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

Ruth , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

As a writer and author coach, I aim to give others the sort of support, guidance, and access to critical resources I wish I’d had when I got started.

When I was first attempting to write and publish, I made every mistake you can think of. I didn’t know how to build skills or hone my craft. I had no structure to approach revising and refining. I didn’t know how to position myself in the marketplace. I had not one clue how to pitch my work and connect with publishers. As a result, I just sort of flailed my way forward, exerting massive effort with little result.

I could find some generalized writing and publishing advice on the internet, but even then, I didn’t know how to apply those generalized principles to my own work.

If I’d had just one person–a guide or mentor–I could have saved myself years of wheel-spinning, heartache, and failure.

That’s why I love mentoring and coaching other writers.

I get to offer to others what I wish I’d had myself!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Although this only seems obvious in retrospect, I’ve been writing my entire life. Playful experimentation through lively diary entries and entertaining letters to friends eventually led to more public writing via popular blog posts and, eventually, published works.

At first, I wrote exclusively for the stage. My first play was released in 2011, with four more to follow. The most popular of these, hands down, has been Enter Macbeth, a comic Hamlet/Macbeth mashup that has enjoyed both national and international runs.

From there, I pivoted to the page. Starting in 2017, I began releasing both fiction and nonfiction books, and I currently have nine titles out with small, traditional publishing houses. My most recent book, released in 2021, is titled Socially Awkward: Pressing Through Discomfort to Engage Tough Topics.

Although I’m very proud of all this, it was through these early ventures that I made many crucial mistakes and learned the hard way that writing a great book does not necessarily translate into instant fame and fortune.

Since this time, I’ve taken a deep dive into both craft and industry, I’ve written a truly great new book, and based on the strength of it, signed with a literary agent who shares my vision for the work.

This is part of what makes me an effective coach to other writers, authors, and creatives. I know what it takes not only to finish projects but also to polish and position them for publication.

Over the past five years, I’ve been serving as the Director of Literary Services at the faith-based coaching network Build a Better Us. My role is to create programs, networks, and support systems for writers and authors. This includes workshops, webinars, peer-to-peer connections, and one-on-one coaching.

Depending on their aspirations and positioning in the marketplace, writers who have been through our programming have written and released books through both independent, traditional, and hybrid publishing options. Some have even signed with their dream agents and landed major deals with Big 5 New York publishing houses!

While this industry holds no silver bullets or guarantees, one thing is for sure. Having access to targeted advice, time-tested resources, and industry knowledge from someone who has demonstrated proof of concept can make a huge difference.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The writing world is extremely small–and relational.

While I’ve met some writers online, most of the writers I work with come to me through referrals from others.

This completely makes sense.

Writers spend years developing their craft, honing their messages, telling their stories. Plopping their book babies into the hands of a complete stranger feels daunting.

Coming to someone who’s a known quantity to someone we trust, however?

That’s another story.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

You know when you listen to a song or read a line in a book or a poem and think to yourself, “I’ve always felt that but never quite knew how to put it into words”?

I love knowing that we, as writers, get to attach words to those ephemeral thoughts, giving language and vocabulary to the deepest experiences of life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ruthbuchananauthor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmbuchanan/

Image Credits

Crystal Smith Photography