One-on-one-coaching for scholars in 2024

I am thrilled to announce that I am offering a new service in 2024: one-on-one coaching packages for scholars who may be feeling burned out in their writing projects. During my eight years as a Book Sprint facilitator, I met many researchers and writers who were enthusiastic about the Book Sprints process and wondered how they could harness the same productivity in their solo projects.

In 2021, Cassidy Sugimoto approached me, seeking assistance for herself and her co-author, Vincent Larivière. They were working on a substantial empirical analysis addressing the gender gap in science. Although they regularly published papers and gave talks related to the book's research, they struggled to carve out the time needed to complete the writing. The publisher's deadline had long passed, and they had lost motivation, felt a sense of shame, and were disappointed that their important work was not reaching a wider audience.

Initially unsure of how I could help, given that I am not an editor, I realized they needed more than editing; they needed motivation and the confidence to complete the project. Drawing from my experience guiding individuals through the Book Sprints process, I understood the importance of having a deadline, a clear plan, structure, and human connection to navigate the challenging moments.

Proud co-authors of their newly published book.

In our weekly meetings, we assessed the state of their drafts and revisions, identified bottlenecks, and formulated a finishing plan. Together, we established a writing routine for each of them, experimenting with techniques such as dedicated one-hour blocks during their day and collaborative Zoom sessions. While they didn’t always achieve their goals, they showed up every week and could honestly reflect on themselves and what held them back. Sometimes this was a niggling doubt about the book that needed to be aired or a hard decision to be made about cutting chapters, and sometimes it was their habits or friction in how they worked together. They usually found solutions themselves; my role was to ask the right questions and created a space for problem-solving.

Last year, their book, titled Equity for Women in Science: Dismantling Systemic Barriers to Advancement, was published with a heartfelt acknowledgment of my role in their process: 

“First and foremost we would like to thank Faith Bosworth for propelling the project forward through every barrier. This book simply would not exist without her.”

Any doubt I had about my impact dissolved, prompting me to start offering this service to other contacts. A few months and clients later, I'm excited to share this more widely. I am incredibly grateful to Cassidy and Vincent for everything they taught me, and for unexpectedly nudging me into a fulfilling new career direction.

Have you hit a roadblock in your writing process and need support? Get in touch.