Six Month Book Generator
From pages to proposal: the book-writing container I wish I'd had when I was writing my memoir.
Writing a book isn't easy. It's not always fun either. You may shed tears. You may want to give up. You may scream "who cares about my puny story?" into your pillow from time to time. What I can promise is this: I'll create the space, share everything I learned along the way, and introduce you to the agents, editors, and publicity people who can help make your book dream a reality.
Over the last six years I've sold two books to Big 5 publishers and published one to wide acclaim. I've also helped hundreds of writers write and publish their own books and essays. Along the way I've developed a method that gets you from a scattered idea to a book with real structure, and a proposal that makes the case for it.
This class is for writers of memoir, creative nonfiction, or prescriptive nonfiction. You might be at the very beginning or already have a rough draft.
How the six months work:
Build the book (January-early May, twice a month). We'll get words on the page and develop the structure and connective tissue that hold your book together. You'll get my editorial feedback and the support of a small group of peers who take your book as seriously as you do.
Sell the book (May to June, weekly). Each week we'll draft one section of your proposal: Overview, Chapter Summaries, Comparative Titles, Marketing Plan, and Sample Chapter. The work happens through in-class writing and group feedback. We'll make sure your proposal answers the three questions every agent and editor asks: why this book, why you, why now. You'll also learn the anatomy of an author's brand: the difference between branding, marketing, platform, and PR.
Pitch it. In our final session, you'll pitch your book to a literary agent and leave with honest feedback on what's working and what isn't.
By the end of six months,
you will have:
A roadmap of your book, with a clear structure and narrative arc
The first 2–3 chapters written, one of which becomes your proposal's sample chapter
The question or quest at the heart of your book
A clear sense of what your book is, and what it isn't
The ability to separate the universal story from the personal one
An understanding of where your book fits in the marketplace and what gap it fills
A full draft of your book proposal, ready to polish and send out
16 live group sessions
Accountability to your writing goals and a close-knit community of peers for feedback and support
Guest speakers (authors, agents, editors, and publicists) with insight into today's publishing landscape
A live pitch to a literary agent, with feedback
I also keep a limited number of 1:1 coaching slots for students who want more personalized support.
What’s Included:
Upcoming Sessions
Begins week of January 27, 2027
Limited to 8 writers
Cost: $8,000 paid in full, or 6 monthly payments of $1,400. Early bird discount: $7,500 paid in full if you enroll by December 16, 2026
Testimonials
“In Ruthie’s book incubator class, not only are you taken seriously as a writer, it’s a given that you’re a writer who plans to write and publish a book. This external expectation has a way of infecting your own thinking, fostering the belief that you really do have a book in you and this group will be the catalyst to help bring it to life. Writing a book at all is hard. Writing a book alone is even harder. Ruthie’s writing class is the ideal combination of emotional support, feedback on your writing, and the authentic belief that you can and will bring your book to life.”
– Barrett Brooks, Executive Coach
“Ruthie’s book incubator class is a gift. The writing community she assembles combined with her perspective, insight, and structure helped me take my book idea from a vague concept to a developed manuscript. She, along with the fellow writers in our class, pushed me to stay on track and provided encouragement when I felt like giving up. I now have the confidence, tools and momentum to get words on the page and make my vision a reality. I highly recommend it to anyone serious about writing their book.”
- Kaarsten Turner, Writer
and Conservationistist