Open Book
Targeted support around writing & publishing your book
A book can change everything
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.
But writing a book is a huge project. There’s so much to consider:
Do you have the audience size you need?
What exactly IS an author platform? How strong is yours?
Is your book idea commercial?
Do you really have the time to take this on? And is now the right time?
How do you even begin? And how do you know if your writing is any good?
All my clients have a couple of things in common:
They want to write a book they can feel proud of
They want their book to reach as many people, and change as many lives, as possible
Open Book is here to set you up for that kind of success. I’ll help you to make sure that your book idea (and its execution) are as strong as possible and that you’re building your authority and author platform so that your marketing and book sales have a robust foundation to build on.
I’ve got 25 years of experience working in all facets of the books industry: in the editorial, publicity and marketing departments of publishers and for book festivals and book prizes, and as a freelance editor and book coach. I’m also an accredited Relational Dynamics Coach (I qualified back in 2009) so I can support you through writing blocks, feelings of imposter syndrome and the other aspects of the writing roller-coaster.
“Because Sophy is so easy to chat to I had, within a few moments of beginning our session, forgotten the overall purpose of our conversation and was just enjoying the chance to talk about my writing, the process and the procrastination. Sophy, however, had not forgotten.
With a few precise comments she suggested new ways for me to approach certain aspects of my work environment and also how I might fix some scheduling issues. Her directions made so much sense they seemed obvious as soon as she’d said them. I think that is the measure of her abilities– those solutions seem obvious only because they so perfectly fit the problems. Believe me when I tell you they had previously been as obvious to me as a black cat in a coal cellar.
Since my coaching session the stress and guilt I felt at my lack of progress has entirely lifted and with that fug of emotion removed I am free to get on with the rest. I can thoroughly recommend Sophy’s coaching.”
Susan Kemp - writer & ceramicist
In Open Book you get your own experienced editor, book coach and author platform expert to work with to make sure you have all the pieces in the puzzle ready to get your book deal and that you’re at the right stage to write your book.
This is for anyone who is ready to get expert help to figure out whether your book idea has commercial potential, how strong your author platform is (and what to focus on to improve it) and what your route to publication should be.
Writing a book is likely to be one of the biggest projects you’ll ever undertake - make sure you start off on the right foot, so you don’t miss opportunities, waste time or lose out on some of the potential that publishing a book can bring.
Together we can amplify the power of your work, increase your credibility and give your audience a book they can keep forever.
Your stories hold your power
Hey there, I’m Sophy. I’m an editor turned writing mentor and creative focus coach.
In my former working life I spent twenty years working as a writer and editor. I know how stories work from the inside out.
I’m here to help you get past all the gatekeepers to get your ideas out there, all while growing an audience of true fans who can’t wait for your book to be released.
I’ve worked with authors writing novels, memoirs and non-fiction books on all kinds of topics, from re-imagining your relationship with food, to the ultimate guide to training as a birth doula, to unlocking your purpose by creating your own dharma group…
What kinds of results have my clients seen from working with me?
My clients consistently describe me as a trusted and supportive thought-partner.
I only take on clients whose books I believe in, which means you and your book are special to me and will be treated accordingly. I’ll be rooting for you, and holding you accountable through the process.
I’ve been working as a book coach for well over ten years 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.
Former clients have been published by Penguin Books, Sounds True, Canongate Books, Hodder & Stoughton, Saraband and Harvill Secker and have been shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Testimonials
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“Sophy’s response was prompt, thoughtful and reassuring, for it drew clearly on her extensive professional experience and she suggested a fantastic range of relevant reading. At the same time, I felt that she ‘got’ me, that she was sensitive to what it was that I was trying to achieve and that she wanted to work with me rather than offering a formulaic response."
Helene Witcher
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“Sophy is both encouraging and plain-speaking, which is a very helpful combination. She listens clearly and responds directly and with understanding. She gave me a lot to think about and the encouragement to carry on."
Peter Mohan
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“I found my coaching session with Sophy very valuable. There were a lot of things that came up that I hadn’t considered as options, and many more where it was helpful to have reassurance that I was on the right lines. I got access to expertise and resources that were really useful.”
Lucy Ribchester
Here’s how Open Book works:
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Reflection Questions
After you’ve booked your call, I'll send you a document with some initial questions so we can hit the ground running on our call.
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Our 1:1 Call
In this 60 minute Zoom call we’ll talk about whatever’s on your mind when it comes to writing, publishing, building your creative confidence, finding an agent, etc., etc.
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The Follow-up
You’ll get a recording of our call, a note of any resources I recommended, and one week later I’ll send you a check-in email to see how you’re getting on with any ‘next steps’ we agreed on the call.
Good Questions
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You can be just starting to think about writing a book or well on the way through a second draft…
I work both with people who want to get a traditional book deal and those who want the greater artistic control (and profit potential) that can come with self-publishing.
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If you think Open Book is just what you’ve been looking for, the first step is to book a consult call with me to check that we’re a good fit. If we decide to go ahead, I’m usually able to book new clients in for the following month.
“It’s been such a gift to work with Sophy. I feel so much more prepared to put myself out there in a new way and attract the right people. The whole thing was a wonderful experience, in which I felt very supported.”
Camille Barton | Author of Tending Grief
“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
If this sounds good, here’s how to get started…
The next step is simple - just book a free consultation call with me to be sure we're a good fit and that Open Book is the right move for you at the moment.
Before we speak, I’d like to know a bit about you and what you’d like to get out of working with me, so when you book your call, I’ll be asking some questions as part of the booking process.
At the scheduled time for your consultation call, we’ll use the opportunity to make sure we’re the perfect fit before you commit.
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.