It's hard to enjoy writing when you're afraid your next book will disappoint readers, your publisher will drop you if you miss a deadline, or that challenging sales numbers mean your career is over.

That’s why we start our journey looking at the stories you tell about your writing life and author career.

By the end of month 1, you'll be able to:

• Recognize when your brain is spiraling
• Soothe those anxious thoughts
  
• Find a story that motivates you to write
• Use that new story to prevent procrastination and fuel your writing sessions

Writing your next book is the most important thing you can do to grow your career. 

In month 2, we deep dive into my proven 5-Step Consistent Writing Process, where you'll:

• Create realistic writing plans that set you up for success
• Begin each writing session with a 2-minute practice that will help you better access creative flow
• Start to catch yourself mid-procrastination before you miss your entire writing session
• Celebrate frequently to teach your brain to crave writing again

Deadlines are a way of life for authors, but they don't have to suck the joy out of writing.

By the end of month 3, you'll be able to:

• Evaluate deadlines to determine whether they're doable, tight, or impossible
• Advocate for deadline extensions without feeling like a failure 
• Meet tight deadlines without burning out
• Use time between deadlines to refill your creative well or get ahead on other projects

The cure for imposter syndrome, doubt, and insecurity isn't a bestselling title. It's self-confidence. 

And that confidence is something you can increase on purpose.

In month 4, you'll: 

• Identify your unique writing process - including the tools and techniques that work best for you
• Train your brain to focus on your strengths rather than pick apart your perceived weakness
• Evaluate past "failures" to determine what parts are in your control and make peace with the bits outside your influence
• Evaluate past success so you know what habits and techniques to continue with your next book

More than ever, publishers expect us to take an active role in promoting our books, but that doesn't mean marketing needs to take a lot of time.

By the end of month 4, you'll be able to:

• Confidently answer the question, "what's your book about?" by creating simple, compelling pitches for your books
• Design an authentic marketing plan that focuses on your strengths rather than the things "everyone says you should do"
• Streamline your marketing process so it takes as little time as possible
• Increase your comfort with visibility, whether in-person or online

As an author, you're more than just a storyteller: you're a small business owner.

And with business, comes money, taxes, and so much more. 

In our final month together, you'll:

• Increase your comfort with money discussions and decision making
  • Bonus: You'll get editable templates to track your money - both the money you've received and the money publishers still owe you
• Define what you want in a publishing partner and maintain a positive relationship without people pleasing
• Set healthy boundaries with your publishing team, other writers, and readers to create the work/life balance you want
• Understand the terms in your contracts so you feel empowered about your career

Transforming your writing life takes more than good information.

Otherwise, everyone with access to the internet would easily slip into creative flow, meet deadlines without burnout, and overcome jealousy with a simple google search.

Unfortunately... it's not that easy.

And that's where group coaching comes in.

Coaching is the secret sauce that takes you from knowing what to do to actually doing it.

In each call, you'll receive the support you need to work through creative or business challenges, take action on your goals, or troubleshoot anything that didn't go according to plan. 

 Call times for the January 2026 cohort are Wednesdays from 4-5pm eastern. The specific dates include:

January: 14*, 21, 28

February: 4*, 11, 18, 25

March: 4*, 11, 18, 25

April: 1*, 8, 15, 22, 29

May: 6*, 13, 20

June: 3*, 10, 17

You'll get access to recordings of each call within 24 hours to rewatch your favorite moments or catch up on any sessions you miss.

*These calls include a live workshop on that month's topic.

If you're the kind of person who wants to know All The Things, I've got you.

The Confident Author Academy includes a robust curriculum that provides video lessons and tangible tools for all aspects of your author career.

As soon as you enroll, you get access to the entire curriculum.

Need marketing help now? You don't need to wait until Month 5. You can dive into those lessons right away.

Need to ask for a deadline extension but don't know how to tell your editor? You can access the email templates inside the Deadline Management System lessons any time you need them.

Within the curriculum you'll find lessons on: 

• Foundational Mindset Tools
  • Finding the thoughts that stress you out
  • Believing better stories about your career
  • Processing your emotions so you don't end up burnt out 
• Your Confident Author Identity 
  • Understanding the 3 segments of your author identity 
  • Defining your personal vision of success
  • Overcoming imposter syndrome 
• Consistent Writing Process
  • The 5-Step Consistent Writing Process
  • How to use the 90-Day Burnout-Free Writing Journal
  • Overcoming procrastination
• Deadline Management System
  • Evaluating your deadlines schedule
  • How to ask for extensions (including email templates)
  • Meeting tight deadlines without burnout
• Authentic Marketing Method
  • Pitching your book
  • Choosing your marketing content 
  • How to feel safe being visible 
• Book Launch Protocol
  • Navigating reader reviews (aka how to NOT look at them)
  • Planning your ideal release week
  • Recovering from the post-release emotional hangover
• The Business of Being an Author
  • Setting boundaries and breaking free from people pleasing
  • Surviving being on submission
  • Tracking your money

These additional lessons are optional. 

If you're on back-to-back deadlines right now, don't worry. You'll get all the support you need through our weekly group coaching and private Discord server.

You'll have lifetime access to this curriculum so you can review lessons whenever you need an extra jolt of inspiration and support.

Small group experiences are powerful for lasting change.

Shifting the way you approach publishing gets so much easier when you're surrounded by other authors learning the same things you are. 

You'll also have weekly proof that you're not alone in your struggles.

Whenever someone is coached on a challenging experience, most of the authors on the call will raise their hands to say they've been through a similar struggle.

There's knowing you're not alone and then there's feeling it.

Being part of our cohort helps you truly feel that you belong.

In our private Discord server, you can connect with your peers, celebrate wins, and get support when things don't go according to plan.

Received a tough edit letter on Thursday morning? Get immediate support.

You don't have to wait until next Wednesday's live coaching call. 

Simply post in the Discord and Isabel will respond within 24 hours (often much faster!) to help you through it.

Plus, hear from your peers who have also received challenging notes from their agent/editor so you know you're not alone.