Six Month Book Generator
From pages to proposal: the class 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 put your book in front of a literary agent before we’re done.
I’ve sold two memoirs to Big 5 publishers and published one, The Mother Code, named a best book of the year by NPR and Elle. I’ve also helped hundreds of writers write and publish their own books and essays. Along the way I’ve developed a method that takes 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, whether you’re at the very beginning or already have a rough draft.
How the six months work:
Build the book (January to early May, every other week). 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. In our last session of this phase, you’ll choose your sample chapter and start shaping it for the proposal.
Class Dates: Jan 27, Feb 10, Feb 24, Mar 10, Mar 24, Apr 7, Apr 21, May 5
Sell the book (May to June, weekly). Each week we’ll draft one section of your proposal: Overview, Comparative Titles, About the Author and Marketing Plan, Chapter Summaries, and the query letter you’ll use to reach agents. Meanwhile, you’ll revise your sample chapter, then bring it back for workshop. The work happens through in-class writing and group feedback, and 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. Before you pitch, I’ll read your full proposal and give you written notes.
Class Dates: May 12, May 19, May 26, Jun 2, Jun 9, Jun 16, Jun 23. No class June 30.
Pitch it (early July). 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.
Class Date: Jul 7
By the end of six months,
you will have:
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
A roadmap of your book, with a clear structure and narrative arc
Your proposal’s sample chapter
An understanding of where your book fits in the marketplace and what gap it fills
A complete book proposal, revised with my written notes
A query letter to send to agents
Feedback from a literary agent on your pitch
16 live group sessions, January 27 to July 7, 2027
Wednesdays, 3–5pm ET, on Zoom
Small group, capped at 8 writers
All sessions are recorded, so you can catch up if you miss one
What’s Included:
Live feedback on your chapters in every build-phase session
A written editorial read of your sample chapter (up to 7,500 words)
A complete book proposal, drafted section by section
A query letter to send to agents
Written notes from me on your full proposal
A live pitch to a literary agent, with feedback
Accountability to your writing goals and a close-knit community of peers for feedback and support
I also keep a limited number of 1:1 coaching slots for students who want more personalized support, available as an add-on. Ask about it on your intro call.
The Details:
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 Friday, November 20
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