Welcome! I’m Mary
My deep love is supporting others in their creative endeavors. I’ve been doing it for decades with those around me in many ways and as a book coach, editor, and collaborative writer, I bring that passion fully to my clients.
I started my first business right out of college, giving small businesses the marketing department they couldn’t afford in-house. Since that time, I have spent years writing, researching, editing, and managing creative projects.
Today, that all comes together on your behalf.
I ask the questions that bring forth your wisdom and uncover the point you’re trying to make. I look for the big picture of a project and, at the same time, those stray commas.
Writing can be a magical experience, one of wonder as you uncover what needs to be said. When you’ve been called to write a book, you’re stepping into a demanding process. It can also be an exhilarating one, because as you write, you will transform, and so will your readers.
This unique creative expression is what I want most for each person I work with.
And through it all, my intention is to serve as a calm, steady presence helping you map out and complete your book.
What my clients have to say:
The adjectives that come to mind when I think about Mary Bernstein’s book coaching style: Intuitive, thoughtful, probing, and thorough. Mary is fully present to you and your work, as if you were her only client.
In her gentle and encouraging way, she helped me see the holes in my memoir, as well as sections that were unnecessary and areas I needed to further develop.
She’s the package deal: an experienced editor plus a woman with strong interpersonal skills that allow her to meet writers wherever they are.
— Suzette Mullen, memoir author,
The Only Way Through Is Out
Oh, gosh, I deeply enjoyed our session tonight. I felt really heard and supported and I actually feel renewed and more hopeful!
I can’t wait to work more on my writing and it’s been a while that I’ve been so enthusiastic (you could use this for a testimonial!)
Thanks again for your support and encouragement.
I can’t express how grateful I am for the insights you gave me on my writing.
You taught me how to revise for clarity. Now I'm doing the work, and I think it's working!
— Marie-Louise Cee, “Fiercely Human,” on Substack
A little more about me:
I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and now live off-grid in Colorado, where I hike, cross-country ski, and shovel the driveway.
I’ve written and edited everything from barbecue sauce labels to trade journal articles, from medical start-up business plans to computer manuals, from picture books to memoirs.
