Your Words Unleashed Signature Program

Private Coaching for Scholarly Authors

GET UNSTUCK.
FIND YOUR VOICE.
AND FINALLY GET IT OFF YOUR PLATE!

You’re a high-achieving scholar who has worked so hard and sacrificed so much to follow your academic dreams.

But right now, you’re feeling overwhelmed from trying to write your book while juggling other things like teaching, service, and time with family and friends.

The pressure is starting to get to you. Working (or, let’s be honest, not working) on the manuscript is bringing stress, sleepless nights, and little to no work-life balance.

The thing is—you KNOW the story you want to write! You’ve been researching this topic for years and are undoubtedly one of the world’s leading experts.

But you’ve never written a book before, so how are you supposed to know what to do?

The stakes feel sky high. Publishing a book will let you reach many of your hard-fought dreams.

Dreams of getting a job or getting tenure, once and for all. Dreams of being recognized for your brilliance. Dreams of improving the world with your ideas.

Ultimately, this is about having an impact and legacy no one can deny.

But how do you get there—
and manage to have a life too?

Nobody seems to have the answers you need. You’ve asked your advisors, colleagues, and friends for advice about publishing, and it all conflicts! They can only tell you what has worked for them.

You don’t have a good writing system and are tired of trying to motivate yourself to keep working on a project that doesn’t seem to be moving forward.

Or, just when you are able to get started again, you get derailed by more pressing deadlines.

You’re feeling guilty when you’re not writing but spinning your wheels when you do! You worry that you’ve fallen too far behind—or at least that’s what your annoying inner critic is always telling you.

But don’t give up! You can still make your dreams a reality.

THIS IS WHERE I COME IN.

I’ve worked with hundreds of high achievers like you to find personalized writing strategies that help you fall back in love with writing as a form of self-expression.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all process, we draw wisdom from your own unique history and use your core values to make decisions that help you write with more joy and purpose.

Just like you, I felt lost and overwhelmed when working on my first book. I wished there was someone who could help guide me through such unfamiliar terrain.

Now as a coach, my mission is to support and empower writers—especially folks from marginalized backgrounds—to overcome internal blocks and understand the hidden curriculum of academic publishing.

The world needs your voice to be heard!

The six-month Your Words Unleashed Program helps you develop the practical strategies and unshakable self-confidence to write your book, while also giving you ways to invest fully in other areas of your life.

My holistic process involves assessing the overall life you want to lead and then creating a sustainable writing schedule and realistic goals. We also identify your ideal audience and locate the book’s core message, which are grounded in your own deeper purpose as a writer.

The work I do with new authors ranges from walking you through the process of writing an attention-grabbing book proposal to helping you create, and commit to, a consistent writing schedule that lets you finish your manuscript without burning out.

As a publishing strategist, I will help you demystify the world of academic publishing, including advising you on how to choose the best press, contacting editors, and sending materials out for review.

Throughout, I will provide detailed feedback (both oral and written) on your writing and ideas. See FAQ below for details on how I provide developmental editing support. 

WHO AM I?

I’m a certified life coach and former tenured professor of Sociology who spent more than 20 years in academia. Unlike a lot of other writing coaches and editors, I’m also a researcher—a feminist ethnographer who published two, award-winning sole-authored books with university presses. 

My coaching brings together an intimate understanding of writing, scholarly publishing, and the pressures (as well as pleasures) of academic life.

Now, even though I have all the necessary qualifications, what REALLY matters is that I’ve been exactly where you are now, and I can help you find your way with ease and grace.

Leslie Wang, Writing Coach & Developmental Editor

“Leslie helped me break through my own limiting beliefs tied to writing. I never thought I would have the courage to submit my book proposal, and now I have a forthcoming book contract from a top university press! Before working with Leslie, I was definitely in a toxic relationship with academia and my writing productivity. I have been able to heal my relationship to academia and my writing, and I feel more in control and empowered to exist in academia as a whole person, while letting go of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations of myself. I never thought letting go of my perfectionism was possible, to be honest. But working with Leslie, who takes a holistic approach, I've become able to distinguish my values, goals, and larger purpose. As a scholar, I pride myself in being invested in humanizing the lives of some of the most marginalized communities in society through my research and writing. Yet I didn't realize until my work with Leslie, that my relationship to myself as a scholar was saturated in self-deprecation and self-loathing. Overall, through hiring Leslie as my coach, I feel liberated from the limiting beliefs I carried, and the unrealistically high expectations expounded by academia. I've learned that I get to engage in academia on my own terms.”

J. Caraves, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies, UC Riverside

Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to find out how I can help you achieve your goals (and if none of these times work for you, shoot me an email at Leslie@nullYourWordsUnleashed.com):

Let's Talk!

Your Words Unleashed Signature Coaching Program

Your Book’s Vision
  • We’ll identify your ideal audience and reconnect with your passion.
  • You’ll solidify your core values and define your personal mission.
  • You’ll find your authentic voice and be inspired to write your book.
Your Writing Road Map
  • We’ll align your major writing goals with your overall life priorities.
  • You’ll know how to effectively apply your limited time and energy.
  • You’ll have a strategic step-by-step writing plan for the semester.
Your Obstacles
  • We’ll pinpoint the fears and insecurities holding you back.
  • You’ll learn how to manage your inner critic and keep going.
  • You’ll overcome your mental blocks and gain trust in yourself.
How the Publishing
World Works
  • We’ll determine the best presses and editors for your manuscript.
  • You’ll master your book proposal and send it off with confidence.
  • You’ll know how to get and negotiate a contract to publish your book.

This program is for people who want to create a satisfying writing practice that fits your busy life and taps into your own unique gifts and abilities.

 
A six-month, 1:1 coaching program to help you:
  • Create a practical, sustainable writing plan
  • Make realistic writing goals and actually meet them
  • Figure out your ideal audience and your book’s core message
  • Become re-inspired by your project by connecting to a deeper sense of purpose
  • Identify and manage the internal blocks slowing you down
  • Learn how the academic publishing world works, including how to write a strong book proposal, meet with editors, and obtain/negotiate a contract
  • Maintain accountability on your goals
  • Create more work-life balance so you aren’t ONLY focusing on work!
What’s Included:
  • An in-depth questionnaire that will help you determine meaningful and realistic goals
  • 8, hour-long private coaching sessions where we will go deep on your specific writing challenges and come up with personalized strategies (we will meet roughly once per month)
  • Exercises to help you uncover your book’s ideal audience and core message
  • Goal setting and time-management tools to create a sustainable writing plan
  • Specific practices to tame your inner critic and overcome writer’s block
  • Guidance on putting together a strong book proposal (if needed)
  • Personalized advice to ensure you are in the best position possible when you dive into the academic publishing world
  • Both written and oral developmental feedback on your book proposal and chapters based on argument, tone, structure, and flow

You don’t need to do this alone!

You want to look forward to writing your manuscript each day and making consistent progress.

You’ve already tried everything, and nothing has stuck for very long. Just know that this is not your fault.

It’s nearly impossible to find clear guidelines on how to write and publish your first book, so how on earth would you know what to do?

But one thing has become abundantly clear: you are ready to instill healthy boundaries with work and prioritize your own emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.

Imagine how good it will feel:

When you sign your book contract…

When you press “submit” to send your final manuscript for printing…

When you hold a hard copy of your book in your hands…

When your ideal audience reads your book and their lives are transformed by it…

I can help you get there.

YOUR INVESTMENT: $5,500 (USD)

**Discounts available for those who pay half or more out-of-pocket**

“I began coaching because I was having trouble writing. I was procrastinating a lot and was mentally and emotionally overwhelmed. Through coaching, I was able to recognize the fears and inner critics inside of me and address them effectively. I am also able to feel joy and excitement while writing. Women have been conditioned to question ourselves in almost every facet of our lives, including in academia. Leslie provides a space for us to interrogate these beliefs and the ways we have internalized them, and ultimately, to make peace with them. She encourages us to build confidence, based on our core values and to let that shine through our work. I am very grateful for Leslie.”

Vanessa C., Assistant ProfessorSocial Sciences

“Working with Leslie was fantastic! She is a supportive mentor outside your immediate department or field who can provide in unbiased guidance and de-escalate unhelpful emotions. Because of writing coaching, I’m now able to work more methodically and feel more satisfied at the end of the day.”

M., Assistant ProfessorUC Berkeley

“I originally signed up for writing coaching because I felt overworked and wanted to find a plan to address this so I could have a more sustainable situation post-tenure. After coaching with Leslie, I have much more clarity about the sources of my burnout and much more empowered to change things. A huge part of that was clarifying what my values are and aligning my time usage to make sure my values are being lived out. I have become more satisfied with my work because we came up with ways for me to recognize my progress; this reduced my internalized pressure to overwork. I highly recommend Leslie as a coach. She is very focused on helping you find your own best answers, not just imposing solutions on you.”

Karlyn, Assistant ProfessorSocial Sciences

“I started coaching with Leslie because I was feeling a sense of professional dissatisfaction. I was able to get more clarity on how to better align my work to my larger purpose and values. I identified some mental patterns (a scarcity mindset, internalizing academic norms that don't actually serve my goals, the belief that I need to struggle to succeed, etc.) that definitely were not serving me. Now I'm able to bring a more creative, playful, curious energy to my writing and see that this approach is not only better for my soul, but also good for my CV.”

Lori, Ed.D. in Education Leadership
I started coaching because I felt like I needed to talk to someone who understood academic careers but was not immediately involved with my own. I was feeling dissatisfied with my career and couldn't figure out how to change course. Through coaching with Leslie I was able to reframe my work and writing not as a hurdle but as a creative outlet and a way to share with others. It's a really transformative process!
E.T.Communication Studies, Assistant Professor
I needed some guidance in moving my scholarship from dissertation to book. During my time working with Leslie, I finished editing my manuscript, finished writing a new chapter, and drafted and sent out my book proposal and manuscript to two different top publishers in my field! I'm most proud of the confidence I gained in my research, and the fact that I sent it out to the world. I'm glad that a lot of the coaching centered around things like building my confidence and setting boundaries rather than just the ABCs of getting the manuscript to publishers. I also now feel really confident about the fact that I will be able to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion!
C.C.Assistant Professor, Social Sciences
I started working with Leslie because I thought it would be great to have someone guide me through this process. My biggest problem was not having the motivation to even get started with such a big project. During the past six months I have finished two chapters (and 2.5 chapters that will be revised into journal articles). The biggest achievement is I know what I want to do with the book -- what contribution my book is trying to make. I have now developed a theoretical framework that is more important than my topic/case study. Coaching has been a great experience and very helpful in pushing me to think clearly about my ideas and tell my stories in a way that makes sense to my readers. I am confident that my book will be making great contributions to my fields!
Assistant Professor of LawR-1 University, Canada
I started coaching with Leslie on the recommendation of an editor at Princeton University Press. During our time together, I was able to complete a full book proposal. I would strongly recommend Leslie as a coach. She was able to identify and point out to me what others would most likely find interesting in my book, and what topics should be accentuated. I now have more confidence in my voice and in my writing!
Antonia MonteiroProfessor of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore
Leslie will challenge you to rethink your writing as an activity that comes from within you rather than as an obligation imposed from without. From coaching with her, I gained helpful resources for reframing the book writing process and the entire tenure process; I now approach both with greater confidence, and from within my own values. Leslie also shared very useful insights around the publishing process and empowered me to set my own pace while seeking to thrive in academia. Because of her coaching, I am able to arrive at my writing sessions with greater serenity and inner strength.
A.K.Assistant Professor, Classics
I originally pursued coaching because of my inability to sustain a writing practice, plus a lot of shame around writing. I feel like I was able to develop a demystified relationship to writing as the inner work it has always been. Having found reasons for writing that are intrinsic and woven into the rest of my life, I've been able to approach the writing practice as something vital to my well-being. I'm now able to experience writing as a creative part of my life and well-being -- and something I'm lucky to have the chance to pursue.
Ingrid DiranAssistant Professor, Department of English, University of Wisconsin-Madison
I started working with Leslie because I needed support with building confidence as a writer, challenging imposter syndrome and writer's blocks, and motivation to finish my manuscript. During our work together, I significantly revised my book proposal, drafted 2 new chapters (that felt the hardest for me to write), and heavily revised another chapter. If you're considering coaching, do it! Leslie is a meticulous, thoughtful, and careful reader who offers big picture insight when we as scholars can get caught in the "weeds" of our study. I now feel more confident about my book.
Assistant ProfessorGender and Sexuality Studies
"I decided to give working with Leslie one-on-one a try, and I’m so very glad that I did. I had never written a book before and was looking for ways to make my manuscript as strong as possible, especially as I was interested in reaching a broad audience. This was my first time working one-on-one with a developmental editor or writing coach, and I’m delighted with the experience. Leslie is always kind and supportive, but she’s also willing to ask hard questions. She highlights text or ideas that don’t work and helps me find ways to better reach my audience. Her feedback on chapter drafts is specific and useful, and her questions sharpen my thinking and help me strengthen my arguments. I am a better writer after working with Leslie: I avoid jargon, tell more stories, and offer more examples. I would encourage any academic launching a book project to consider working with Leslie!"
Diana B.Assistant

Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Most of my clients use grants or institutional funds to cover coaching sessions. Writing coaching is increasingly considered part of professional development. Please use this handy funding letter template that you can tailor to request funding from your institution. (And if you’re not sure, just ask your school! Several of my clients were ready to pay out of pocket when I gave them the letter to send to their department chairs or deans. They were subsequently able to get coaching covered—or at least mostly covered—by their institutions.)

Other than our sessions, your time commitment will go towards writing your book. But because you’ll be using a well thought out plan, you will probably have even more time and energy to spend on your life outside of work.

Like all things, your success really depends on your commitment to the process. But the unique combination of writing coaching, developmental editing, external accountability, and practical publishing advice I offer allows my clients to make incredible progress. Within six months, many clients who were completely stalled out are able to complete a book proposal and 1-2 sample chapters. Others who are further along on with writing use coaching to maintain focus and inspiration so they can finish their manuscripts once and for all! Many other programs focus ONLY on writing strategies and productivity, whereas I give equal attention to your mindset and clarity of purpose.

NO, my clients are not limited to only first-time authors. Probably 1/3 are working on their second books. I also coach folks at different stages of book and article writing. Some of my clients are in article fields but still benefit enormously from the coaching, accountability, and writing schedule we put in place. The main difference is that they don’t need as much help figuring out the academic publishing world, which leaves time for us to address other issues.

Yes, I sometimes offer clients 6-session packages depending on their goals and where they are in the writing process. However, if you have written less than half of your manuscript, then 8 sessions is the most appropriate.

Although the majority of my clients are women, I also coach a number of self-identified men, transgender, and non-binary scholars. 

As a coach, my role is to help you with the big picture process so that you can write your manuscript with the greatest ease. This means working with your mindset, improving your habits, and setting manageable goals so that writing becomes one part of a satisfying life. That said, I’m also a developmental editor who works with your writing in a hands-on fashion, helping you develop your argument and ideas into a cohesive whole. Throughout our work together, I will give both written and oral feedback as a fellow author and curious, non-expert reader. (After the first session, clients can send me one piece of writing for feedback each time we meet.) 

Although most of my clients pursue writing coaching, others sign up for career coaching through my 4-month private Career Reset Program. I’ve worked with many clients on issues ranging from overcoming burnout to navigating the academic job market to making a concrete plan to leave academia. If you are seeking clarity of purpose and a more balanced life, then career coaching may be a great fit for you. Sign up for a free consult to find out more.

Coaching is a powerful, ongoing relationship that helps you identify your values and realize your larger life vision. I give my clients tools and support to remove internal obstacles and facilitate deep change. Unlike some forms of therapy, the work we do together is future-oriented and geared towards action and achieving goals. Many of my clients work with a therapist at the same time and do very well with the combination. (Click here to read more about the differences between coaching and therapy.)

There are a lot of writing coaches out there, so it’s a good idea to talk to different people to find the best fit for you and your needs. That said, few are also certified life coaches and understand the world of higher education, writing, and academic publishing as intimately as I do. Most importantly, your situation may be unique, but I’ve felt all the same things you’re feeling. Self-doubt? Overwhelm? Anxiety? Guilt? Take it from me – you’ll be amazed at how radically your life can change for the better when you work with someone who has been there, done it, and can help you open the door to new possibilities.