You know the idea is real. You’ve known it for a while.
And now you’re asking the right questions. What if the writing isn’t good enough? What if telling this hurts someone you still care about? What if you get it wrong — the tone, the truth, the timing?
These aren’t reasons to stop. They’re the right questions to ask before you begin. And every one of them is answerable — not with reassurance or a pep talk, but with a structured framework that gives you an honest read on where you actually stand.
That’s what this workshop is for.
The seven questions:
In 90 minutes, we work through the seven questions that come up — in some form — for almost every woman I talk to who wants to write her story.
- Is my writing good enough to do this story justice?
- What will people think of me?
- Am I emotionally ready to write this?
- What if I regret putting this out into the world?
- What if I hurt someone I still care about?
- What if my intentions are misunderstood?
- What if there are consequences I haven’t anticipated?
For each question, you get a framework. Not a pep talk — a way of thinking through it that tells you honestly where you stand and what you need in order to move forward.
What this isn't:
This is not therapy. We’re not processing the story — we’re working through the questions about telling it.
This is not a writing class. We’re not looking at your prose. The craft comes later.
This is not a pitch for coaching. There’s no ask at the end. If you want to know more about working together, that conversation happens separately.
Who This Is For:
This workshop is right for you if:
You’ve been thinking about this story for a while and are ready to move — responsibly, not recklessly. You want to know what you’re actually stepping into before you begin.
You have a strong sense that there’s a book in your experience but want to work through the real questions before you commit to writing it.
You want a clear, honest framework for making informed decisions about your story, your readiness, and your next step — not someone telling you that you can do it, but someone showing you how to find out for yourself.
What Women Who've Attended Say
“This workshop helped me identify some of the problems preventing me from starting my memoir. I now have tools I can use to move through those blocks.”
— Susan H., workshop attendee
“Thank you for the workshop last night. As someone who is just starting her writing journey but feeling rather intimidated, the workshop was exactly what I needed to gain more clarity and to feel like my story is worth telling.”
— Karen, workshop attendee
About Valerie
I’m Valerie Cantella — a thirty-year communications strategist, Author Accelerator-certified book coach, and published memoirist.
I know what these seven questions feel like from the inside because I’ve answered them myself. My own memoir, Off-Script: A Mom’s Journey Through Adoption, a Husband’s Alcoholism, and Special Needs Parenting, is a complex, layered story — the kind where the questions about how to tell it are not theoretical. I worked through each of them before I wrote a single word. That experience shapes how I run this workshop.
I’ve since worked with women navigating their own complicated personal narratives, helping them find the shape of the story, the structure that holds it, and the clarity that makes beginning feel possible.
Workshop Details
$89 | 90 minutes via Zoom | Includes the Decision Guide
Next session: September 2026
What Comes Next
After the workshop, you’ll have a clear picture of where you stand — what’s settled, what you’re still sitting with, and what you need in order to move forward.
If you want to discuss next steps after the workshop, a Discovery Call is the right place. Twenty minutes, just the two of us. We’ll look at where you are and whether working together makes sense.
Or come to Book Coach Office Hours first — a free monthly 30-minute Zoom for Dear Kate subscribers. No commitment. Just a chance to see how I think.
