FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
about Book Development
& Creative Midwifery
naomi rose, book developer & creative midwife
Answers to common questions about book development, creative midwifery, and writing your first book using the Writing from the Deeper Self approach.
About Getting Started
Q: What if I've never written a book before? Can you help me find my way?
A: Absolutely! In fact, many of my clients are first-time authors. The beauty of the Writing from the Deeper Self book-development approach is that it doesn't require prior experience—it requires willingness to listen to yourself and trust what emerges. We start exactly where you are, with whatever is calling to you, however vague or uncertain it may feel. Your inexperience isn't a liability; it's often an asset because you haven't developed habits that might interfere with your authentic voice.
Q: What if I don't know what my book is about yet?
A: This is one of my favorite places to begin! Not knowing creates space for discovery, which often leads to the most authentic and surprising books. Through our work together, we listen for what wants to emerge from you. Sometimes the book reveals itself gradually through bits of writing, sometimes through deep conversation, sometimes through exploring what moves you most deeply in your life. The "not knowing" is fertile ground, not empty space.
Q: Do I need to be all of these things (woman over 50, healer, creative) to work with you?
A: Not at all! While I do specialize in working with women over 50, healers, and creatives, what matters most is your relationship to your inner life and your desire to bring something meaningful into the world through writing. I've worked successfully with men, with people in their 30s and 40s, with people who don't consider themselves healers or creatives but who are drawn to this more intuitive, soul-centered approach to writing. The categories are just a way of describing who tends to resonate with this work—they're not requirements.
About My Approach
Q: What's the difference between a Book Developer & Creative Midwife and a writing coach?
A: A writing coach typically focuses on craft, technique, structure, and accountability—helping you write better and stay on track. As a Book Developer & Creative Midwife, I work with all of that, but my primary focus is on helping you discover and birth what's authentically yours to say. Like a midwife attending a birth, I don't create your book—I help you bring forth what's already alive within you. The emphasis is on deep listening, intuitive guidance, and honoring your unique creative process rather than fitting you into a predetermined formula.
Q: What does "Creative Midwife" actually mean?
A: Just as a midwife assists in bringing new life into the world, a Creative Midwife assists in bringing your creative work—in this case, your book manuscript—into being. I help create the conditions where your book can emerge naturally, provide support and guidance through the labor of creation, and trust the innate wisdom of your creative process. I don't impose an external structure on you; instead, I help you discover the structure and approach that's right for your particular book and your particular way of working.
Q: What is "Writing from the Deeper Self"?
A: Writing from the Deeper Self is an approach that honors the whole person—not just your thinking mind, but your intuition, your body wisdom, your emotional intelligence, your spiritual knowing. Instead of starting with what you think you should write, we start with what's alive in you, what calls to you, what wants to be expressed through you. It's writing that comes from your authentic center rather than from external expectations or formulas. The result is writing that feels true to you and transmits your authentic presence to readers.
About the Healing Aspect
Q: Does my book have to be about healing to work with you?
A: Not at all! Your book can be about anything that calls to you—memoir, fiction, business, creativity, spirituality, even highly practical topics. What makes the writing healing isn't necessarily the subject matter, but the process itself. When you write from your deeper Self, when you honor your authentic voice and truth, the very act of writing becomes healing for you. And when readers encounter authentic presence on the page, that can be healing for them too, regardless of the topic.
Q: I'm not a professional healer—can you still help me?
A: Absolutely! When I speak of "healers," I'm using the term broadly. If you care about wholeness—your own or others'—if you're drawn to what helps people feel more integrated and alive, if you have a sense that your authentic expression might contribute something meaningful to the world, then you have a healer's heart. Many of my clients aren't professional healers but are drawn to this work because they sense that their book wants to serve something larger than just personal expression.
Q: How does writing a book become healing?
A: Writing from the Deeper Self naturally brings integration. As you explore your authentic voice and truth, you often discover connections you hadn't seen before, find meaning in experiences that seemed random, and develop a more coherent sense of your life's narrative. The process asks you to be present with yourself in a way that's inherently healing. Plus, when you express your authentic truth, it often liberates not just you but also readers who recognize something of themselves in your words.
About the Practical Process
Q: How long does it take to write a book with your approach?
A: This varies tremendously depending on the scope of your book, your life circumstances, and your natural rhythm. Some clients complete their books in 6-12 months, others take several years. The Writing from the Deeper Self approach isn't about rushing—it's about honoring your natural creative timing, while providing enough structure and support (from me and from within yourself) to keep you moving forward. We work at the pace that allows your book to develop authentically rather than forcing it into an arbitrary timeline.
Q: What if I get stuck or lose motivation?
A: Getting stuck is a normal part of any creative process, and losing motivation often signals that we've gotten disconnected from what originally called us to the work. When this happens, we return to listening—to what your book is asking for; to what you need to feel supported; to what wants to emerge next. Sometimes being "stuck" means the book is composting, preparing for the next phase of growth. Part of my role is to help you navigate these natural rhythms with patience, trust, and know-how rather than self-judgment.
Q: Do you help with publishing too, or just writing?
A: My primary focus is on the writing and development process—helping you discover, develop, and complete your book manuscript. When it comes to publishing, I specialize in self-publishing guidance and can walk you through what's involved in that process. I also offer self-publishing coordination services where I can handle the technical aspects for you—connecting you with designers, formatters, and other professionals, and managing the process so you can focus on your writing. As an editor myself, I can also help with the editing phase. While I can explain what traditional and hybrid publishing involve, currently my hands-on publishing support is focused on the self-publishing path.
About Working Together
Q: What's included in a Gift Session?
A: A Gift Session is identical to a regular client session—it's a full hour of deep listening and book development work, with no strings attached. We'll explore what's calling to you, what your book might want to be, and how the Writing from the Deeper Self approach could serve your creative process. You'll leave with greater clarity about your book and a sense of what to do next, whether or not you decide to work with me ongoing. Many people find the Gift Session so valuable that they do choose to continue, but there's absolutely no pressure or expectation. You can learn more about Gift Sessions here.
Q: How much does book development cost?
A: I work with clients primarily through ongoing mentoring relationships, typically with sessions twice a month. Most clients begin with this rhythm and continue for as long as serves their book development process—some for several months, others for a year or more, depending on their book's scope and their personal pace. During your Gift Session, we can discuss what kind of support would serve you best and what the investment would be. I'm committed to making this work accessible to people who are truly called to it, and I'm open to discussing payment plans when that would be helpful.
Q: Do we work together in person or online?
A: I work with clients both locally (San Francisco Bay Area) and internationally via Zoom. The deep listening and intuitive guidance that's central to my approach translates beautifully to online sessions—many clients find that being in their own space actually helps them access their deeper wisdom more easily. Whether we meet in person or online, I record our sessions (for our use only) and provide a transcript of each session. Clients consistently tell me how valuable these transcripts are—they can revisit what emerged in our conversations and use those insights to shape both their book and their understanding of the trajectory that's becoming visible. The quality of presence and attention remains the same regardless of format.
Ready to explore what wants to emerge through you?
If you're feeling called to this work, I'd love to offer you a Gift Session—a full hour of deep listening and book development with no strings attached. It's a chance to explore what's stirring in you and discover how the Writing from the Deeper Self approach might serve your creative process.
I hope these answers help illuminate your path forward. Remember, your book wants to be born — and you may be more ready than you think.
Blessings on your writing journey.
You’ll also find helpful writing resources, writing meditations, and curated healing resources (think flower essences for writers) to support your creative journey. See the “Hidden Treasures” just below.