One-on-One Author Coaching

You have a book
inside you.
Let's get it out.

I'm Steven Howard, award-winning author of 26 books. I've spent 15 years helping people turn what they know into something worth reading, and then getting it published. Not through a publishing house. Just you and me, one conversation at a time.

See How Coaching Works

I work with nonfiction authors who are passionate about their topics and who can inspire and motivate personal or professional development.

Steven Howard, award-winning author and writing and publishing coach
26Books published
32Years writing & publishing
15Years coaching authors
14 AwardsPublishing industry recognition

The Bookshelf

Books I've written

Award-winning author of 26 leadership, business, professional and personal development, decision-making, and societal change books. Every one of them went through the process I'll walk you through. Here are some of them. Hover to pause, click any cover to see it on Amazon.

Humony Leadership: Mindsets, Skills and Behaviors for Being a Successful People-Centric Leader Asian Words of Success Better Decisions. Better Thinking. Better Outcomes. The Art of Effective Feedback Marketing Words of Wisdom 8 Keys to Becoming a Great Leader The Book of Asian Proverbs Humony Mindset: Change the World by Changing Your Mindset How Stress and Anxiety Impact Your Decision Making The Art of Effective Delegation The Best of the Monday Morning Marketing Memo Leadership Lessons from the Volkswagen Saga Indispensable Asian Words of Knowledge Humony Mindset Quotes: Words of Wisdom to Change the World by Changing Your Mindset Partnering Successfully with American Firms Powerful Marketing Memos Great Leadership Words of Wisdom Asian Words of Meaning Humony Mentalidad: Cambia El Mundo Cambiando Tu Mentalidad Coaching Words of Wisdom

The Coaching

Two things I help you accomplish

Most people who come to me need one of these, and usually, eventually, both. We start wherever you actually are, and proceed at your pace toward your desired goal and outcome.

01

Develop your writing

Structuring a book is never easy. Writers, and especially first-time authors, tend to have too many messages they want to cram into one book. We start there, then move to the writing itself: making your point land, cutting what isn't earning its place, and finding the voice that sounds like you.

  • Finding your book. Identifying which messages are most important. Which are secondary. And who you are writing for.
  • Structuring your content. A proven formula for turning your key themes, supporting messages, and substantiating detail into a coherent, practical outline that smooths and expedites the writing.
  • Developmental editing. Starts early in your writing process, while your shape can still change. Does the argument hold? Is it in the right order? Flow is critical for reader engagement.
  • Copy editing. Begins once your first draft is ready. Grammar, spelling, word choice, consistency. We polish your writing until it shines!
  • Keeping you writing. Somewhere to report back to each week, which is usually what gets a draft finished.
02

Publish your book

There are numerous decisions to make in turning a finished manuscript into a published book, and almost none of them are obvious the first time through. I have made all of them, 26 times over. I will walk you through each one and recommend the best options along the way.

  • Choosing your publishing path. Traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing, weighed honestly against what you want out of this particular book.
  • Understanding the formats. What converting your manuscript into print, eBook, and print-on-demand actually involves, and which choices matter.
  • The practical details. Page layout, trim size, ISBNs. Unglamorous decisions that cost you money or time when they go wrong.
  • Knowing when it is ready. What "ready to publish" really means, and how to tell that you are there.
  • The final steps. Creating your book page on Amazon. Identifying the right categories and SEO text. Pricing decisions. Uploading the final files.

Scope

What we work on

Every engagement is built around your project and your manuscript. These are the things that come up most.

The Format

How the coaching works

Straightforward, remote, and paced to your project rather than to a rigid program. A proven process that has enabled eight writers to publish over two dozen books. With more in the works.

Everything happens on Zoom

Coaching is fully remote, so where you live doesn't matter. You'll get a Zoom link ahead of each session. Wherever it's useful, we share screens and work directly on your outline or your manuscript while we talk.

50 minutes, one-on-one

Each session is a focused 50 minutes, just the two of us. No group calls, no recorded modules, no curriculum you work through alone. It's a real working conversation about your book, and you leave each one knowing exactly what to do next.

A cadence that fits your project

Some authors want a session every week to keep momentum. Others do better every other week, with more writing time in between. Some shift the pace as they move from drafting into production. We set your schedule when we start, and adjust it as your book and your life actually require.

Built around your manuscript

Send work ahead of a session and I'll come having read it. There's no off-the-shelf package here. The plan is shaped by what you're writing, how far along you are, and where you're getting stuck.

  1. 1

    Tell me about your book

    Send a short note about what you're writing and what you want to do with it.

  2. 2

    We talk it through

    If it's a good fit, we'll set up a first conversation about your project and your goals.

  3. 3

    We set your schedule

    Weekly, bi-weekly, or whatever the work calls for, with room to change it as we progress.

  4. 4

    We get to work

    Session by session, from where you are now to a finished, published book.

A note on availability

I take on a limited number of one-on-one clients at a time so each person gets real attention. Coaching rates depend on the scope of your project and how often we meet. We'll cover that in our first conversation.

Let's Talk
Steven Howard holding two of his books, Better Decisions. Better Thinking. Better Outcomes. and Humony Leadership
Steven Howard holding his Nonfiction Authors Association Gold Medal for Humony Leadership 2025 winner, Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Awards, for Humony Mindset

About

Steven Howard

Award-winning author of 26 leadership, business, professional and personal development, decision-making, and societal change books.

I've been writing and publishing for 32 years, and coaching other people through it for 15. Before that came a corporate career in senior sales and marketing across Asia-Pacific, Australia, and North America, with roles at Texas Instruments, TIME Magazine, BBDO, and Citibank. I've lived in the United States, Singapore, Australia, and Mexico. I write and coach from Arizona now.

What I believe

  • Structure before sentences. Most first-time authors are writing five books at once. Get the shape right and the writing gets dramatically easier.
  • Your voice, not mine. I'm not here to make your book sound like I wrote it. Good coaching makes a book sound more like you, not less.
  • Finished beats perfect. A published book that exists does more for you than a flawless one that never leaves your desk.
  • Gold Medal Nonfiction Authors Association, for Humony Leadership
  • Silver Award Nonfiction Authors Association, for Humony Mindset: Change the World by Changing Your Mindset and Better Decisions. Better Thinking. Better Outcomes.
  • Firebird Awards 2025 Best Social/Political Change Book and Best Cover Design Nonfiction, for Humony Mindset: Change the World by Changing Your Mindset
  • Firebird Awards 2025 Best Business General Book, for Partnering Successfully with American Firms
  • Firebird Awards 2023 Best Leadership and Leadership Education Book, for Humony Leadership: Mindsets, Skills, and Behaviors for Being a Successful People-Centric Leader
  • Three publishing industry awards Independent Press, National Indie Excellence, and San Francisco Book Festival, for Leadership Lessons from the Volkswagen Saga
  • Global Communicator Award Global Business News, 2025

Coached to Publication

Books and Authors I Have Coached

It is a great pleasure and honor to help other writers become authors. There's nothing like the feeling of telling the world, "I'm an author!" To date, I have helped writers produce and publish over two dozen books. And perhaps the most gratifying aspect (for me) is that many of them have asked me to help them with their second, third, and even fourth books.

Project You: Living a Determined Life 365 Motivational Quotes for Health & Wellness Project You: Words of Wisdom 365 Motivational Quotes for Emotional & Mental Happiness Project You: Forgiveness Words of Wisdom 365 Motivational Quotes for Self Motivation Project You: Fitness Words of Wisdom 365 Motivational Quotes for Success Strong Women Speak on Leadership, Success, and Living Well 365 Motivational Quotes for Living a Determined Life 7 Steps of Your Career Ladder

Authors I've Worked With

In their words

Steven has been the perfect publishing and editing partner. He understands the self-publishing business from A to Z. And he knows how to bring an author's message to the market.
Alex Chan Author, Project You: Fitness Words of Wisdom
I'm so glad I asked Steven to edit my book and help me through the writing and publishing process. His editing has enhanced my writing and he has been a fantastic publishing coach.
Rodrigo S. Martinelli Author, 7 Steps of Your Career Ladder
Steven is an excellent writing and book publishing coach who took me patiently step-by-step through the process of editing and publishing my first book. His experience in writing and publishing his own books enables him to help new authors like me navigate the strange world of self-publishing. Steven made the process seamless for me and expertly guided me through the self-publishing process.
Mark Harner Author, Living Uncommonly: Life-Changing Biblical Practices For Living A Life Of Purpose
Steven is the best coach. As a Latina author who has completed four books and has a fifth nearly ready, I've had Steven's help since the very first one, guiding me through the entire process of writing, publishing, and promoting my books. He is a deeply dedicated coach who always inspires me to give my best.
Adriana Fuentes Diaz Author, When Strong Women Speak, Strong Women Listen

Get Started

Tell me what you're writing

I work with a small number of authors at a time, so I read every note personally. Tell me about your book and what you want to do with it, and I'll come back to you.

Let's Work Together

Prefer email? stevenhoward@verizon.net