Hey Reader,

There are literally thousands of writing coaches and programs out there – how do you know which one is right for you?

In my 20+ years as a professional writer, I've been through dozens of writing programs – including a bachelors in screenwriting – but never found the one that worked right for me. That's why I built Write Your Friggin' Book Already® to be centered around what I needed:

• Collaboration over competition
• Diverse and supportive community with inclusive values
• Coaching, courses, and camaraderie all together in one place

It's a magical place for me and the people in it – but it's not magical for everyone.

For example, if you're likely to wear a MAGA hat to protest a gay Pride parade, we are the exact wrong program for you.

Finding the right writing program isn't about what worked for me or some other successful author, it's about what works for you and your writing needs.

To help you figure that out, I wrote a whole blog post about how to find the perfect writing coach for your book, and I want to share the key insights with you.

The 3 Things to Look for in a Writing Program

Before you hire any writing coach or join any program, you need to understand what YOU specifically need. Most people skip this step and end up disappointed.

1. Creativity and Craft Support Story structure, character development, finding your voice all fit into this. Most programs center this, but sometimes overthinking craft can stunt you from actually doing the damn thing.
2. Publishing and Marketing Guidance Do you want your book to actually get into readers’ hands? Then you need someone who understands the publishing landscape, not just the craft of writing.
3. Personal and Social Support Here’s the big one most people miss: Do you need accountability, community, and emotional support through the process? (Spoiler: you absolutely do.)

Most writing programs fail because they focus solely on #1, forgetting that #2 and #3 are also very important!

They teach you how to write beautiful sentences but don’t help you finish the book or get it published. And they definitely don’t give you the community and accountability you need to actually stick with it when life gets messy.

That’s exactly why I built WYFBA differently.

We give you all three:

• Craft support through our online courses and coaching calls
• Publishing guidance from someone who’s been in the industry for 20+ years (me!)
• Community and accountability through our writing sprints and What'sApp threads

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Coach or Joining a Writing Program

Before you invest in any program (including mine), ask these questions:

1. Have they written and published multiple books themselves?
2. Do they understand the current publishing landscape?
3. Will you get ongoing support, or just a course to work through alone?
4. Do they have testimonials from people who’ve actually finished and published books?
5. Do your values align with theirs?

WYFBA is a resounding yes to #1-4, but only you can say if we're aligned for #5. Our enrollment page should give you a great values vibe check.

Whether you join Write Your Friggin' Book Already® or another program, it's important to not try to write a book on your own! Sure, you *could* write a book on your own, but it will be faster, easier, cheaper, and more fun to do it with the right program guiding you along the way.

For more on how to pick a writing coach, read the full blog post here.

Still have questions about whether WYFBA is right for you? Reply to this email. I love these conversations and I’m honest about when someone might be better served elsewhere.

Ready to join the best writing program on the planet (I might be biased)? Doors close August 22nd (about 3.5 weeks left).

Because the world needs your story now more than ever.™

Lauren

P.S. The subsidized spots I mentioned in an earlier email ($900 off thanks to a VIP client of mine) are still available. If you want to grab one of those, enroll today and use code BENEFACTOR.

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