Academic Book
Coaching
for Scholars
Write Your Academic Book
with Expert Support
Whether you’re developing an academic book proposal, turning your dissertation into a book, navigating conversations with publishers, or completing your manuscript, you need more than generic writing advice.
With academic book coaching and developmental editing, you get the strategy, structure, and expert support you need to finish a clear, compelling scholarly book.
Writing a book isn't just about writing
—it's about navigating everything that makes this work so difficult, including:
✵ Managing teaching, service, and life while carving out time for a major project
✵ Maintaining a coherent argument across multiple chapters
✵ Navigating the politics and practicalities of book publishing
✵ Overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome on a large-scale project
✵ Developing the project management skills to see it through
That’s where I can help.
As an academic book coach and developmental editor, I support faculty, postdocs, and independent scholars in planning, drafting, and revising their books. Instead of relying on a fantasy schedule, we design a realistic, sustainable book-writing process that fits around teaching, research, service, and the rest of your life.
Together, we’ll map out the arc of your project, break it into manageable stages, and work through roadblocks like perfectionism, procrastination, and decision fatigue. Whether you’re turning a dissertation into an academic book or developing a new scholarly monograph, I’ll help you clarify your argument, maintain momentum, and move toward a submission-ready manuscript.
What makes this book coaching different?
It combines the strategic support of academic writing coaching with the manuscript expertise of developmental editing for academic books—expert guidance on your argument, structure, and voice in the humanities and qualitative social sciences, plus the accountability and sustainable practices you need to finish strong.
Ready for more clarity, momentum, or structure in your book writing?
Start a conversation with me, and we’ll look at where you are and what would genuinely help you make progress.
Client Testimonials
-
![A person with short, curly dark hair and glasses sitting on a dark leather couch, smiling while looking at a laptop in front of them. There is a tall plant with long, thin leaves and what appear to be flower stalks on the right side of the image. The background is a dark gray wall.]()
"Jenn gave me permission to write boldly and to believe in my ideas, because she could see their merit."
Before Jenn, the progress on my book had stalled, and the enormous task of translating all my research, notes, and ideas into a coherent book proposal felt so overwhelming I stopped writing altogether. Through Jenn’s coaching, we structured a writing schedule that worked with my teaching and service loads while still enabling small but consistent momentum with my writing. I had felt so alone and stuck but with her encouragement I gained the confidence I needed to keep going.
As my sample chapters finally began to take shape, Jenn’s developmental editing was crucial, giving me feedback like I’ve never received before. Jenn highlighted the strengths of my chapters and discussed the places where my thinking was clear and where my voice was strongest, rather than listing things I’d done “wrong.” She gave me permission to write boldly and to believe in my ideas, because she could see their merit. Through working with Jenn, I became a more confident writer and academic; I cannot recommend her highly enough!
Amanda, Assistant Professor, Large Research University
-
![Close-up of a woman with curly brown hair, blue eyes, and freckles, wearing a black blazer and a striped shirt, outdoors with greenery in the background.]()
"I truly cannot overstate how impactful our work together was."
Working with Jenn during the summer after my first year on the tenure track was so incredibly life-giving.
First, I was able to finally submit (and get an R&R!) on a dissertation paper I had been dragging my feet on as a direct result of our work together. Specifically, Jenn helped me recognize and overcome some specific mindset roadblocks I didn't even realize I had around writing; and she also supported me in articulating and analyzing my writing process clearly for the first time. This fundamentally changed my research process!
Jenn is incredibly kind, supportive, organized, and clear in her communication and approach. I truly cannot overstate how impactful our work together was, and I recommend working with her to anyone who is feeling lost about their research, writing, and/or career!
Dr. Meaghan McSorley, Assistant Professor, Florida State University
-
![A woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair, wearing a teal sleeveless top, smiling outdoors with a blurred background of parked cars.]()
"These shifts in my mindset have helped me grow more confident as a scholar."
Working with Jenn has helped me transform my relationship to writing. Her attentive listening, suggestions, and positive reinforcement have helped me decrease my anxiety towards writing and remember all the things I love about writing.
Jenn's coaching has helped me think of writing as any other part of my life, rather than a high-stakes "my career depends on this" act of perfection. These shifts in my mindset have helped me grow more confident as a scholar and move towards a daily writing practice.
Dr. Karolina Dos Santos, Postdoctoral Scholar, New York University Gallatin
-
![Close-up of a smiling woman with dark hair, wearing earrings and a nose ring, outdoors with a blurred background of trees.]()
"Jenn is able to decipher an end goal through what felt like my confused rambling."
What I appreciated about working with Jenn is that when you tell her about your project, what you want to accomplish, and what you are having trouble with, she can turn it into tangible and specific goals with solutions. She is able to decipher an end goal through what felt like my confused rambling.
In the time I worked with Jenn, I was able to complete my dissertation, which has now garnered the interest of publishers and is the blueprint for my forthcoming book. Additionally, I was able to write, revise, and publish my first peer-reviewed academic article. Her help is invaluable and neither of these projects could have been completed without her assistance.
Dr. Lily Kunda, Assistant Teaching Professor, The College of William and Mary
-
![A smiling woman with short hair, glasses with a leopard print frame, and a nose ring, resting her chin on her hand at a desk or table in a cozy indoor setting, with a blurred outdoor scene in the background.]()
"I’ve learned how to envision the career I want and take actionable steps toward achieving it. "
Jenn has been a steady source of support, encouragement, and guidance. She doesn’t just give advice—she models everything she offers. As her client, I’ve learned how to envision the career I want and take actionable steps toward achieving it.
She’s helped me prioritize the projects that matter most to me and find better ways to manage my time as a neurodivergent person and parent of a neurodivergent child.
Dr. Briana Barner, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland
-
![A person's hand reaching toward the setting sun over a body of water, with the sky transitioning from blue to warm hues.]()
"Jenn's support and guidance have empowered me to overcome mental barriers, prioritize my goals, and approach academic writing with renewed confidence and clarity.
Working with Jenn has been transformative—she has helped me cultivate a positive and productive relationship with writing through sustainable routines and clear strategies. Her support and guidance have empowered me to overcome mental barriers, prioritize my goals, and approach academic writing with renewed confidence and clarity.
Anonymous
-
![Close-up of two hands holding each other, with one hand wearing a black bracelet and the other hand wearing a maroon long-sleeve shirt, against a plain light gray background.]()
"I am so glad I found Jenn at this stage of my career."
Jenn is an amazing coach. She is gentle, receptive, and, most importantly, she has helped me overcome my fears of academic writing. Her structured outlines, discussion point recaps, and clear next steps truly bring clarity to the task at hand. I greatly appreciate her prompt replies and encouraging notes. I am so glad I found her at this stage of my career.
Dr. Muniza Askari, SPJ Singapore Campus
6 Months of Writing Coaching and Developmental Editing
-
Get Clear on What Matters Most
We start with a strategy session where we assess the status of your manuscript, clarify your goals, and design a path forward that's grounded in your real life
-
Build Momentum and Shift What's Stuck
Through nine coaching sessions, we'll focus on reflection, problem-solving, and strategic planning to help you maintain steady progress and overcome obstacles.
-
Support When You Need It Most
You'll have access to me via email between sessions for encouragement and guidance, plus professional developmental editing on up to 30,000 words of your manuscript.
-
Keep Going with Clarity
In our final session, we’ll reflect on your progress and create a sustainability plan to carry your momentum forward—so you can finish the book strong.
What’s Included in the Program?
Complete your book manuscript with the combined power of developmental editing and writing coaching—editorial expertise to strengthen your manuscript paired with ongoing support to help you sustain progress and finish strong.
Initial 90-minute strategy session to assess where your manuscript is now, clarify your goals, and create your path forward
Nine one-on-one coaching sessions to maintain momentum, navigate challenges, and keep your writing on track
Developmental editing of up to 30,000 words (to be used within one year of the start date) with comprehensive feedback on argument, structure, voice, and positioning
Email support between sessions for accountability, encouragement, and guidance
Final 30-minute session to create your sustainability plan for continued writing success
Bonus: Complimentary access to the self-paced course Flourish: Cultivating a Sustainable Writing Practice
Add additional developmental editing
at the rate of $0.07 per word.
Bonus: Flourish
All book coaching clients receive complimentary access to Flourish: Cultivating a Sustainable Writing Practice, a comprehensive 10-module course that deepens the foundations of your writing practice and helps you thrive—not just survive—as a scholar.
What You'll Gain:
Shift from survival mode to sustainable progress. Flourish helps you move beyond "publish or perish" toward "publish and flourish"—building a writing practice that supports both your career goals and your well-being.
Develop practical strategies for the challenges that hold you back. Address perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and fear of critique with tools that help you write with greater confidence and clarity.
Create a writing routine that actually works. Learn to build consistency without burnout, managing your time and energy effectively while balancing research, teaching, service, and life.
Build resilience and community. Discover how to foster meaningful connections, create accountability systems, and develop the resilience you need to keep moving forward—even when facing setbacks.
Unlock creativity through rest and play. Learn why downtime isn't a luxury—it's essential for productive, creative work. Balance productivity with well-being so you can approach your writing with fresh energy.
Ready to make serious progress on your book?
Let’s Talk.
Fill out the form below—or email me at jenn@jennmcclearen.com—and tell me a bit about your writing goals or challenges. I’ll be in touch soon to talk through options and see whether working together is the right fit.
I look forward to hearing from you.
⬇
First Session Satifaction Policy
I’m confident in the value of this coaching experience—but I also know how important it is to feel like the right fit. If after our first 90-minute session you don’t feel supported or aligned with the approach, please let me know within 48 hours. I'll offer a refund (minus a €300 fee) and cancel the remaining portion of the package.
My goal is never to pressure you into continuing something that doesn’t serve you. I want you to feel empowered, not stuck—and that starts with trust.
FAQs
-
Developmental editing and coaching serve different—though often related—purposes in your writing life. I always say that editing supports the writing and coaching supports the writer.
Developmental editing focuses on improving a specific piece of writing. An editor will give you detailed feedback on structure, argumentation, clarity, and coherence to help you strengthen a manuscript in progress. It’s about shaping that article, that chapter, that proposal into its best possible form.
Coaching, on the other hand, focuses on you—your process, habits, mindset, and long-term goals as a writer and scholar. Coaching supports you in building the systems and self-awareness you need to write more consistently, reduce avoidance, navigate self-doubt, and make steady progress on high-stakes projects. It’s about creating sustainable practices that help you move forward not just once, but again and again.
Writers often benefit from both modes. Editing can refine your work. Coaching helps you get it written in the first place—and keep writing long after.
I offer the combination of developmental editing and coaching as a feature of the 6-month Book Program. You can purchase additional developmental editing at the rate of $0.07 per word.
-
Colleagues and supervisors offer valuable disciplinary expertise and can assess the scholarly merit of your work. However, they're often reading quickly, focusing on content over craft, and may not give you detailed guidance on manuscript structure, argumentation, or reader experience.
As a developmental editor, I bring a focused eye specifically for how manuscripts work as manuscripts—how arguments unfold across chapters, how structure supports (or undermines) your claims, how voice and tone shape reader engagement, and how to position your work for its intended audience. I pride myself on being able to articulate clearly what's working, what's not, and giving you actionable guidance for moving your project forward.
I also read with fresh eyes and without the assumptions someone in your immediate field might bring. This means I can identify places where your argument isn't landing clearly, where you're assuming too much knowledge, or where the structure needs rethinking—issues that colleagues close to your work might not catch.
Additionally, developmental editing is a professional service with clear deliverables and turnaround times. You're not asking for a favor or waiting months for feedback. You receive comprehensive, actionable guidance designed specifically to move your manuscript forward.
-
My scholarly expertise is in media studies, communication, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies, and sports studies. However, I edit work across the humanities and qualitative social sciences more broadly. That's where I can offer the most meaningful support—especially when it comes to argument development, voice, and structure for academic audiences.
This said, I'm also happy to work with scholars in other fields if you're writing a crossover book—a manuscript intended to reach broader audiences beyond specialist readers. If your goal is to make your scholarship more accessible or connect with interdisciplinary or public audiences, I can help you shape the work for that wider impact.
-
I'm open to both approaches, though I particularly enjoy working chapter-by-chapter. This allows the manuscript to improve iteratively—each round of feedback strengthens subsequent chapters as you apply what you're learning.
Regardless of the approach, I typically request an introduction (even in rough form) or book proposal upfront for context. This ensures I can assess how individual chapters build toward your overall book argument.
-
That's completely fine! You have one full year from your start date to use your developmental editing allocation.
The 6-month coaching period focuses on building momentum, establishing sustainable writing practices, and making steady progress—but I understand that life happens, and manuscripts develop at different paces.
Many clients use their editing strategically: getting feedback on a book proposal and sample chapters early in the program, then continuing to write and submitting additional chapters for editing in the months following our coaching sessions. Others may already have a complete draft and use the editing throughout the coaching period.
The key is that you have the flexibility to write and submit your 30,000 words within a full year, allowing you to work at a pace that's realistic for your life and project.
And if you need feedback on more than 30,000 words, you can always add additional developmental editing at $0.07 per word.
The goal isn't perfection or speed—it's steady, meaningful progress on your book project while building the practices that will sustain your scholarly writing life long after our work together ends.
-
Book coaching is a collaborative partnership, not a top-down relationship. I don’t tell you what to do, map out your project for you, or prescribe the path I would take. Instead, I facilitate a process that helps you clarify your goals, uncover what works for you, and build the habits and systems you need to make meaningful progress on your book.
In academia, mentoring and advising often involve guidance based on someone else’s expertise or preferences—“Here’s what I would do” or “Here’s the right way to approach this.” Coaching is different. It recognizes that there is no single correct way to write a scholarly book and that each writer’s strengths, constraints, and working style are unique.
That said, my book-coaching approach integrates both ICF coaching principles and my experience as a former faculty member and published author. This means:
I may offer contextual information about academic publishing so you can make informed decisions.
I may share frameworks, models, or options that help you see your project more clearly.
I will always check in to ensure that any guidance supports your values, your goals, and your way of working—never a predetermined path.
In short:
Mentors and advisors often give you advice and answers that work for them.Coaches help you find your own answers—and build the practices that make your writing sustainable.
My expertise informs the process, but you remain the expert on your project, and together we create a book-writing approach that truly works in real life.
-
Of course, only you can answer that question for yourself! But I invite you to consider what it might be costing you to stay stuck—missed deadlines, ongoing stress, a manuscript that doesn't move forward, and the nagging feeling that you're not reaching your full potential as a scholar.
The professional, emotional, and even financial impacts of a stalled book project can be significant. For scholars working toward tenure or promotion, an unfinished book can contribute to delayed recognition, fewer opportunities, or a more uncertain career path. And the toll it takes—on confidence, well-being, and peace of mind—is just as real.
Book coaching is both a time and financial investment, and it isn't a quick fix. But many clients find that combining developmental editing with writing support makes a meaningful difference—not only in completing their manuscript but also in building the sustainable practices they need for long-term scholarly success.
Everyone's experience is different, and there are no absolutes. But if you're ready to shift out of survival mode and into steady, supported progress on your book, this may be the right next step.
Many clients have told me, once they began, I wish I'd started sooner.
-
Most clients meet with me approximately every other week over the course of 6 months, which provides momentum with space to integrate. That said, we can absolutely discuss meeting more frequently or spreading coaching sessions out to fit your needs.
For example, if you have a pressing deadline you need support on, we could design our work together to span 5 weeks, meeting once a week.
-
You are ultimately responsible for your manuscript, and I encourage you to trust your instincts. I provide recommendations and possibilities, but you decide what to use and what to set aside.
My goal is to illuminate options, not dictate choices—the best revision emerges when you're making informed decisions that align with your vision for the project.
-
Yes, many of my clients use university funds to pay for editing. Typically you connect me with a department administrator and they pay me directly.
-
Yes—flexible payment options are available. You can pay in monthly installments rather than all at once.
I also offer a small number of scholarships for scholars with financial need. If cost is a barrier, fill out the contact form and select that you want to be considered for a scholarship. I’d be glad to talk with you about what’s possible: jenn@jennmcclearen.com.