If you’ve ever felt like your story has all the right pieces but somehow isn’t quite clicking—like your characters are attractive but not truly connecting, or your plot moves forward but doesn’t tug at hearts—you need to meet Jocelyn Lindsay. She’s a book coach who understands the delicate balance of crafting authentic emotional intimacy while managing the beautiful chaos of real life, kids, and that persistent inner voice questioning whether your story truly matters.
Jocelyn has read hundreds of manuscripts as both a slush pile reader and coach, giving her a unique perspective on what separates stories that captivate readers from those that fall flat. More importantly, she believes deeply in helping women amplify their voices and get their book ideas out of their heads and into the world.
From corporate project management to championing women’s stories
Jocelyn’s path to book coaching wasn’t linear, and honestly, that makes her story even more inspiring for those of us navigating our own creative pivots. After building a successful career in high tech and project management, she made the brave decision to follow her dream of working with writers. Her corporate background in organizing complex projects now serves her coaching clients perfectly—she knows how to break overwhelming creative challenges into manageable, actionable steps.
What this tells you about working with Jocelyn: She won’t overwhelm you with vague advice or leave you wondering what to do next. Her project management background means she can help you create realistic timelines, break big goals into achievable steps, and actually finish your book instead of endlessly revising the first three chapters.
What drives Jocelyn isn’t just helping writers improve their craft. She’s passionate about connection and believes books are powerful tools for linking people together. At the heart of her approach is the understanding that stories matter, and every writer deserves support in sharing theirs with the world.
What she learned reading the slush pile (and why it matters for your story)
Before launching her coaching practice, Jocelyn worked as a slush pile reader—meaning she read through the unsolicited manuscripts that land in agents’ inboxes every week. The agent she worked with received 100 submissions weekly, giving Jocelyn an up-close view of what aspiring authors were creating and where they commonly struggled.
This experience taught her three crucial lessons that directly impact how she coaches today:
Most new writers miss the mark on key story elements. It’s not about grammar or sentence structure—it’s about understanding what makes readers emotionally invested in characters and their journey.
The market is incredibly crowded. Standing out requires more than hitting word count or following genre conventions. Your story needs genuine emotional depth and authentic character development.
There’s no shortcut to creating meaningful work. The manuscripts that grabbed attention weren’t necessarily the most polished technically, but they were the ones where writers had dug deep into what their characters truly wanted and feared.
What this means for you: Jocelyn has literally seen what doesn’t work in hundreds of manuscripts, so she can help you avoid the common pitfalls that make agents and readers lose interest. She knows the difference between a story that gets rejected and one that gets requested, and she can guide you toward the latter.
She’ll help you create chemistry that readers actually feel
One pattern Jocelyn consistently sees among new romance writers is confusing physical chemistry with emotional intimacy. Many approach relationships thinking, “He’s attractive, she’s attractive, instant fireworks—let’s go!” But readers who truly love romance want so much more than surface attraction.
Successful romance authors understand that vulnerability, trust, and emotional stakes must build over time. Instead of relying on “insta-love,” they draw readers in by showing how characters slowly reveal deeper truths about themselves. The result? A happily ever after that feels genuinely earned rather than convenient.
What creates authentic romantic connection:
- Layered emotional intimacy that develops gradually through shared experiences
- Real internal conflict beyond just external obstacles keeping them apart
- Genuine stakes that make readers wonder if the couple will make it, even knowing the genre promises a happy ending
Here’s the truth that might sting a little: a romance feels flat without deep, believable emotional intimacy—and readers absolutely notice. They’re looking for that flutter of recognition when characters open up to each other, not just when they find each other physically appealing.
If your beta readers say your characters are “nice” but don’t seem excited about their relationship, Jocelyn can help you identify what’s missing and show you how to build authentic emotional connection.
Finding your unique voice beyond imitation
Another roadblock Jocelyn frequently encounters is writers struggling to move beyond imitation. Most first drafts echo beloved authors or favorite books, which is completely natural—but staying there limits your potential impact.
Jocelyn works with writers to identify their differentiator: the quality or perspective that makes readers choose their work specifically. Often this comes down to passion—what does the writer care about so deeply that they want to share it with the world? What message keeps surfacing in their work, even when it feels vulnerable to explore?
Her philosophy is beautifully simple: “It’s much easier to pull back if necessary than to lean in less.” She encourages writers to embrace what makes them different rather than trying to sand down their edges. Her coaching begins with lots of questions, helping writers articulate what they really want to say and push past the self-doubt that keeps them playing it safe.
What this looks like in practice: Working one-on-one ensures these explorations happen in a private, supportive space where writers can be honest about their deepest themes without judgment. If you’re worried your story is “too much” or “too different,” Jocelyn will help you see those qualities as strengths, not weaknesses.
She understands that finding your author purpose takes time
Many writers feel pressure to know their “why” immediately, but Jocelyn reassures clients that it’s completely normal to write several books before pinpointing a deeper author purpose. Even after multiple novels, writers often need help recognizing the themes that keep appearing in their work.
Jocelyn helps writers uncover their purpose by:
Asking pointed questions about repeated themes. What situations do your characters keep finding themselves in? What types of growth do they consistently experience?
Watching for messages writers are almost ready to state plainly. Sometimes writers dance around their core message because it feels too vulnerable or personal to claim directly.
Providing honest feedback when she sees patterns emerging. Even when it’s uncomfortable, Jocelyn gently points out the deeper themes she notices, helping writers recognize their own patterns.
This process requires sensitivity because not every writer is ready to face their deepest themes immediately. Growth happens through encouragement, trust, and gentle nudges—but some authors need time to process when their stories hit close to home.
Plot versus emotional journey: what readers really care about
Many new writers rely heavily on external events for drama—job loss, accidents, family emergencies, wedding mishaps. While these can certainly create tension, what’s often missing is the deep internal journey of the characters.
Jocelyn emphasizes a crucial point: plot is just the physical manifestation of what’s happening inside the characters. The best stories dig into characters’ root fears, desires, and transformations. External events exist to force characters to face what’s happening internally.
When the internal growth feels authentic and meaningful, readers care about every step of the journey from page one to the final kiss. But when external events drive everything and characters remain essentially unchanged, even exciting plot twists fall flat.
This is why Jocelyn focuses so heavily on character motivation and emotional stakes in her coaching. Getting these elements right makes everything else—pacing, dialogue, even plot twists—feel natural and compelling.
Her marketing advice: serve your audience, don’t chase trends
With the romance market more crowded than ever, Jocelyn urges writers to get clear about who they’re writing for long before starting a new book. While it’s tempting to follow whatever’s trending—billionaire romance, dragon shifters, small-town stories—lasting success comes from truly serving a well-defined audience.
Consider the books that endure long past their initial sales spike: Twilight, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Hunger Games. Each tapped into readers’ deep desires and gave familiar tropes fresh substance. They didn’t just ride a wave; they reached into universal fears and hopes that transcend temporary trends.
Jocelyn’s approach: Don’t try to skim across the surface of every popular wave. Instead, dig deep and create stories that scratch the specific itch your ideal readers have—stories that will matter to them even after genre trends move on.
Preparing to talk about your book from day one
Writers often focus so intensely on writing and editing that they’re completely unprepared when it’s time to discuss their book publicly. Jocelyn’s advice? Start thinking about this from day one. Marketing and promotion aren’t just final steps—they’re woven throughout every phase of your writing journey.
If you’re not excited about your book, no one else will be either. You don’t need to become a hype machine, but you do need to find ways to share your genuine enthusiasm and let readers see why your story matters.
For shy or introverted writers, Jocelyn offers a practical tip: find a topic, identity, or even a “persona” that fits your book and makes you feel comfortable during promotion. Think of it like putting on a costume to perform on stage. The important thing is owning your book’s value and sharing that excitement authentically.
Essential mindset shift: Talk about your book like it’s genuinely wonderful. Readers pick up on your energy. When you light up discussing your novel, they’re much more likely to want to experience it themselves.
Ready to connect with Jocelyn?
Writers seeking expert guidance, encouragement, or simply someone to share a virtual cup of tea will find a warm welcome from Jocelyn Lindsay. You can find her at jocelynlindsay.com.
Jocelyn welcomes writers of all genres—especially those who care about connection, purpose, and meaningful storytelling.
Is Jocelyn right for you?
Jocelyn might be perfect for you if:
- You want help creating deeper emotional connections between your characters
- You’re struggling to move beyond imitating your favorite authors
- You need someone to help you identify what makes your story unique
- You want guidance on building authentic romantic tension that develops over time
- You’re looking for someone who understands the business side of publishing as well as the creative side
- You value working with someone who has extensive experience reading manuscripts and knows what works
- You want support in finding your author voice and purpose, not just improving your craft
She might not be the right fit if:
- You’re looking for someone to fix grammar and punctuation (that’s copyediting, not coaching)
- You prefer working completely independently without ongoing feedback
- You’re not interested in exploring the deeper themes and messages in your work
- You want someone to tell you exactly what to write rather than helping you discover your own story
Your story deserves to be shared
Writing romance is about more than following formulas or chasing popular trends. It’s about understanding genuine emotional journeys, discovering your unique voice, embracing what makes your story special, and building honest connections with readers who need exactly what you’re offering.
Through her years as a slush pile reader, coach, and advocate for mission-driven authors, Jocelyn Lindsay proves there’s always a supportive community ready to help you grow. Your voice matters, your story deserves to be told, and you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Take these insights, trust your instincts, find your people, and write stories that truly matter—both to you and to the readers who are waiting to discover them.
Check out the swoonworthy conversation between Jocelyn and Danika Bloom
