Develop Your Winning Book Formula
before you plunge into the pages
You've already got a folder on your laptop called ‘My Book’. Maybe more than one. Half-started drafts, notes from three years ago, an outline you built at a retreat and never opened again.
You know you have a book in you — you've known it for a while, but every time you sit down to actually write, the same question stops you: Is this even the right book?
I assure you now that there is a way to plan and test your book concept before you begin writing, so you develop it based on evidence, not assumption.
If you are feeling stuck, it is probably not because you can't write.
You are likely stuck because you haven't started with your business and identified what function your book will play.
You don't know how to then plan & test whether your idea for the book is actually the strongest one for your reader and for your own business growth.
And you haven’t found a way to create a container of time that is just for you to work on your book dream, with access to structure, a planning process that works, a thought partner, and a sounding board.
I am Bev Ryan, and I've learned this after fifteen-plus years working with books: poor planning leads to costly problems later.
In the book production side of my business, I sometimes see what can come from fast-tracking the planning stage.
Very capable, accomplished women come to me with completed manuscripts, excited to see their book come to life.
They have worked very hard, and already completed their writing, so can be devastated to find they either have to:
> re-shape and re-write content once a good editor goes through their manuscript and points out the problems
> or comprimise, because they have locked in a tight launch deadline, and publish a book that could have been better, and could have done more for their business.
I see problems that would not have occured if the author had given their book plan the time, space and thought it needed.
Which breaks my heart.
So, why this program?
I have built this foundational 10-week ‘Winning Book Formula’ program because I've watched this happen the same way, over and over — and it always feels like a loss I could have helped prevent.
A smart woman with a genuinely strong story or body of expertise rushes past the planning stage — because it feels like the slow part, the part standing between her and the actual writing — and ends up with a book that never quite does what it could have done for her business.
Not from a lack of talent or drive. From skipping the planning and validation stages that make everything after them worth doing.
‘Your Winning Book Formula’ is my stand-alone, essential non-fiction book planning program for people who are drawn to the idea of writing a shorter book (up to 40,000 words) that has a long-term impact on their own business, and on their readers’ lives — a practical, creative and achievable result.
This isn't just another 'how-to' course you work through alone. It's a private, one-on-one action program — six live calls with me, backed by a workbook to guide your progress in between.
- Whether you have a vague book concept, a definite vision, or a burning desire amid lots of question marks, this program will ensure you truly clarify your business goals first.
- You will then identify the essential point of your book, who your readers are, how you will best help them, and the shape your book will take.
- And, before you write a word, you'll test that outline with a small group of real readers — confirming the problem you're solving is real, your solution genuinely fits, and nothing important has been missed.
A short-read, long-impact book can be a powerful thing when done well!
Why work with me as your book coach
as you develop your winning book formula?
I discovered the exciting world of self-publishing in the late '90s, and established an independent niche magazine during a stretch of my life when I was searching for my ‘brilliant next career’ that would excite me to the core. (Most women I work with know exactly what I am talking about — that’s their mission too.)
Even though I was terrified by the idea of being seen in this new space, I stepped forward and did it anyway, and I am happy to say it changed everything: I saw my magazine on the shelf with the big names like ‘O’; I connected with writers, readers and sponsors across the country; I secured media coverage; I spoke at events, and more.
Then came another award-winning magazine, a move across into books, and many years later I now help women navigate this same world as they publish quality books that actually hold up to scrutiny.
So when you sit with me on a call, wondering, 'Is this the right book? Can I really pull this off? What if I invest and it falls short?' I'm not guessing at your fear. I've navigated it.
Today, I'm a non-fiction book coach, accredited with Author Accelerator since 2022.
I'm also a trusted, experienced book production manager, with a team of editors and designers behind me, which means the judgment I bring to ‘Your Winning Book Formula’ isn't theoretical — it's shaped by taking raw, unedited manuscripts all the way through to bookstore-standard publications, over and over.
Adding my business and career coaching experience to the mix, before we ever talk chapters we talk about the business and professional life you actually want to be living in three, five, ten years from now — and where this book (and more) fit inside that picture, not as side projects, but as infrastructure for it.
(Open each section below to gather all of the details)
In 10 weeks you will ...
Articulate your book and business goals, for welcome clarity and certainty
Many authors start this process with a vague sense that a book ‘would help’ — without ever pinning down how. We'll get specific: what you want this short-read, long-impact book to do for your business and what you want it to do for you. That clarity then informs the decisions you make next.
Choose the structure that will carry your book from the first page to the last.
Not every book should be built the same way, and a short-read, long-impact book depends on the right one even more than a longer book does. We'll find the structure that actually fits your material and your message, so writing it feels like following a map instead of guessing your way through fog.
Begin your book & business plan.
A book without a plan behind it is just a document. We'll start building the framework that connects your book to real business outcomes — because a short-read, long-impact book is designed to work for you long after publication day, by spreading your expertise and attracting readers way beyond your usual circle of influence.
Test your concept and outline with real readers before you write a word.
Once your outline is built, I will help you take it to a small group of the people you're actually writing for. You'll find out whether the problem you think you're solving is the one they're actually struggling with, whether your proposed solutions genuinely land, and what they'd add that you haven't thought of yet.
Define your ideal reader in real detail
No more vague ‘women like me’. You'll leave knowing exactly who you're writing for: their specific frustrations, what they’ve already tried, and what they actually need to hear from you. That precision is what makes a short book land with real weight — a book written for someone vague speaks to no one, but a book written for someone specific speaks directly to the right people, and they feel it.
Distil your core message into something unmistakably yours that drives you on
And that you can happily talk and write about in many contexts. This isn't a marketing tagline exercise. It's finding the thread that's actually true to you — the thread strong enough to carry a short book that still delivers a long-lasting impact, and one you'll still be energised to talk about in interviews, in your marketing, and in conversations with clients, long after the book is finished.
Plot the journey you want your reader to take through the book.
Before a single chapter gets written, you'll map how your reader moves from where they are now to where your book leaves them — the exact shape a short-read book needs, so every page earns its place, and nothing feels like filler.
Know what traditional publishing and independent publishing options entail.
You'll understand the responsibilities of the independent option — full ownership, your own timeline, your own imprint — and you'll also know exactly what to do at this point if you'd rather investigate the traditional route before committing to a direction.
By the end of this program
- You'll have a validated concept, structure, and book outline — not just an idea you liked this week.
- You will have built it with your book coach, who knows the difference between an idea that sounds nice and one that will actually work for you and your readers.
- And you will have run it past a group of those readers to gather their reactions — and suggestions.
- You will be ready to write a winning book built on evidence, not assumption. You'll know your book framework stands up, because the people it's for have already told you so.
With Bev’s book coaching program and book production services, I went from having a strong desire to write ‘something’, to clarifying my business methodology, telling my story, and having a book in my hands within a year. She also managed the construction of my new website. I am now the published author of ‘Confessions of a Woman in Real Estate’, using my book to build my coaching business. I would not have made any progress with my initial ideas if I had kept going alone.
When I read Bev's description of short-read, long-impact books, I thought — is this written for me? This is exactly what I needed. Bev's coaching process is brilliant and was pitched at the right level for me. I was genuinely shocked at how valuable it was at the right time in my writing journey, and I greatly value what she's doing. Bev brings deep expertise and so many materials — she's inspired me to just get on and write.
Bev provided a very clear book planning framework which I used to first shape the contents of my book, and later to ensure that this content was relevant, practical and on point. I then published ‘The Teaching Game‘ after signing with the publishing company Amba Press, who were very impressed with my book blueprint and snapped it up only nine months after first working with Bev. And I have since published my second book, ‘The Leadership Game‘, with Amba Press after using the same blueprint and Bev’s assistance before I began writing.
What's included in this program
- Comprehensive workbook that steps you through a logical process, and clarifies business & book goals
- Selection of book structures that could fit you and your message
- Guidance as you create your survey with potential readers
- Six individual Zoom coaching calls with Bev, scheduled to suit your availability each fortnight
- Chapter outline format that requires deep thought and clears the path
- Coaching review and feedback on your material
At the end of this program, you have the option to progress to Step 2 - 'Write Your First Chapters' - where you incorporate the results of your reader surveys, firm up your book content plan, and begin writing. (This can be tailored to traditional or independent publishing at this point.)
OR you can go your own way and work further on your book, confident in your direction …
COST: THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $600
TOTAL: AUD $1800
You don't need the whole book figured out to start.
You just need to be ready to find out which book is really yours to write.
Frequently Asked Questions
What technology would I use in this program?
I like to keep things as simple as possible. I send material and information via emails clearly marked ‘Winning Book Formula’ in the subject line. I use Zoom for meetings, and Fathom to record them so I can then send you the recording and transcription via clearly marked emails. It becomes your responsibility to store those emails and materials together in your system.
I use Google Docs to share your documents in Word so we can both access them to edit and add comments, questions, etc. If I must message you quickly, I use WhatsApp if you have it on your phone. Otherwise, I text you.
Can't I just use AI to figure out my book concept?
AI can generate ideas. It can't tell you which one is actually worth six to twelve months of your life, or push back when your favourite idea isn't your strongest one. That comes with experience and human judgment (e.g., yours, publishing professionals, and your potential readers) and it's the whole reason this program exists.
AI is fickle, if you have not discovered that yet. It will compliment you on your ideas, which can lead you down a falsely confident path if you seek no other input. You want a human book, so beware.
What if I write a book and it doesn't lead to anything?
That risk almost always comes from skipping this planning step — writing before the concept, the reader, and the business goals are locked in. This program exists to help catch that risk early. (However, there are many variables in the book publishing and marketing process, and this program alone does not guarantee how the market responds once your book is published.)
What if I take more than 10 weeks?
I am a little flexible when I work with individual clients because life happens. Payments are locked into a set schedule; however, the meetings and deadlines can be adjusted within a total of 16 weeks. After that, there may be an extra fee involved if the program has not been completed, depending on individual circumstances.
This program is built for busy business owners — six calls, and a few hours each week for thinking and planning. It’s also a good way to set aside dedicated time for your book, that you carry on into the writing stage.
And if you get to the end of this program and realise you’re not ready to write yet, that's not failure — that's the program doing its job. Better to know now than six months into the wrong book. AND, you will have done a significant amount of work and gathered valuable knowledge (and your brain will continue working on it). If and when you are ready, you will start from this point, not the beginning again. (No refunds apply.)
How will I publish my book?
There are three paths: traditional publishing; self-publishing with expert help so you deliver a book to bookstore standards; or working with a ‘hybrid’ team you pay to produce your book, and they publish and distribute it under their brand. You don't need to decide which path before you begin.
Whichever publishing path you choose, this program builds the foundation a strong book depends on — a validated concept, a clear reader, and a message that holds up under questioning.
It doesn't walk you through the mechanics of a formal proposal or querying agents, since most of my clients are building their book to grow their business directly.
However, if traditional publishing is your preferred path, this program will become an essential component in your book pitch.
I can guide you through that as a separate process after you complete this program, if you want further support at that point.
What is your refund policy?
This is determined on an individual basis. If, for some unforeseen reason, you are forced to leave the program early, future payments could be cancelled. No past payments will be refunded.
COST: THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $600
Total: AUD $1800
When you know you get big things done with the right support, this book planning program is for you.