Coach Write

By Helen ONeill

Welcome to the Coach Write Podcast, where we turn coaching expertise into published pages.

I'm Helen ONeill, portfolio career specialist, accredited future of work coach, and author.

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FAQs about Coach Write:

How many episodes does Coach Write have?

The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.

Coach Write episodes:

June 24, 2026 The Footnotes: What I Learned at Self-Publishing Show Live 2026
In this episode of the footnotes, Helen ONeill shares her key takeaways from SPS Live 2026, the largest independent author conference in Europe. Here are some speakers whose sessions resonated most:
Tom Donnelly on separating your creative and critical brain when you write
Becca Syme on questioning the writing rules you've always been told to follow
Becca Syme on the eight types of fans and what they mean for your coaching practice
Oriana Leckert on how Kickstarter works and whether it could work for your book
Ricardo Fayet and Sara Usera on using data, not guesswork, to drive your Amazon ad decisions
Sacha Black on building an authorship business with talent, honesty, and grit
Rachel McLean on burnout, simplicity, and deciding what enough actually looks like
Subscribe to the Coach Write podcast wherever you're listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Your words can make a difference; a review can too.
Connect with Helen:
Coach Write Reflections newsletter: https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write
People and Resources Mentioned
Tom Donnelly https://www.tddonnelly.com/
Becca Syme https://betterfasteracademy.com/
Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/
Ricardo Fayet https://www.ricardofayet.com/
Sara Usara https://www.booksflyer.com/about
Reedsy https://reedsy.com/
Sacha Black writing as Ruby Roe https://www.rubyroe.co.uk/
Rachel McLean https://rachelmclean.com/
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22min
June 17, 2026Averil Price on Writing Your Legacy While You're Still Living It
Avreil Price is a leadership coach, consultant and founder of AV Consultancy, who helps senior leaders step back, recognise the impact they have already made, and shape what comes next. Her debut book, The Legacy Coach: Your Next Chapter, Your Legacy, Your Way, grew out of her own experience of life-changing transition, including recovering from a brain haemorrhage in 2020, relocating from England to Wales, and leaving a 30-year career in local government to set up her consultancy.
In this episode you'll discover:
How a single coffee conversation and the words "send me chapter one" became the spark that turned Averil's book idea into a reality, and why accountability and the right writing community made all the difference
Why Averil gathered real-world feedback on her manuscript by working with six volunteer readers over six months, and how that process shaped the book and kept her writing
What happened when a professional editorial relationship went badly wrong, and the lesson Averil learned about taking control of who you choose to work with
How The Legacy Coach sits at the centre of a broader business model, including a leadership programme for senior leaders in local government, showing how a book can anchor an entire coaching practice
Why Averil believes your legacy is not something you leave behind but something you are already building, and how helping people see that changes the decisions they make
Connect with Averil:
Website: https://www.avieconsultancyltd.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/averil-price-14674526/
Book: The Legacy Coach: https://amzn.to/4fOhey5
Connect with Helen:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen
Instagram: @coach_write
Newsletter: https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
People and Resources Mentioned:
Solace https://solace.org.uk/
Bookish: https://www.book-ish.co.uk/about-us/
Sian-Elin Flint Freel https://www.linkedin.com/in/sian-elin-flint-freel-8959844/
The Coaching Tools Compendium: A Journey of Discovery and Growth by Sandra Whiles https://amzn.to/4eH24ta
...more
47min
June 10, 2026Do I Write the Book or Build the Coaching Programme First? (And is it worth doing both?)
One of the questions Helen gets asked most often is this: should I write the book first, or build the programme first? In this episode of The Footnotes, Helen digs into the chicken-and-egg reality of aligning a signature coaching programme with a book, and why doing both can be one of the most powerful things a coach can do for their business and their credibility. She covers four key benefits of having both, four pitfalls to watch out for, and a practical reflection exercise to help you get started, wherever you are right now.
In this episode:
Why your ideal client and your ideal reader are the same person
How writing a book clarifies your thinking in ways that working in the coaching room simply cannot
The credibility gap that a book can close, and why a hundred LinkedIn posts won't do it
Why having a book makes marketing feel less like selling and more like sharing
The four pitfalls: doing both without a plan, the book and programme drifting apart, perfectionism, and writing for everyone
How to begin: mapping the transformation at the heart of both your book and your programme
Connect with Helen
Book Strategy Session: https://coachwrite.co.uk/strategy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen
Instagram: https://instagram.com/coach_write
Coach Write Reflections newsletter: https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
...more
15min
June 03, 2026Coaching skills for leaders who aren't coaches, with Dr Phil Renshaw
Helen speaks with Dr Phil Renshaw, co-author of Coaching on the Go. In this episode you'll discover:
Why coaching has been accidentally over-professionalised, and why teaching managers to coach using a professional coaching framework is costing organisations time and money
How Phil and his co-author Jenny Robinson wrote their book Coaching on the Go before approaching a publisher, and what that unconventional choice taught them about the writing process
What it really takes to land a traditional publishing deal, including how to pitch, what publishers are looking for, and why Phil and Jenny were turned down four times before Pearson said yes
How the Gizmo profiling tool grew out of the book and became the engine of Phil's coaching business, creating a long-tail model that keeps the book commercially relevant years after publication
Phil's honest advice for coaches who want to write a book, including why getting clear on your real motivation before you start is the most important step of all
Subscribe to the CoachWrite podcast wherever you're listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Your words can make a difference; a review can too.
Connect with Helen
Join the Scribe Circle: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/scribecircle
Sign up for the free weekly email: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write
Join the no commitment wait list for the next cohort of Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
Books: https://amzn.to/3MPS2Lq

Connect with Phil
Website: www.coachingonthego.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renshawphil/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coachingonthego
Book: https://amzn.to/4wXN6X1

Resources mentioned:
https://coachbot.ai/
Content for Everyone by Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini: https://amzn.to/4uJokIE
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50min
May 27, 2026The Footnotes: How to Actually Get Book Reviews
Getting reviews for your book is a lot like getting testimonials when you first start your coaching practice. You know they matter. What nobody tells you is how hard they are to get.
In this solo episode, Helen shares why book reviews are so important, how to build a review strategy before you even publish, and some practical ways to make it as easy as possible for your readers to leave their thoughts.
In this episode:
Why reviews are about far more than the warm and fuzzies
What an ARC is and how to use advanced readers to kickstart your launch
Where to direct readers, and why Goodreads is becoming increasingly important
The paid services that connect you with reviewer communities
The rules of asking well: be specific, give the link, and say thank you
Connect with Helen
Newsletter: https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17798513.Helen_ONeill
Website: https://coachwrite.co.uk
...more
12min
May 20, 2026Smart Conflict: Alice Driscoll and Louise Van Haarst on Co-Authoring with Purpose
Helen speaks to Alice Driscoll and Louise Van Haarst, co-founders of The Powerhouse and co-authors of the bestselling book Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work.

In This Episode You'll Discover:
How Alice and Louise moved from a chance meeting at Henley Business School to co-founding The Powerhouse and writing their bestselling book, Smart Conflict.
Why having a fully developed workshop methodology meant they never faced a blank page, and how writing a detailed book proposal shaped their entire structure before a word was written.
The practical reality of co-authoring while running a fast-scaling business, including how they divided the writing, managed tight deadlines, and kept a single voice across the manuscript.
How Smart Conflict has opened unexpected doors since publication, including a place on the Thinkers 50 Radar 30 list, a Business Book Award finalist spot, and organic gifting by readers to their own clients and teams.
Their honest reflections on using AI in the writing process, the challenges of cover design, and the lessons they would share with any coach considering writing a book.

Connect with Alice and Louise
Website: https://thepowerhouse.company
Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work: https://amzn.to/4uO5lwk

Connect with Helen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write
Sign up for Coach Write Reflections, the free weekly newsletter for coaches who write: https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections/
Get your free guide to publishing options and episode show notes at coachwrite.co.uk

People and Resources mentioned
The Artists Way by Julia Cameron https://amzn.to/4dBVPq0
Audible royalty model changes: https://www.acx.com/mp/blog/audible-new-royalty-model
Coaching at work magazine https://www.coaching-at-work.com/
Thinkers 50 radar: https://thinkers50.com/radar-2025/
Business book awards: https://www.businessbookawards.co.uk/

Subscribe to the Coach Write podcast wherever you’re listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Your words can make a difference a review can too.
...more
54min
May 06, 2026Holger Nils Pohl on Creating Clarity and Why Books Deserve to Be Beautiful
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why treating your book as a key business resource rather than a sales tool is the strategy that builds long-term thought leadership
How Kickstarter crowdfunding works as a publishing tool
The case for selling your books direct through your own platform, and how owning your customer data creates relationships that convert readers into coaching clients
How painting the edges of books by hand became a unique collector's edition, and what it teaches us about the value of things that deliberately do not scale
How life reshaped Holger’s creative process, and the unexpected way AI became a tool for rebuilding the ability to write

People and Resources Mentioned
To join this cohort of Coach Write90 go to https://coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
The murder at Kendrick Manor by Jody Derby https://amzn.to/429cXxa
People who Pivot by Helen ONeill https://amzn.to/429RcNI
Authors Guild statement about model AI clause https://authorsguild.org/news/use-of-ai-in-publishing-and-new-model-contract-clause/
Prowriting Aid https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=15255
Shopify https://www.shopify.com/
Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/
Brandon Sanderson https://www.brandonsanderson.com/
Kevin Kelly a Thousand True Fans https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/

Connect with Holger
Website: www.holgernilspohl.com
Newsletter (with goodies attached!) www.holgernilspohl.com/email
Social media: everywhere under holgernilspohl

Connect with Helen
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write
...more
59min
April 29, 2026How to Get Your Book Into the Hands of Readers
This week's episode is a solo show on the question we always ask guests on the show. How do you get your book into the hands of readers?
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why getting your metadata right is the unglamorous but essential foundation of book discoverability, including categories, keywords and your blurb
How to use social media and your existing community to build momentum, whether your book is freshly launched or already out in the world
The power of promotion stacking and the book promotion sites that can give your launch sales a real boost
How paid advertising on Amazon and Facebook works, and why Amazon is the best place to start if you're new to it
Why podcasts, in-person events and PR are still some of the most effective ways to raise your profile as an author and get your book noticed

Resources and people mentioned
Join the next cohort of Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
Publisher Rocket: https://publisherrocket.com/
Draft to Digital: https://draft2digital.com/
Barnes and Nobel: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/
David Gaughran: https://davidgaughran.com/best-promo-sites-books/
People Who Pivot by Helen ONeill: https://amzn.to/42qrkwT
Connect with Helen
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen
...more
20min
April 15, 2026From Antarctica to Author Iain McCormick on Frustration Inoculation and the Many Routes to Publication
Helen speaks to Iain McCormick, founder of the Executive Coaching Centre, coach supervisor, and trainer, and author of five books, the most recent being Frustration Inoculation: Eight Practical Steps from Struggle to Strength.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What frustration inoculation actually means, how it differs from conventional stress management, and why a proactive approach of anticipating and preparing for difficult situations is something any coach can bring to their clients.
What it's really like to publish across every route — traditional multinational, small press, academic, hybrid, and independent — and the honest trade-offs of each, from prestige and reach to creative freedom and royalty percentages.
Why Iain's most lucrative book per month is a self-published PDF, and how independent publishing opens up possibilities.
Iain's writing philosophy: never sit down in front of a blank page, always compose in your mind first, and follow the energy of what genuinely excites you — because that spirit comes through on every page.

Connect with Iain
Website: https://iainmccormick.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iainmccormick
Book: Frustration Inoculation: Eight Practical Steps from Struggle to Strength by Iain McCormick

Connect with Helen
Free masterclass 1st May at midday: From coaching practitioner, to published author: https://coachwrite.co.uk/chapter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen/
Coach Write Reflections (free weekly newsletter): https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
People Who Pivot: https://amzn.to/4dfSqh0

People and Resources Mentioned
ProWritingAid https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=15255
Schema Coaching by Iain McCormick https://amzn.to/3QwUnw0
Donald Meichenbaum / Stress Inoculation Therapy https://www.donaldmeichenbaum.com/
Jeffrey Young / Schema Therapy
Coaching Plain and Simple by Peter Szabo https://amzn.to/41YhgLq
Cortex Journal https://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=14945&tip=sid
On the Road by Jack Kerouac https://amzn.to/4t4BtLJ
Fiverr https://www.fiverr.com/
Wispr (dictation tool) https://wisprflow.ai/
Coral Hart (AI author) https://coralhart.com/
The Bookseller https://www.thebookseller.com/
Cambridge University Press https://www.cambridge.org/
Society of Authors human authored certification https://humanauthored.co.uk/
Hachette https://www.hachette.co.uk/
...more
44min
April 01, 2026Welcome to the Museum of a Life: Sue Finch on Poetry, Coaching, and Finding Your Voice
Helen speaks to Sue Finch, EMCC accredited coach, poet, and host of the podcast Singing as the Darkness Lifts, and author of two poetry collections: Magnifying Glass and Welcome to the Museum of a Life.
In this episode you’ll learn:
How a 30-year career in education led Sue to pursue an MA in Creative Writing and why building a structured commitment around her studies was the key to making time for her writing.
The rejection that sent Sue back to the drawing board, and how a single poem called Museum of a Life unlocked an entirely new way of thinking about what a poetry collection could be.
What the curation process for a poetry collection actually looks like, from organising poems into themed galleries, to working with an editor in a Zoom room reading poems aloud, to the moment a handmade blue apple became a book cover.
How Sue weaves poetry into her coaching practice, and why she believes that hearing your own thoughts out loud is at the heart of both disciplines.
Sue's advice for coaches and aspiring poets who want to start writing: splurge first, find your tribe, and choose wise people to help you edit. (Brilliant!)

Connect with Sue:
Website: https://suefinch.co.uk/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/suefinchcoachpoet
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@poetsuefinch
Blue Sky: @suefinch.bsky.social
X: @soopoftheday
Podcast: https://suefinch.co.uk/singing-as-the-darkness-lifts-podcast/
Book: Welcome to the Museum of a Life: https://amzn.eu/d/03gMpUqT
Connect with Helen:
Free newsletter: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
People Who Pivot: https://amzn.to/4dfSqh0

People and Resources mentioned:
Anna Saunders Cheltenham Poetry Festival https://cheltenhampoetryfestival.co.uk/meet-the-team/
Arvon: https://www.arvon.org/
Queer writers for a brave new world https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/queer-writing-for-a-brave-new-world
Black Eyes Publishing https://www.blackeyespublishinguk.co.uk/
Jason Conway cover designer https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonleeconway/
Josephine Lay – editor at Black Eyes Publishing
In Good Company – Jo Hawkins and Zoe Hawkins https://www.igcompany.com/
The Table by Edip Cansever https://www.sharonsinger.ca/poem-of-the-week/table-by-edip-cansever
52 Write a Poem a Week. Start Now. Keep Going by Jo Bell https://amzn.to/4bEqanb
Gloucester Poetry Society https://www.thegloucestershirepoetrysociety.co.uk/
The Air Year by Caroline Bird https://amzn.eu/d/027OCLkj
Simplifying Coaching by Claire Pedrick https://amzn.to/48cHJIy
The Human Behind the Coach by Claire Pedrick https://amzn.to/4uWmVPj
The Coaches Inn Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/3LLZFrIkNrtUDLdukZe8iX
Dream More by Dolly Parton https://amzn.to/4vf2sFV
Nebula Awards https://nebulas.sfwa.org/about-the-nebulas/how-to-participate-rules/
...more
48min

FAQs about Coach Write:

How many episodes does Coach Write have?

The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.