Six Month Book Builder

“Publishing a book does not change me, but writing a book does.” – Melissa Febos

This is the book writing container I wish I 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. But what I can promise you is this: I will create the space, share everything I learned along the way and introduce you to the agents, editors, and publicity folks to make your book dream a reality. 

Over the last six years I’ve not only sold two books to Big 5 publishers, and published one to wide acclaim, I’ve helped others write and publish their books and essays too. And in that time I’ve figured out the method to help you cross the finish line with a completed manuscript and come out the other side transformed. 

For the first time I’m offering a six-month book-writing boot camp that combines the tight-knit community and accountability of my classes with the individualized brainstorming, goal setting, editing, and hand holding of working with me one-on-one.

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 of your book written

  • An understanding of where your book fits in the marketplace

  • A clear idea of what your book is not

  • The question or quest that is at the heart of your book

  • To be able to pull apart what the universal vs the personal story of your book

This class will help you get words on the page and develop the structure and connective tissue that will give your book its glue. Whether you are writing creative non-fiction, memoir, or prescriptive nonfiction, are early in the writing process or already have a rough draft, the magic will happen with Ruthie’s guidance and feedback. 

What’s Included:

  • Two group classes/month that will hold you accountable to your writing goals and offer you a tight-knit community of peers who will provide feedback and support on your writing

  • Two 1:1 sessions/month with Ruthie to keep you on track and get you unstuck

  • Two hours/month of Ruthie’s editing time 

  • Guest speakers—authors, agents, editors and publicists—who will offer insights on the writing and publishing landscape.

Class Details:

  • This class is open to writers of creative nonfiction, memoir or prescriptive nonfiction

  • Accepted writers must commit to the full six months. 

  • Classes will meet on Zoom for 2 hours per session.

  • You will meet with the group biweekly, and privately with Ruthie on the off weeks (at a time that we decide upon together). 

  • We start the week of September 29th. Group classes will meet weekly on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 3-5pm. Specific day will be decided by the group.

  • The deadline to apply for this class is Friday, August 22, 2025.

  • This class will be capped at 8 participants.

  • Once I receive your application, I’ll reach back out with registration info if your work seems like a good fit.

Cost: $3,500 monthly for 6 months.

Fill out this form to apply today!

  • “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 took my jumbled manuscript and turned it into a refined first draft! The consistent encouragement and guidance I received from Ruthie and her class has given me both the confidence and insight to achieve my goals of becoming a published author. If you are in search of a warm and thoughtful writing class that will enrich you and lead you to your writing dreams, this is it!”

    -Rachael McMullan, Writer and Birth Trauma Advocate

  • “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

About Your Teacher

Ruthie has worked with hundreds of writers to turn their ideas into narrative gold. Her clients have gone on to become USA Today Bestsellers and have received major non-fiction book deals with Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and more. They’ve gotten agent representation by Aevitas Creative Management, Park & Fine Literary and Media and Janklow & Nesbit. And her clients’ essays have been published in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Today.com, The New York Times, Catapult, Tablet, Well + Good and more.

Ruthie’s not only an accomplished editor, she’s a writer too. Her memoir, The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Myths That Shape Us, was recently published by Random House and featured by TIME, NPR All Things Considered, Oprah Daily,The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal. You can find her essays in Vogue, Glamour, O Magazine, the New York Times, The Atlantic, Forbes, Salon, Slate, Newsweek, and more. Most recently, she was the Deputy Editor at ForbesWomen.