About

Hello, I'm Candace

I will guide you through any writing challenge!

I love helping people find clarity and meaning amid life’s complexities.

Writing has been my way of making sense of the world—an empowering tool that has helped me confront challenges both on and off the page. I want to help other writers experience that same sense of freedom through their words. In my lifelong search for truth, I’ve explored deeply personal topics that have shaped my life and those of my loved ones. I know that sharing your story takes courage, and I understand the struggles that come with it. My role is to guide and empower you, helping you navigate creative challenges and reach your writing goals.

As an experienced writing coach and developmental editor, I specialize in helping writers uncover the universal within their deeply personal stories. By doing this deep work, you can offer others the gift of connection, reminding them they are not alone in their experiences. I love coaching writers to find their voice and excavate the story burning inside them. Whether you choose to publish or keep your work private, the decision carries real weight—I’ll help you explore the pros and cons of different publishing paths so you can make an informed choice.

Bringing a story from your mind onto the page is an act of courage and generosity. I look forward to helping you shape your narrative so that others can benefit from your wisdom.

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My Background and Experience

I bring a wide range of expertise to my work as a trauma-informed book coach, developmental editor, and mindfulness mentor. I founded Candace Coakley Editorial Solutions in 2016 to help writers craft authentic, empowered stories and achieve their publishing goals. My approach is rooted in mindfulness and a deep commitment to my clients' success.

Through Memoir Incubator, Grub Street Creative Writing Center's MFA-level, year-long class, I completed a memoir, and I'm currently working on multiple nonfiction books. I've studied craft with memoir expert Marion Roach Smith and mastered the art of Story with Robert McKee. I coach writers on the publishing track for She Writes Press. As an Author Accelerator-certified book coach in fiction, nonfiction, and memoir, I support writers at every stage of their journey.

For over 30 years, I have cultivated a strong mindfulness meditation practice and now teach creative writing workshops and lead retreats that integrate memoir and mindfulness. I am a graduate of Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Mentor Training and hold certifications in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Transcendental Meditation (TM), and Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness. As a Reiki Master, I incorporate energy healing into all aspects of my life and work.

Beyond coaching and mindfulness, I've served as an adjunct professor at Emerson College’s School of Communication and Boston University’s College of Communication. I earned an M.A. from Emerson College and a B.A. from Boston College.

I live north of Boston, MA, with my husband, our three grown-up kids, and our sweet and sassy rescue dog, Hope.