Take your readers on a heroine's journey

Welcome to

STORIES WITH SPINE:

Bringing the heroine's journey to life in today's narratives. Because when the story changes, everything else does too.

Hello. I'm Catriona Mitchell, non-fiction book coach.

Stories with Spine is for you if:

You're writing a non-fiction book about feminine archetypes, mythology and mysteries, with the aim of calling these back into consciousness, conversation and culture.

Your book idea explores the power and mystery of the feminine in all of us, especially the aspects that have been lost or exiled over centuries, because these incorporate vital, not optional, organs of our human and collective intelligence.

You'll present an alternative to our hyper-productive, anthropocentric, left-brain-dominated worldview, because we're distanced from the deep intelligence held within our bodies, and disconnected from the Earth, with consequences that affect us all.

I'll help you find your story spine - the potent shift in perspective you'll offer your readers - so you can articulate the point and purpose of your project, and how it will interact with the world. Then we'll flesh out your ideas into a detailed book outline and a compelling proposal to pitch to agents and publishers.

This is how your book can inspire a profound re-shaping of culture... one reader at a time.

You believe that vital aspects of the archetypal feminine have been lying dormant in the collective psyche, in our stories and our world. It's time to bring them back to life; and you have a role to play in their revival.

Your book embraces such themes as:

Mythology
Archetypes
Mysticism
Eros

Tantra
Creativity
Embodiment
Deep ecology

On the simplest level, the Goddess is the Earth." - Joseph Campbell

Book coaching is where the muse meets the marketplace.

My methodology incorporates story coaching, project management, editorial feedback, industry insights, creative unblocking and emotional support.

It involves a dance between left and right brain: I acknowledge the deep mystery of the creative process, while also holding you accountable to deadlines to move you forwards.

This process asks you to bring your whole self to the work. It's difficult and emotionally challenging. At some point you will want to run away. But capturing your most compelling vision for your book, and putting it out into the world, is one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer.

About BOOK COACHING

Together, let's work on the pragmatics required to support your creative vision.

I offer book development in 5 steps:

Defining your book's point and purpose
Structuring and outlining your book
Creating a detailed 50-80+ page proposal
Pitching to literary agents and publishers
Developmental editing.

COACHING services

Are you and I on the same page?

We might create some magic together if:

You are an educator, and an expert in your field.

You have a book in mind that's rooted in your professional expertise.

You're passionate about your subject, and have already done the research and development for your book through teaching, speaking, writing, film-making, consulting and/or coaching.

You're writing a book that will endure because of its richness and depth of content. It's not just a marketing pamphlet for your business.

Your ideas have been tried and tested over time, including in written form: articles, blogs, essays, and/or previously published books.

You would like your message to reach greater numbers via a non-fiction book that supports your education platform, and becomes a vital part of your professional ecosystem.

Are we compatible?

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

My services are sequential, interlinked, and tailored to your unique vision and needs.

You're at ideas development stage

We begin by zero-ing in on the point and purpose of your book idea. This is difficult to do early on, but tremendously helpful. By clarifying what your book is about, and its value for the reader, you'll start your project off on a strong footing.

MINI STORY SPINE

→ You'd like to flesh out your narrative

Once you know the scope of your project, you need to find a structure that works. I'll support you in creating a detailed book outline before you write your full manuscript. This way you know exactly where you're going, before you start writing your long-form manuscript.

YOUR STORY SPINE

→ You need a proposal for agents / publishers

You have a clear sense of the role and purpose of your book, as well as the structure of your contents. Now it's time to prepare a compelling and professional book proposal to pitch to literary agents and publishers.

YOUR BOOK PROPOSAL

→ You have a full-bodied manuscript to edit

You have a solid working draft and are seeking a manuscript assessment or a more detailed developmental edit, offering feedback on what's working and what isn't at the big-picture level - all from an editor who is sensitive to your vision.

EDITING PACKAGES

Discover how to take your readers on a heroine's journey

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