Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kim Marsh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kim, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I believe you don’t need a major book deal, a spot on a global stage or a PhD in English Literature to have a story worth telling. There is a huge grey area between becoming a New York Times Bestselling author and never picking up a pen to write one word. I love to play with people in that grey area.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always considered myself a writer. I’ve kept a journal since third grade, and as my ambitions grew I began dreaming of full-time writer status. I pictured myself living in a small, sparse New York City apartment, banging away on a keyboard at the window. In my young mind’s eye, I’d taken up smoking and also, inexplicably, wore a beret. Due to feelings of “I’ll never be good enough,” external messaging around viable career paths and more, I tossed the writing dream aside in my later teenage years and settled on a more serious and lucrative area of study: sociology with a concentration in gender studies. HA.

Upon graduation, I began my work in the education and non-profit sector. After teaching and working in non-profit organizations, I transitioned to the corporate world and worked for eight years on various diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In this capacity, I spent many hours crafting communications, articles, memos and more. I worked with colleagues to share their messages, too. My love of writing, words and storytelling were never far from my heart.

In 2021, I founded The Open Book Company because I wanted other writers (and writing imposters, like me) to have a safe space to write and to find support. I am here to help support folks on their journey to plan, complete and publish their non-fiction book or memoir. I also partner with individuals to edit their full-length manuscript or shorter form content, such as blog posts, articles, speeches or other content.

My coaching practice is rooted in empathy, authenticity and self-compassion. Great writing starts with great listening, and together my clients and I explore their individual goals and amplify their voice. Essentially, I’m here to help people tell their story.

My clients have gone on to traditionally publish and self-publish books with meaning, purpose and impact.

In addition to one-on-one and group coaching, I run a global, virtual community and writer’s retreats to help provide structure, accountability and support for people who want to create more of a steady rhythm for writing in their lives. Our community has no expectations, no pressure and no toxic positivity. In alignment with The Open Book Company’s commitment to access and equity, our community is also pay-what-you-choose. Writing can be a very solitary process, but no one has to go it alone.

Inspired by my clients and community, my own writing spark has been reignited. I now post periodically to my Substack newsletter (“An Excavation Journey”) and have returned to my intended roots: freelance writing. I’m also in the process of co-authoring a personal essay collection, due out in early 2025.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

About four years ago, I hit a turning point in my career. I was ready for a promotion or my next gig. I spent over two years applying and interviewing for various jobs. Finally, a role opened up that seemed perfect for me. Everyone told me I was a “shoe-in.” On December 23rd, 2020, I opened up an email informing me that the team had gone with an external candidate for the job. After months of resumes falling into black-holes, final interview rounds and many, many “beautiful nos” (shout out to Sheri Salata for this term), this final rejection was the gift I didn’t know I needed.

With some words of positivity from my partner, I wiped the tears from my eyes and began my internet search: “starting your own business,” “freelance writing business,” and “how to make money writing/working from home” were where I started.

Within a few days, I had created a website, listened to hours of podcasts about running a writing business and signed up (and taken) multiple courses on freelance writing. My templates were in order, my portfolio was built. I was ready to cold pitch!

But, then, an interesting thing happened. I went back to work after the holiday week. I disclosed my side hustle. I began to let people know I was starting a freelance writing business. All of a sudden, I was getting outreach from folks within my network. “Hey, I heard you’re doing this writing thing…can you help me with my resume?” and “That’s cool about that writing gig…can you help me with a speech? My Linked In profile? My bio? A blog post?”

Amidst all this, I took on some contract work doing social media and other marketing content. This gave me the confidence to make the official decision and six months after the side hustle began, I submitted my resignation.

And, then, the email that would change everything from my now dear friend (at the time, my anti-racism coach, Tina Strawn). “Congratulations on your writing gig! I’m working on a book right now. Would you be interested in being my writing coach?”

My response? “Heck yeah!… What’s a writing coach?” And, with that, my journey to writing and book coaching began.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The only way I can answer this question is with one word: relationships. Everything I do is based on authentic relationship-building and in service of community. It’s a tenet of my life and my business.

This applies not just for direct business transactions but also how you think about showing up for your business more holistically. I call this “putting yourself in the way” of things. When you show up in spaces and with people in a genuine way, you are growing your business.

I can sit down right now and draw a line from nearly every single client I have back to how they came into my orbit and how that arrival into my orbit was because of me putting myself in the way of things: whether showing up authentically as me, doing a bang-up job for another client who then referred me, working my tail off 10 years ago on a project…the list is endless. I can even identify moments where I’ve raised my hand to attend an event, speak my mind, or send an email that have had a direct impact on my business success.

We never know what seeds we’re planting today that are going to bloom down the line.

I can almost guarantee two things about taking this approach/mindset. (1) It will probably take a longer time for your business to grow financially and (2) it will be the most rewarding way you can grow your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.openbookco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theopenbookcompany/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theopenbookcompany/
• Other: Substack: https://openbookco.substack.com/