Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
There was a time I would not have recognized that I’m a writer, but in reality, I have been writing my entire life. Looking back at my early diaries, journals, and longform letters and emails to family and friends, it’s clear that I processed the world through words.
Eventually, I figured out what all this meant and started pursuing writing in a structured and intentional way.
I’m now the published author of five plays, nine books, and countless articles and essays. With my next books, I’m hoping to level up in publishing, and to that end, I’ve signed with literary agent Rachel MacMillian to represent me and my work.
Although I’m very proud of all this, it was through these early ventures that I made many crucial mistakes and learned the hard way that writing a great book does not necessarily translate into instant fame and fortune. That’s why I now coach other writers on their publishing journeys.
Over the past five years, I’ve been serving as the Director of Literary Services at the faith-based coaching network Build a Better Us. My role is to create programs, networks, and support systems for writers and authors. This includes workshops, webinars, peer-to-peer connections, and one-on-one coaching. Recently, I launched a new structured, eight-session program designed to help nonfiction writers take their ideas and hone them into sharp, effective book proposals to seek traditional publishing contracts.
Depending on their aspirations and positioning in the marketplace, writers who have been through our programming have written and released books through both independent, traditional, and hybrid publishing options. Some have even signed with their dream agents and landed major deals with Big 5 New York publishing houses!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My path to publication has been anything but smooth.
Every author has stories of rejections, and I’m no different. My debut novel was rejected thirty times before it found a publication home.
Since those early years, certain aspects of my writing life have gotten easier. I’m more confident in my voice and style, for one. But everything else feels just as hard as it did when I started out.
It’s hard to write. It’s hard to pitch work for publication. It’s hard to get the word out to readers about new and existing books.
Some days I definitely wonder why I do any of this. Would it not be easier just to get a standard nine-to-five? Maybe. But yet, even with all the obstacles and inherent rejections, there’s something inside me that says I can’t not do this.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I partner with the faith-based personal growth and development network Build a Better Us to provide coaching, guidance, and support systems for writers. Through networking, coaching, and peer-to-peer mentorship, we offer help, guidance, and resources to help writers build skills, pursue their passions, and seek traditional publishing contracts.
I’m the creator of the Storytellers Network, the Tell Your Story Writing Workshop, and the Concept to Contract mentorship program. I’m most proud of the three hundred plus writers who have been through our programs and have seen success in their writing and publishing journeys!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For those just starting out in their writing lives, I’d say the best things you can do right now are read a lot, write every day, study storytelling, and make friends in the creative community, particularly with other writers. Try to join a writers group if you possibly can, especially if you one day hope to seek traditional publication.
Publishing and book-making is a relational industry, and every connection helps.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmbuchanan/
