about how I feel. Being witnessed is important to me. I'm clearer about what I want and more committed to writing without it feeling like something I should be doing - it's just become part of what I do.”
- Avni Trivedi - Osteopath & Author (former Mastermind & group writing programme client)
If this sounds good, here’s how to get started…
The next step is simple - just book a call with me to be sure we're a good fit and that Fully Booked is the right move for you at the moment.
If you decide to work with me, I’ll tell you the exact steps for getting started. If you decide not to work with me or if we’re not a perfect fit, I’m happy to share other resources to help you get what you need.
And if you have any questions you’d like me to answer in the meantime, I’m very happy to answer them - just drop me a line at sophy@sophydale.com.