We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsia McCoy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chelsia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you to move beyond an idea and actually launch?
I started this business literally as a hobby. I enjoyed writing and helping other people get their ideas out to write their books. I also loved editing and proofreading stories/articles or whatever someone needed help with. I’ve been writing since I was about 12 years old, so I frequently joke that I eat, sleep, and breathe writing! In 2018, while working my corporate job I began to think about what it would be like to do writing full time and really begin to promote what was a “hobby” as an actual business and make money from it. I wrote down a lot of thoughts and began researching book-writing businesses. I didn’t find much in my initial search, but I kept writing, helping people, and researching.
Fast forward to 2019… I was in school working on my Master’s Degree for Communication and I finally started putting together ideas for the business. It was set up a little different at first: instead of helping people write books and edit, I was going to be a Communication Coach and help people with their communication skills. I know — makes no sense but at that time, it did — a little bit! (ha ha) I had business cards and other advertisements made, and I also invested in a business strategist coach to help me narrow down my goals as a Communications Coach. It didn’t feel right and I wasn’t drawing many interested clients.
July 2019 — it finally clicked!! I was going to help people write books and edit! Why didn’t I see that from the beginning? Who knows? I was all set and I restructured my business goals and vision. The execution was when I finally secured my DBA and domain name, and I have been going strong ever since.
More execution came when the website was built, logo created, and I was attending networking events and putting myself out there more to attract more clients. I attended many webinars, conferences and did tons of reading to learn more about how to properly set up my business, what would be needed to set up business bank accounts, creating business emails and getting legal documents/client agreements and even how to correctly price my services.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
What sets me apart from other book-writing coaches/consultants, is the “white glove” service given to every client. I walk with them through the entire process assuring them that they have what it takes to be an author. I challenge them by giving them different perspectives and possibilities for their book ideas. The Your Writing Table team also provides a safe & trustworthy environment for clients to share the content for their stories. When you choose to work with YWT, we cultivate relationships that ensure that clients are in a safe space for their creativity to flow freely in an environment to help them achieve the goal of writing their book.
I am most proud of being able to make dreams come true for those who have always desired to write a book. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, memoir or a book to help leverage and grow their business, I get excited every time a client makes the decision to write their book.
What I want to be known for: Your Writing Table is for those who are not waiting for an invite from others, but they are ready to create their OWN table. When you work with Your Writing Table, our sole purpose is assisting clients with telling “your story, your way, in your words!”
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients for me are referrals. From 2021 to present, the majority of my clients have been referrals. Most of the referrals are from those who know me or from previous clients. I also partner with other publishers who refer clients to me for specific services such as editing or audio transcription.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The thing that drives my creative journey is my passion and desire to inspire and be the CHANGE that people are looking for. I talk to many women (and men) who tell me they would love to write the book they have thought about and dreamed about for years, but they don’t know how to get started… or they don’t have the money… or they don’t think anyone will read what they have to say… and the list goes on and on. I want to be the one who switches those thoughts and lets them know they can do anything they set their mind to. By working with me and my team, we will join forces to creatively collaborate and manifest their thoughts to a completed book!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yourwritingtable.com
- Instagram: @coach_chelsiamccoy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourWritingTable
- Linkedin: Coach Chelsia McCoy
Image Credits
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