Susan Purvis is a memoir writing coach and an award-winning author of her own memoir, “Go Find, My Journey to Find the Lost—and Myself.”
As your book writing coach, Susan will get your memoir out of your soul and onto the page.
Susan’s super power is helping you dig deep inside yourself to pull out your story—the real story. She’ll take you places you had no idea you could go. She trims the fat and gets the reader in and out of each scene to keep them turning the page from start to finish.
Thanks to my wonderful team at Blackstone Publishing
“Susan Purvis is a master at teaching you how to show instead of tell your story. She instills the basic principles of good storytelling so you keep your reader engaged. Working with Susan took me from novice writer to published author in less than a year.”
“After working with Susan for five months, we’ve sent my first 20-pages off to a NYC literary agent. Susan’s ability to help me mine my story is undeniable.”
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are You Ready To Write Your Memoir? Let’s Mine It.
Sometimes we think we know the story we want to write, but we get stuck. That’s where I come in. As a former gold exploration geologist, expedition leader, and author, I help dig out your gold and lead you to the summit. I might make you uncomfortable while stretching you to new heights. But together, we’ll discover what your story really is.
Are You Procrastinating?
Procrastination prevents many people from writing their memoir. It might just be a way for you to limit your options or your success. But we all carry our story with us somewhere. If you have a hard story to tell, you might be weighing yourself down with comfort food instead of releasing yourself through expression. Some hide their story in a bottle of wine or by sitting on their sofa staring at the TV and eating an entire bowl of popcorn. With butter. Whether you’re carrying these blocks in your body or your behavior, we’ll defeat your attempts to sabotage your book using the tools I’ve learned working in the hottest, the highest, and the coldest places on earth.
What Can I Help You Accomplish?
I will help you sift through the ideas in your head, organize your scenes, and develop the structure to capture your readers’ attention and maintain it to the end. I believe your story matters. And if you can tell your story, you can make an impact.
The Process of Writing Your Memoir Together
Call me for a free 15 minute consult. I’m here to listen. When it comes to writing your book or story, it doesn’t matter if you’re climbing a peak or walking 20 miles, the goal is the same: to arrive safely. The same holds true for writing a memoir or even a blog post. There will be some difficult terrain, unforgiving landscape, and enough self-doubt to make you want to turn back. Think of me as your expedition guide. I’ll be safely leading you with the tools, a map, and a direction.
Who Needs a Memoir Writing Coach?
I help people interested in writing fiction, nonfiction, and memoir. On occasion, if we’re a good fit for each other, I help those who don’t necessarily want to write a book dive deeper into their writing practice.
How We’ll Work Together
We’ll customize your need whether we meet daily, once a week, or twice a month on Zoom from anywhere in the world. In between sessions, you’ll send me chunks of writing which I’ll review, but I won’t be line editing. I’ll add comments, give suggestions, and rearrange thoughts, if needed. We’ll be discussing how each piece you’ve submitted met the goals we discussed in the previous session and where you’re at on our map. We’ll discuss your structure, character development, conflict, and more.
A Few More of Your Questions
How much does it cost?
My coaching fees are $150 per hour. We’ll start with a free 20 minute consultation to get to know each other and make sure we’re a good fit.
Do we sign a contract to work together?
I don’t believe contracts are necessary when coaching. We’ll schedule calls as frequently as you want them.
Terms
I require payment at the time of our call which may be paid via PayPal or Venmo. You may also mail me a check in advance of our call.
Are you a line editor?
No. My job is to help you mine your story. I work with you to develop your story arch, get you in and out of your scenes, and develop your theme.