Memoir Coaching
Brad took the mystery out of book writing and tailored his mentorship to my needs. He made me do the emotional work—and it paid off. I landed a book deal soon after moving to New York.
— Mimi Hayes, author of I’ll Be OK, It’s Just a Hole in My Head
I’m Brad Wetzler, the heart-centered memoir editor and writing coach.
For more than thirty years, I’ve helped people tell true stories that matter.
As a journalist, I wrote for The New York Times, National Geographic Adventure, Outside, and GQ. As an editor, I have worked with some of America’s finest nonfiction writers.
Later, as a memoirist and teacher, I discovered that the greatest adventure isn’t out there—it’s within.
Memoir, when done well, is more than a record of events. It’s a journey into consciousness—the act of tracing what your life has been asking of you all along.
That’s the work I help people do.
Who I Work With
I work with writers, seekers, and truth-tellers who sense there’s a deeper story waiting to be written—one that connects lived experience with meaning and voice.
Whether you’re beginning a memoir, shaping essays, or circling a life story you’ve never quite been able to tell, I’ll meet you where you are and guide you through the terrain between memory and meaning.
Through my work with Brad I’ve become a more direct and accessible writer, speaker, and therapist. While I thought I was just writing a book, I emerged with a fully integrated vision of what I have to offer the world.
— Melissa Walker, MA, LPC, R-DMT
Ways to Work Together
1. Memoir Map Session
Memoir Map Session — $300
A 90-minute deep dive to find the true spine of your book.
Most writers don’t need more hours at the desk. They need a doorway into the story that feels honest. They need to understand what their life has been pointing toward, sometimes for decades. They need clarity, a sense of direction, and a simple understanding of what belongs on the page and what does not.
That’s the work we do in the Memoir Map Session.
You bring me your pages, your questions, your fragments—the scenes and memories that keep circling your mind. I read closely. I listen for the language that carries heat. I pay attention to the emotional patterns rising beneath the surface. Together, we follow the thread that holds your story together. We uncover the emotional engine, the narrative arc, and the central question your memoir has been asking all along.
What you receive
- A careful read of up to 20 pages before we meet
- A 90-minute Zoom session devoted entirely to the shape of your story
- A clear, natural arc that rises from your lived experience
- A list of the scenes that matter most
- A deeper understanding of the meaning trying to come through
- A written roadmap to guide your next several months of writing
If you feel a book living inside you but don’t yet know how to shape it, this session gives you the map you’ve been missing.
Brad helped me see what my story was truly about. The fog lifted. I left with an arc, a spine, and the courage to keep going.
— Lisa K., Santa Fe, New Mexico
2. Memoir Coaching Sessions
These sessions are for writers who want help strengthening the work already on the page. We focus on craft, voice, pacing, scene shape, and the emotional truth inside your writing. This is hands-on, page-level coaching. We work closely with the sentences, the tone, and the movement of your story.
This is different from the Memoir Map Session. The Map helps you see the spine of the whole book. Coaching helps you make the writing itself stronger, clearer, and more alive.
Single Memoir Coaching Session — $250
A focused 75-minute deep dive for clarity and next steps.
You receive:
- A careful read of up to 20 pages before we meet
- A 75-minute coaching call via Zoom
- Direct, practical notes on craft, voice, pacing, and scene work
- A short written summary of next steps
These sessions are ideal when you’re drafting chapters, revising scenes, or trying to deepen your voice and emotional presence on the page.
Brad’s feedback was so clear and insightful that I knew exactly how to move forward. His steady guidance made revising a joy again.
— Thomas Jacobson, Antigua, Guatemala, author of Lenka: A Love Story
Memoir Intensive: 3-Session Package — $750
Three 50-minute coaching sessions over six weeks for writers who want momentum, accountability, and deeper support. Each meeting builds on the last.
You’ll gain:
- A stronger narrative and emotional spine
- Clearer structure and forward movement
- A more grounded, authentic voice
- A renewed sense of creative purpose
Brad helped me understand what my story was really about. I stopped circling the surface and started writing from the soul.
— Joanna F., Pasadena, California/p>
3. Six-Month Writing Your Memoir Mentorship
For writers ready to dedicate six months to finishing or transforming a memoir or nonfiction manuscript rooted in healing, recovery, or personal and spiritual transformation.
This mentorship is a partnership. We move through your story with care and honesty. We shape the book from the inside out, listening closely to what the writing is asking of you and what your life has been trying to say.
Program Overview
- Goal Setting & Process — clarify the book’s central question and set steady, workable goals.
- Clarity & Structure — align tone, voice, and narrative shape.
- Progress I — build momentum with thoughtful, honest feedback.
- Reset — mid-program reflection and recalibration.
- Progress II — rrefine, expand, and strengthen the manuscript.
- Big Picture + Next Steps — map publishing pathways and prepare for what comes after the draft.
What You’ll Receive
- Six months of dedicated partnership
- 60-minute Zoom sessions each month (depending on plan)
- Up to 20 pages reviewed before each call
- Editorial guidance informed by three decades in publishing
- A personalized action plan and writing schedule
- Email access between sessions (two questions per week)
- A clear, grounded path toward finishing your book
Working with Brad was one of the most important decisions I made as an author. He helped me see the big picture and elevate my work where it mattered most.
— Eddie Pinero, Inspirational Speaker and YouTube Creator
Mentorship Investment Options
All plans: first three months paid upfront, remaining three billed monthly.
Comprehensive Plan (4 sessions/month)
Total: $6,100
Payment: $2,000 upfront + $820/month for 5 months
Focused Plan
(3 sessions/month)
Total: $4,800
Payment: $1,500 upfront + $660/month for 5 months
Foundational Plan (2 sessions/month)
Total: $3,600
Payment: $1,500 upfront + $420/month for 5 months
Brad has a unique ability to help writers see the forest for the trees. He gave me actionable advice that turned my manuscript around.
— *Scott Carney, author of The Wedge and What Doesn’t Kill Us
Why Work With Me
- 30 + years as a narrative nonfiction writer and editor (Outside, National Geographic Adventure, GQ, The New York Times)
- Author of Into the Soul of the World (Hachette, 2023)
- 12 + years coaching hundreds of writers to bring their stories to life
- Creator of Writing the Soul, a thriving community for soulful, embodied writing
This isn’t about formulas or quick fixes. It’s about uncovering the wisdom already living inside your story—and learning to tell it in a way that moves others.
Brad’s mentorship transformed a potent but unfocused idea into a real, living book proposal. He helped me add sophistication without losing heart.
— *Alicia Patterson, author of The Secret to Female Vitality
More Client Words
Brad helped me outline my story, pushed me to tell it vividly, and motivated me when I lost focus. If you want to write but can’t seem to get started—or keep going—hire him. You won’t regret it.
— *Captain Paul A. Jones, author of From Farm to Ocean
Brad has a knack for easing me out of my head and into my heart. His feedback is sensitive and precise. He tells you what you need to hear—even when it’s hard—and it always helps.
— J.S., Denver (Book in Progress)
Ready to Begin?
If you feel the pull to finally tell your story—to stop circling it and step fully into it—let’s talk.
Or email me directly: brad@bradwetzler.com
Writing your story is sacred work.
It takes courage, honesty, and guidance.
Let’s make something real together.
