The Soulful Catalyst Podcast
Helen O'Neill: The Book Coach for Coaches Who Are Ready to Actually Do It
Published: 12 May 2026 at 06:58 Europe/London
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Episode notes
You've thought about writing a book. But do you actually know what kind of book you want to write, and why?
In this episode of The Soulful Catalyst, I'm joined by Helen O'Neill, Portfolio Career Specialist, Author and Founder of CoachWrite, where she helps professional coaches turn their expertise into published pages. Helen has published four books of her own, with a fifth on resilience on the way, and she's built what she believes is the only writing and publishing support space specifically designed for coaches.
Helen didn't set out to become a book coach. After 25 years in senior corporate roles she pivoted into coaching, began writing personal development books alongside her new business, and found that coaches kept asking her the same question: I want to write a book, but I don't know how. CoachWrite was born from that gap.
What I love about this conversation is how practical and honest Helen is about the whole process. She immediately distinguishes between three very different publishing paths, traditional, self-publishing, and independent publishing, and makes clear that none of them is better than the others.
What matters is knowing your goal before you write a single word. Are you building legacy? Positioning yourself as a thought leader? Creating a business asset that generates royalties and speaking opportunities for years? The answer shapes everything 😊.
We also get into the AI question, because of course we do. Helen's take is refreshingly nuanced. Use it for structural editing, use it for the grammar bits. But your opinion, your connection with your reader, that's the thing AI genuinely cannot replicate. And in a world where we're all starting to scroll past the copy-pasted content because we can spot it instantly, that distinction matters more than ever.
In this episode, we explore:
➤ The three publishing paths and what each one is actually for, so you can choose the right one before you invest a single hour of writing time
➤ What separates coaches who write the book from those who just talk about it, and the mindset work that happens before the first page
➤ How to use AI ethically in your writing process, and why copying and pasting is the fastest way to devalue your thought leadership
➤ Why your opinion is your most valuable asset, and what long-form content can do for your authority that a social post never can
This episode is for any coach who's been carrying a book idea for longer than feels comfortable, and is finally ready to understand what writing it would actually take 😌.
Connect with Helen O'Neill
Website: coachwrite.co.uk
LinkedIn: Helen O'Neill
Instagram: @coach_write
YouTube: CoachWrite Podcast
Connect with Joanna Ingram
Website: joannaingram.com
Instagram: @iamjo.ingram
LinkedIn: Joanna Ingram
Messaging Impact Audit: Get a personalised review of your messaging using my six-pillar framework, plus a clear report with your scores, gaps, and the opportunities you're missing to attract higher-frequency clients.
Book here: joannaingram.link/audit
Want to be a guest on The Soulful Catalyst?
If you're a coach, healer, or spiritual expert doing powerful work that transforms lives, and you'd love to share your story and methods with a global audience, I'd love to hear from you.
👉 Apply here: go.joannaingram.com/soulfulcatalyst
