For twelve years, people told Meadow Rae Khoury she should write a book.

(Twelve years! That's a lot of "you shoulds.")

Meadow runs a doggy daycare, where she teaches dogs how to be dogs—and people how to "speak" dog. Every time she shared something with one of her dog's parents that shifted their understanding, they told her, "You should write a book!"

Meadow wasn't so sure at first.

She worried she didn't have enough to say. She wasn't much of a writer. She didn't know how to organize the vast knowledge in her head into something book-shaped.

Then a writer friend nudged her to come to a session I was teaching at the Hillsboro Library.

Four months after we started working together, she had a finished draft. And this week, her book Dog Speak officially launches!

(Happy book birthday, Meadow!)

I've been thinking about what made the difference, because it wasn't that Meadow suddenly was "ready" to write that book, or that she finally knew enough.

What changed was the support around her.

Step 1: Start with structure

First, we built her Story Map. Instead of just listing out everything she knew about dogs, we talked through who she was trying to serve, why she was writing the book, and what shape the book needed to take.

Step 2: Break it into manageable chunks

Once we had that Story Map, we broke it down into chunks and I interviewed her through the outline.

She then used the transcripts of our calls to write the first draft, chapter by chapter.

Step 3: Walking with a guide

Each week, Meadow worked on the next piece of the puzzle and sent it to me for review. I answered her questions, helped shape the draft, and suggested ways to make each chapter stronger.

The combination of accountability and knowing that I had eyes on her work kept her on track.

Step 4: Just talk it out!

When Meadow told me she was getting frustrated trying to type out her thoughts, I suggested she try dictation. She loved it!

"I couldn't type as fast as I was thinking," she told me later, "so [dictation] made it a lot more feasible."

Step 5: Commit to the work

Meadow had someone in her corner every step of the way. Someone checking in, asking how the chapter was going, and reminding her the book was worth finishing on the days it didn't feel like it.

But, seriously, all the credit goes to her.

As her coach, my favorite thing was watching her dive in with her whole heart, making the time and blasting through obstacles—because finishing this book was just that important to her.

She also brought her own story to the book in a way I wasn't expecting—and made me tear up when I was editing.

Pretty damn good for someone who told me she wasn't a writer. :)

Here's what she wrote afterward:

Have people been telling you to write a book for years, but it's still living in your head?

The problem probably isn't that you don't have enough to say. You might just need a map and someone in your corner.

​You can hear Meadow tell the whole story here.

And I'd love to know: how long have people been telling you to write your book?

Hit reply. I read every one.

Talk soon,

Jessie

P.S. If you've ever wondered what your dog is trying to tell you, Dog Speak is out now. Go give Meadow some book birthday love!