Finish the Work That’s Been Waiting for You
The Finishing School is a writing coaching program for memoirists, personal essayists, and creative nonfiction writers. You’ve carried these stories long enough. It’s time to shape them into something real. With personal support, clear systems, and a community that shows up alongside you, we’ll help you turn scattered pages into work you’re proud to share. Choose from three tiers of support, tailored to your writing goals and your life.
Creative writing coach | Memoir Coach | Personal Essay | Nonfiction Writing Coach
Maybe This Is You
You sit at your desk, trying to figure out where to start, with dozen half-written pieces scattered across digital folders, emails to yourself, and notebooks.
You’ve always loved words. The idea of being a writer has lived inside you for decades.
But between the responsibilities, distractions, and just trying to keep life moving, writing kept falling to the bottom of the list.
Now you’re creatively starved, a little burned out, and wondering if you missed your window.
Time’s always tight. That won’t change.
But with the right system and support, you can still do this — on your terms, in your real life.
Nonfiction Writing Coach results
From Scattered Drafts
to Real Progress
Hear from writers who turned their creative chaos into momentum and saw real results.
Watch Hannah’s success story
Hannah now introduces herself as a writer
“From week one, it was like — boom, mind blown. Like, why didn’t I think of that? This makes so much sense. And really, from week one or week two, I remember getting my first piece accepted.”
Watch Stephani’s success story
Stephani was accepted in the prestigious Tin House Workshop
“Just the weekly conversations and feedback started to make it as important to me as I said it was… even if my health hasn’t been great… I’m still thinking about my story.”
The FINISH Framework™
Build a writing life that actually works and keeps working.
Most productivity systems weren’t made for creative people juggling real lives. The FINISH Framework is different. It’s a flexible structure that meets you where you are — with tools, habits, and emotional support to help you keep going, even when life gets chaotic or confidence runs low.
This is the foundation behind everything we teach, because when you’re not relying on willpower alone, you can finally build momentum that lasts.
The system
F — FAKE STAKES
Our program gives you an answer to the question: What would happen if I didn’t write today? Through open mics, coaching sessions, and mastermind groups, we build in just enough emotional stakes to keep you on track. Whether it’s not wanting to leave your writing buddy hanging or showing up for your group, you’ll feel just enough heat from the fire under your butt to keep going.
I — INCREMENTS
Big dreams need small steps. With quarterly goal-setting workshops, monthly Q&As, and weekly planning sessions, we’ll help you break your writing goals into daily actions you can actually complete. You’ll know exactly what to do each day — and get a little dopamine hit every time you check it off.
N — NIX
Let’s clear the clutter and get you to focus. We’ll help you identify what’s getting in the way, make smart choices about your priorities, and use tools like a distraction-blocking app to protect your writing time. When you stop trying to do everything, you’ll finally have space to complete what matters most.
I — IMMERSE
You don’t need more hours. You need more depth. Through daily meditation and writing sessions, we help you quiet the noise, drop into focus, and actually enjoy your writing time. When your brain feels safe and supported, the work gets richer — and way more fun.
S — SHARE
Writing alone can make you feel like the only one struggling. We promise you’re not. When you share your work in this space, you get kind, thoughtful feedback, plus the reminder that self-doubt is part of the process. We’ll cheer for your wins, help you course-correct, and make sure you never have to do this alone.
H — HYPE
The story you tell yourself about yourself as a writer matters. When you’re stuck in imposter syndrome or perfectionism, no productivity hack in the world will save you. So we focus on mindset, self-respect, and joy as much as craft. You’ll learn to catch the spiral early, mute the shame speaker, and remind yourself: this gets to feel good.
Ready to write ?
Choose Your Level of Support
The Basics
Build Consistent Writing Habits—One Day at a Time
No more stop-and-start frustration. With daily writing sessions, proven productivity systems, and a supportive community, you’ll finally create the kind of writing rhythm that sticks, so you can move forward on the work that matters.
This level is perfect for writers who are ready to get consistent, stay focused, and move forward:
✦ Writing sessions 7 days a week to build a consistent rhythm
✦ Monthly masterminds to break through blocks
✦ Quarterly goal-setting to stay on track
✦ A supportive community that keeps you grounded
✦ Access to all past webinars and resources
✦ Lifetime use of The Writer’s Mission Control Center
✦ A distraction-blocking app to protect your writing time
Your personal editor
Radically Improve Your Craft
Through thoughtful feedback, meaningful revision, and help recognizing what makes your voice yours, you’ll write with more power and confidence.
Everything included in The Basics, plus:
✦ Weekly 30-minute private coaching calls with Paulette
✦ Personalized pitching plan to guide your submission strategy
✦ Curated reading lists to sharpen your skills and expand your style
Powerhouse shifts
Total Writing Life Transformation
This is where everything changes. With daily support, personalized coaching, and a full system that meets you wherever you are, you’ll stop spinning and start building a writing life that actually works — one that’s creative, strategic, and built to last.
Everything from the other tiers, plus:
✦ Half-day one-on-one Writing Life Design Deep Dive
✦ Daily accountability partner
✦ Personalized habit tracker review
✦ Weekly 60-minute meeting with Paulette, including mindset coaching
The “Well, I’ll Be Darned — I’m Actually Writing” Guarantee
When you show up, this works.
Here’s the promise:
You’ll make more progress in our first three months together than you have in the past year of going it alone. No spreadsheets, no word-count quotas — just that gut-level knowing: I’m finally doing it.
If you show up for at least 75% of our program hours in the first three months and don’t feel like your writing life has significantly shifted, I’ll upgrade you to daily personal check-ins for the rest of the program.
Every day, I’ll send you a voice message on Voxer to keep your momentum going — like having a writing coach in your pocket.
I’ve worked with over 100 writers. When the right system meets someone who’s ready to stop letting themselves down? That’s where the magic happens. I guarantee it.
Why Choose the Finishing School for Writers?
One
Led by a Writer Who’s Been There
Your writing coach, Paulette Perhach, has been writing professionally for 20 years, with work published in The New York Times and other top outlets. She understands what it takes to write and publish great work — and how hard it can be to keep going when self-doubt, perfectionism, or burnout get in the way.
Two
Built to Keep You Engaged
You won’t be on your own, with a confusing portal and modules. You’ll have live sessions, regular check-ins, and a daily space to show up and stay connected to your writing and your writer buddies. You’re never more than 24 hours from gathering with your creative crew.
Three
Made for Writers with Something to Say
This is for people who’ve been carrying stories for years, who think deeply and write with purpose. Whether you’re working on essays, a memoir, or something in between, this is the space to give your work the attention it deserves.
This program probably isn’t for you if:
You’re looking for a quick fix that doesn’t require real effort
You’re not open to receiving thoughtful feedback on your work
You’re not currently looking to grow your craft or share your writing
You’re not ready to invest in your writing or yourself
It’s exactly what you’ve been looking for if:
You’re tired of watching another year go by without finishing your work
You know structure and accountability are what actually help you follow through
You’re ready to become the writer you’ve always known you could be
You’re willing to show up, stay curious, and do the work
If you’ve been letting yourself down and not producing the quantity or quality of work you know you’re capable of, give yourself this opportunity to push past your blocks. If a calendar, reminders, or doing it on your own isn’t working, let yourself see what you can do with a coach.
Compare the levels
These examples show what students
achieve after coaching:
Writing Coach Results
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
- Anaïs Nin
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We open enrollment a few times a year. Once you’re in, you’ll have an orientation and get access to upcoming events and community spaces, so you can start writing.
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We meet at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT, 7 days a week
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This program supports whatever time you can realistically give. Some writers show up for 15 minutes a day; others dive in for hours. We’ll help you build a sustainable practice that fits your life — not the other way around.
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Life happens — we get it. Most offerings are recorded, and we have asynchronous ways to stay connected and supported even when you can’t be there live.
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You’ll get more done than you thought possible, build a consistent writing habit, and finally start thinking of yourself as a writer — because you’ll be acting like one.
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Yes — and essays, nonfiction books, hybrid pieces, and even “I’m not sure what this is but I need to write it.” If you’re writing from real life, we’re here for it.
Online writing coaching
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. Some writers come in with a book underway. Others are starting from scratch. We’ll help you clarify your goals and build from wherever you are.
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Right here. Many of our writers are just beginning to share their work. We’ll support you with confidence-building, clear strategy, and optional publishing guidance when you’re ready.
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We offer weekly payment plans to make the help you need more accessible. You’ll get the full program experience while breaking the cost into manageable chunks.
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It's not a problem at all. You can reschedule easily with at least 24 hours’ notice. We build in flexibility because we know you’re juggling a full life.
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Absolutely. This isn’t technical writing or ghostwriting support. It’s for people writing what they care about — essays, non-fiction books, and stories that matter.
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Send us a note! We’ll get back to you with answers, real talk, and no pressure.
