How I Used My Career Coaching Experience to Land a Book Deal

A career pivot is a career pivot, after all.

Once upon a time, before I ever gave any serious thought to becoming an author, I was a recruiter. Then I was an HR Manager. Then, a resume writer, a career advice columnist, and finally a career coach. For the most part, I really enjoyed working in the recruiting world. Helping others find jobs they love (or at least like) is incredibly rewarding.

But then one day, I decided that I was ready to write a book.

My knowledge of books was limited to, well, reading them. I had no idea where to begin.

What I did know how to do was execute a thoroughly researched career pivot. I’d been telling other people how to do that for years.

Now it was my turn.

Admittedly, the path to becoming an author isn’t as straightforward as some career pivots can be, but the basic process is quite applicable. Here’s how I did it…

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Step One: Research

The first thing I’d tell anyone considering a change is to do their research. Look at job postings. Look at the LinkedIn profiles of the people who work at the company you want to work for or have the type of job you want. How did they get there? What skills do they have that you need to cultivate?

In my case, I had to learn things like how a book gets published, what the word count of a finished manuscript should be, how to get an agent, and what an editor does. So you know, everything.

I soon realized that I needed to write a book before I could do anything else.

Step Two: Invest in Learning

People in the career advising business call this a “skills gap analysis.” I quickly realized that understanding the publishing industry wouldn’t do anything for me if I didn’t know *how* to write a book. So, I enrolled in a part-time, two-year writing program (which is how DEAR DOTTY began).

What drew me to the Stanford Continuing Studies Novel Writing Certificate program was that the entire focus was on guiding students through the process, from initial inspiration to revision. Even better, we’d get feedback from teachers (all of whom were published themselves) and fellow students. I knew I needed to learn the craft of novel writing before moving forward and for me, this was the best option.

Step Three: Build My Skills

In addition to the novel writing program, I wanted to get experience submitting work, implementing feedback, working with editors, and even getting rejected — all things I’d need to be comfortable with if I wanted to make this my career. I wrote articles for The Muse, Forbes, Business Insider, and FastCompany; I blogged about living aboard a 45-foot boat; I workshopped pages in my novel writing class; I submitted a short story that was rejected about ten times before Story Shares published it.

Getting better at the craft of writing was so much fun. Getting better at taking in feedback and rejection? Less fun!

I could write an entire newsletter on how important feedback is and why you shouldn’t take rejection personally, but I’ll save that for another day…

Step Four: Network

Once I’d completed a draft of my manuscript (which took two years), I felt ready to learn more about how to get it published. I applied to the Northern California Writers’ Retreat (which I can’t recommend highly enough!).

Connecting with fellow writers provided both emotional support during rejection-filled months and practical knowledge about querying strategies and publishing timelines. These peers became my first readers, accountability partners, and eventually my blurbers and book launch conversation partners (huge thanks to Sarah Chamberlain and Alyssa Jarrett).

Meeting industry professionals gave me insights that no amount of internet research could provide. However, I quickly learned an important truth: Knowing someone with an ‘in’ might get your manuscript read faster, but it won't get you published if your book isn't compelling. Connections can open doors, but ultimately, your writing must speak for itself. While networking is essential, continuously improving your craft is even more important.

Step Five: Reframe My Online Presence

The closer I came to being ready to query, the more I focused on building my platform. I already had a website for my career advice articles and an Instagram about boat life, so I decided to repurpose them. I updated my website to include a section about my writing journey and upcoming novel. I shifted my Instagram content to include more behind-the-scenes glimpses of my writing process alongside the boat life posts. This gave me a foundation to build an author platform without starting completely from scratch.

Step Six: Get Real About Finances

Also known as: don’t quit your day job. In the midst of this lengthy career pivot that came with absolutely no guarantees, I decided to juggle a couple of freelance jobs that would give me enough flexibility to write while also allowing me to, you know, live*.

While I was in my writing program, I worked as a personal assistant, a real estate assistant, a career advice columnist, a freelance resume writer, and a contract career coach. Sometimes all at once! In case you’re wondering, yes, I was tired.

*I also want to note that my sweet, supportive husband, Brian, worked full-time during this period and that we don’t have children. None of this is one-size-fits-all.

Step Seven: Prepare My “Application” Materials

In this case, my 'application' was my very, very polished manuscript and my query letter (which I was delighted to find wasn't too dissimilar from a cover letter). I spent months refining my query letter, researching agents who represented books similar to mine, and personalizing each submission. Just like with job applications, I made sure my first impression was impeccable — no typos, proper formatting, and a compelling hook that would make agents want to read more.

Step Eight: Be Patient and Hope for the Best

Publishing moves slowly. Like, slower than a sloth. Or a snail*. After sending out queries, I settled in for the long wait. Some agents responded within days, others took months, and some never responded at all. When I finally received an offer of representation, it was nearly nine months after I'd sent my first query. And that was just the beginning — the submission process to publishers took even longer. If you’re serious about publishing, know that patience isn't just a virtue. It's a requirement.

Step Nine: Keep Going

Keep writing. Keep networking. Work on the next thing. While waiting to hear back from agents, I started outlining my second novel and continued building relationships with other writers. This kept me sane during the waiting periods and ensured I was developing my skills and expanding my network.

Having other projects in development turned out to be more than just a way to stay busy! When I eventually got interest from editors, they wanted to know what else I was working on. Because I hadn't stopped creating, I had multiple ideas to discuss, ultimately leading to a second book contract.

For many writers, their debut manuscript doesn't sell, not because it isn't good, but because the market is incredibly competitive. The authors who succeed long-term are often those who can emotionally detach from one project and pour their creativity into the next. Each manuscript teaches you something new about writing, and sometimes it's your second, third, or tenth book that finally breaks through. The key is to keep creating, no matter what happens with your current project.

Step Ten: Always Be Ready to Reevaluate

Be open to the idea that something isn't working. Just as I advised job seekers to tweak their strategy if their current approach wasn't yielding results, I had to be honest with myself about what was and wasn't working in my writing and querying process.

If you aren’t hearing back from agents, your query letter might need some help. If you’re getting requests for partials, but no fulls, maybe you need to tighten up those opening pages.

After receiving consistent feedback about certain aspects of my manuscript, I took a step back and made significant revisions before I started sending queries. Being flexible and willing to adapt your approach based on feedback is often what separates successful authors from those who give up too soon.

Pivoting from recruiter to novelist isn’t exactly the same as changing careers from, say, accounting to customer service, where you’re applying for job openings using just your resume and perhaps a cover letter. Future authors don’t apply for job openings — we pitch a product using a query letter and maybe a few pages from our manuscript to an agent and hope they want to represent us.

That said, my career pivot from helping others find their dream jobs to pursuing my own dream of becoming an author followed the same fundamental roadmap I shared with countless clients. The journey to publication, like any meaningful career change, requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to learn. While the specifics may vary, the principles remain the same: do your research, build your skills, connect with the right people, and don't give up.

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You can see my years-long publication timeline here.

For more writing resources, check out the For Writers page on my website!

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*Remind me to look up what the slowest animal on earth** is after this.

**Okay, I did. It’s a three-toed sloth and OMG they’re so cute!