Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire L. Fishback.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It all started in 2017 with a challenge between writing friends to write for at least 20 minutes every day. The challenge? Toucan20. The winnings? The person with the least amount of logge days had to buy the other two dinner or drinks.
That’s how it all began. The more I talked about Toucan20 with people, and with a little prodding from my friend and bestselling thriller author, LS Hawker, the more I wanted to teach other writers about it, spread the word, create almost like a movement among busy authors!
I ended up writing and publishing a book (You Can, Toucan! Do More in Less Time), creating a free mini-course, and finally, launching a full blown course that incorporates not only finding time to write, but also touches on the writer’s mindset, creating habits, and overtaking goals, all within the first five months of 2022.
Somewhere along the way, I listened to a podcast episode in which Author Accelerator founder, Jennie Nash, talked about book coaching. At the time, I didn’t even know it was a thing! In the interview, she laid out all the key skills a prospective book coach should have. I checked off every single one. I joined her book coach certification program at the end of 2022. At the time of writing this, I have one practicum left in her college-level-esque course with plans to apply for certification in June 2024.
With the goal of becoming a book coach on the horizon, I started brainstorming and crafting book coaching services. I have coaching programs for writers at any stage of the book writing process: the beginning, middle, and end. I even have programs for writers who want to start a writing practice, and for help with mindset around writing.
I love motivating and inspiring fellow writers on their path to reaching The End.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it hasn’t been rough or rocky either. More like rolling hills. Mainly because I’m juggling my business and coaching clients with a full-time job and my own writing career, not to mention making time for my amazingly supportive husband and our pittie mix, Kira.
The biggest struggle I have is not letting the work consume me. I have so many ideas for new tools, resources, and courses for writers, and I want to work on all of them at once!
Finding balance and taking time to rest and time away to let ideas marinate is something I constantly have to be aware of and adjust. Family is top priority to me, but I’m not perfect. Sometimes Kira has to nose stamp my computer off my lap to get my attention.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an enthusiastic and imaginative author coach who uses way too many exclamation points, talks too much about my beloved pittie mix, Kira, and is fueled by inspiring and motivating fellow writers!
From concept to creation, I coach novelists and aspiring novelists to develop their story sparks into novel-worthy ideas, so they have the inspiration and motivation they need to reach The End.
I offer digital products, courses, and author and book coaching services for any stage of the writing journey.
I provide a safe space for writers to brainstorm. What I mean by that is, I won’t tell them what they should write, or how to write it. I ask questions to get them to think deeper about their story and the options and to help them get unstuck. I only offer ideas with their consent, because I’ve been in groups before where the other members told me what I should do with my story, and I know how damaging that can be to the writer’s vision.
The stories I work with belong to the writers. I tell them that up front, so they know if something I say doesn’t resonate, they don’t have to follow that advice. My role is to be that one person in their life who has a deep and affectionate knowledge of their story, who tells them the truth in an inspiring and motivating way, who believes in them and their story, especially when they don’t believe in themselves or their stories. My main goal with any writer is to help them get excited about their story, enough so that they’ll reach The End. The world needs stories right now. People need escape. That’s what stories provide.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Believing in myself has been a major mindshift in the past six months.
When you run an online business, it gets pretty lonely. Sometimes you don’t know if what you’re doing is what you should be doing, or how you should do it. Believing in yourself and finding your own way is the best lesson I learned recently. So many gurus out there will tell you the “right” way to do something–run a webinar to sell a high ticket program. Have a free lead magnet to build your newsletter–but just like with writing a book, there’s no one way to run a business. There’s no right way or wrong way. I’m having fun experimenting and knowing the way I’m doing things is my right way.
That all comes down to believing in myself and having the self-awareness to know what I can and can’t handle and what I do and don’t want to do. Showing up in a way that doesn’t fit with your personality or values is a major disservice to your audience and clients. I believe in authenticity and value everyone’s uniqueness, including my own.
Pricing:
- Write More in Less Time mini-course – Free!
- Novel-Worthy Idea Workbook – Free!
- The Busy Author Toolbox course – $197
- Book coaching services starting at $497
- Manuscript evaluation $7 per page
Contact Info:
- Website: https://youcantoucan.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/clairelfishback
