Blueprint for a Book

How to write a novel in the most efficient way by tackling the hardest part before youstart to write, from top book coach Jennie Nash

"This process makes me want to write, and it makes what I'm writing better. I read it before every draft. It's that good." -KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters

Whether you're writing your first novel or your tenth, there is a temptation to pin it tothe page before it disappears. It's such a brilliant idea and you can see the whole thingshimmering in your mind, just out of reach. Maybe you do some work on character development and plotting, but you're a racehorse at the gate, ready to run, ready to write.

This book is an argument to stop and define the foundational elements of your storybefore you keep writing - which means understanding your motivation as a writer,considering your reader's expectations, and making sure your story has a solid structure that will hold up inside and out from beginning to end. This clarity is what gives a novelits power and a writer their confidence.

Jennie Nash is the creator of the Book Coach Certification program at Author Acceleratorand has taught hundreds of book coaches and thousands of novelists how to use the Blueprint for a Book system-and the Inside Outline at the heart of it - to help them produce their best work in the most efficient way.

"Jennie Nash turned me into a plotter and changed the way I think about approaching any new project. I'm an Inside Outside outline fan for life!" -Alison Hammer, author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me

"If you are about to start writing or revising your novel - hold up! You need this bookbefore putting fingers to keyboard. It's a step-by-step design-your-novel manual that encapsulates the most important aspect of great story-telling: how to reach deep intoyour writerly heart and into the heart of the story you want to bring to life." - Janet Fox,author of The Artifact Hunters

"I will sing the praises of the Inside Outline forever. It's f*ing genius." -Carla Naumburg, author of How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids

"The Inside Outline is making writing easier. I can focus more on the writing rather than discovering what the scene is about when I'm creating it. Why isn't every writer using it? Instead, people are plonking down good money to be told ten key steps in writingdialogue or setting a scene. I'm so grateful I'm no longer one of them." - Kate Kimball, first time novelist

Join the Blueprint for a Book Summer 2026 Challenge!

Every summer, we promise ourselves the same thing: This is the summer I finally make real progress on my book. But then July hits. The kids are home, vacations get scheduled, or you sit down at the laptop and realize you aren’t entirely sure what your manuscript actually needs next. Do you need to write more words? Toss out the middle? Start a major revision?

If you are starting a book, stuck in a messy draft, or trying to figure out how to revise, we have a plan for you.

July 10 to August 20 — $19

Here is what you get when you join us:

  • The All-New Blueprint Teachable Course. We are offering this new course at a special summer price to podcast listeners. For just $19, you get the full text of The Blueprint book in your choice of genre, 14 video lessons from Jennie and other Author Accelerator coaches, and coaching examples to help you lay a strong foundation for your book. The course will be opened on July 10 but you can purchase now.

  • New Coach Matching System: Need more support when you’re done? Author Accelerator is debuting a brand-new, intuitive matching system to pair you up with the perfect coach for your specific genre and project style. (Free of charge to get matched)

Paid podcast subscribers get additional support.

Blueprint for a Book: Fiction

Blueprint for a Book: Fiction

Build a strong foundation your book

$19

Blueprint for a Book Free Resources

Work with an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach


Why Work with a Book Coach?

The coaches I certify at Author Accelerator are trained in giving feedback on the Blueprint— and they are amazing at it! You can get so much insight in a short period of time and whether you are starting a book, rescuing one, or revising, you can save yourself months of frustration.


Find Your Book Coach

Visit Author Accelerator.com/matchme to tell us about your project and get matched with a certified coach who works in your genre. You can search for a coach on your own or have us do it for you for $50.


A Note on Pricing

Coaching prices vary by coach, as each of our coaches runs their own business.

Become a Coach and Help Other Writers Write Better Books

The Book Coach Certification Program at Author Accelerator is the industry gold standard.

We have a thriving community of successful book coaches helping writers do their best work and we would be delighted to have you join us for our year-long intensive program. The Blueprint is at the heart of what we teach.

Learn all about Author Accelerator’s Book Coach Certification Program at bookcoaches.com