The Writing Guru: Case Studies

These days, everyone wants to be a writer.

And why not? Writing a book scratches the
itch that we all share to tell stories that make
sense of the world. Books also offer a great
platform for our careers and businesses
and engage audiences, near and far, with
ideas that matter.
Heres how Charlie Euchner has helped authors take the big step from inspiration to
drafts to published books.

Nancy Soderberg
After completing her term as U.S. representative to the United
Nations, Ambassador Nancy Soderberg began work on a memoir of
her work for the Clinton Administration. Before going to the U.S.,
Soderberg had served as the staff director for the National Security
Agency. Previously she served as foreign policy advisor to Senator
Edward Kennedy and advisor to presidential candidates Walter
Mondale and Michael Dukakis.
Soderberg had written for yearspolicy

papers, memos, speeches, op-edsbut had
never written a book. So she had to learn a
whole new set of skills. Charlie Euchner
helped.
Charles Euchner is the rare talent who can
both write and teach. As I struggled to write
my first book, he pulled me back to reality
and explained the tricks of the trade.

Soderberg shared an outline and a sample

chapter of her manuscript. Euchner offered
three responses. First, he asked a series of
questions about the books purpose. Then he
rewrite a chapter and annotated his changes
with explanations. Finally, he offered a written critique and summaries of key writing issues.
With brilliant simplicity, he explained all the big and little
things that lead to a successful book. Remember what you are trying to
say. Open each story with a strong lead. Use stories to explain your analysis
and concepts. Help the reader see, feel, and smell the situation.

OTHER VOICES
I found [Charles
Euchners book The
Elements of Writing] a
few months ago and
refer to it often and
have recommended it
to several people. The
techniques were easy
to implement and have
changed the way I
write and edit. I wish I
had known about this
years ago. I've been
writing professionally
for many years, and
this has been one of
the most helpful books
I have ever found. The
book also offers fiction
and non-fiction writers
some highly readable
and useful tips on storytelling as well as
plotting, characterization and more.
Marian Edmunds, Australian author

The two shared thoughts in phone conversations and email.

Within a month, I had learned what I needed to write a book.

Soderberg published The Superpower Myth in 2004. After the books

publication, Soderberg broadened her reach as a foreign-policy expert. She served as a regular foreign policy expert on MSNBC. She
now teaches public policy at University of North Florida.
Euchner has now codified his wisdom, with all the skills you need to
become a strong writer. One day with Charlie Euchner will save you
months of frustration and make writing anything books, articles,
reports much easier. Trust me, it works.

William Walker
Bill Walker came to Charlie Euchner at the recommendation of
an acquisitions editor at a major university press. Walker has developed an outline and sample chapters of a book about a scandal at
the end of World War I. The editor was interested but wanted
changes in the manuscript.
After retiring as vice president at the College of William and
Mary, Bill Walker discovered documents that told the shocking and
tragic story of a generals defiance that extended the gore of World
War I by months.
As the U. S. 79th Division planned to attack the heavily fortified
German butte of Montfaucon, General George Pershing decided to
first take out a German observation post. But
another general disobeyed Pershings order
halting the American offensive, ended the
hope of concluding the war quickly, and causing the needless deaths of thousands of
doughboys.
But how should Walker tell the story? He
was pulled in two directions. On one side, the
academic press asked for a detailed academic
treatmentlong on detailed documentation
of the event, short on narrative drama. But
Walker could feel the drama as he pored over
the documents.
Charlie Euchner advised Walker to embrace the story. Forget the academic press, he
said. Go for the story that evokes the horrible consequences of the
generals defiance. Show, moment by moment, how the bloody war
was extended by the defiance of Pershingand then how the scandal was covered up for generations.
Call him coach, for thats what Charlie Euchner is. Hes an extraordinary mentor who can help convert a competent writer into a compelling writer.

Together, in a series of phone calls and email exchanges, Walker

and Euchner developed a plan to honor the story.

OTHER VOICES
As an entrepreneur
and businesses owner,
it was never my job to
write creativelyonly
to think creatively. But
I developed a deep
desire to tell my story.
When I heard about
Charles Euchner, I
called. After an inspirational initial conversation, we set up a twohour coaching session.
In those two hours I
learned more about
writing than I had in an
entire lifetime. Charlie
quickly set a framework for my work, with
an easy system to
keep me focused and
clear-headed. Charlie
offers a simple, intuitive, and inspiring system to write well, right
away.
Lesley Roy, Yale Initiative in Religion, Science,
and Technology

Like every great coach, Charlie practices his trade with equal portions
of instruction, humor, encouragement and, yes, more than a little inspiration. Give him a try, and hell help you transform your game.

By studying the structure of great storiesfrom Homers The

Odyssey to Andre Agassis OpenEuchner was able to point Walker to specific techniques that would provide both the rigor of an academic work and the excitement of a dramatic narrative.
The great thing is that you have so brilliantly reverse-engineered the
techniques of narrative writing so composing is both rewarding
and fun. Well, enough of the fulsome praise; you are the man!

At times, Walker expressed doubts about going all in with the

narrative approach. But with Euchners encouragement, he transformed his manuscript.
Good news. I just secured a publisher for my book on World War I.
The Scribners imprint of Simon and Schuster will publish the book
here and abroad. Charlie, I owe much of this to you. How about a
big dinner in New York?

In the spring of 2016, Simon and Schuster released Bill Walkers

Betrayal at Little Gibraltar. One reviewer called it an engrossing
murder mystery. Another called it a masterfully constructed narrative.

Wayne Coffey
For years, Wayne Coffey tracked down the invisible stories
about people in sportsboth the stars and the amateursfor the
New York Daily News. Coffey write books for young people. But he
had never hit the big time with his books.
Then he discovered the womens basketball team at Gallaudet
University, the nations premiere institution for deaf and learning
impaired people. He won a contract to write about a season in the
life of the Gallaudet womens basketball team.
Every week he traveled from New York to Washington to follow
the teamattending practices and games, staying in dorms, visiting
players and coaches during the school week. The result was a bulging notebook of stories and observations.
Then came crunch timetime to write a manuscript. And
Coffey got stuck. Thats when he consulted Charlie Euchner.
Charles Euchner is as passionate about the craft of writing as anyone I
know. The texture and cadence of language, the architecture of storytelling and the simple magic of a well-constructed sentence he
loves all of them.

Euchner advised Coffey to adopt a special routine. Create a comprehensive note book of notes, all typed and organized. Find a place
to write away from the hubbub of family life. And write scenes, one
by one, that would become the spine of the story.

OTHER VOICES
I personally recommend Charles
Euchner. He delivered
a keynote presentation
on writing that was
absolutely fascinating.
If you once loved writing, hearing Charlie
will move you to once
again reengage in that
art. If you write marketing material for your
business, you will
learn some great tips
how to draw readers in
and leave them wanting more. Take advantage of the opportunity to hear Charlie
it is a good investment
of your time and money.
Ann Marie Sidman, Vice
President, Learning and
Development, Gen Re, a
Berkshire Hathaway Company

Later, Coffey won a contract to write a book about the U.S.

hockey team that pulled off the greatest upset in Olympic history
with its 1980 defeat of the Soviet Union. Coffey did the essential reportinginterviewing old players and coaches, visiting Lake Placid
site where the Games took place, and
even flying to Russia to interview key
players on the team.
When it came time to write, he got
stuck. Whats the structure of the book?
What goes where? How can the Miracle
on Ice be captured for generations that
never experienced the Cold War battle of
U.S. and Soviet Union?
Euchner suggested a format for the
book. Track the story in three parts, each
associated with the periods of the hockey
game. Yo-yo back and forth between
the games critical moments and the
background story. Show a play in the
game, then talk about a players background. Show a play, then explore the
political dynamics of the time. Show a play, then reveal long-hidden
secrets of the game and the teams.
I was utterly lost as I grappled with a book about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team and its miracle in Lake Placid. The success of The
Boys of Winter resulted in large measure from Charlie Euchner's
coaching.

With the three-part structurewhich created growing tension, even

for a result that every reader knows ahead of timeThe Boys of Winter offered a powerful experience of time-travel for sports fans. The
book ended up on the extended bestseller list for The New York
Times.
Years later, Coffey got a contract to coauthor baseball player
R.A. Dickeys memoir. Dickey wanted to use this story to explore
the need for resiliency and faith. As a boy he was repeatedly abused
by a baby sitter. Later, he struggled to make it in the big leagues
until he taught himself the ins and outs of the knuckleball.
This time, the challenge was finding not only the right structure
but also the right tone. Euchner offered a model: Andre Agassis
memoir Open.
Open offered a searing, honest account of Agassis career in tennisfrom his youth when his father pushed him hard to succeed,
even though he hated the sport, to the highest levels of the game.
Whether I need an honest editorial take or an astute line-edit or help
designing a piece, Charlie Euchner is the first person I turn to not
just because he's so terrific at what he does, but also because his enthusiasm and energy for the writing process are without peer.

Agassi used a powerful technique to strip away the usual artifice of

memoirs. Writing in the present tense, without direct quotes, Agassi
was able to lay bare his pain and struggles.

OTHER VOICES
Im a couple months
into my first year at
the University of
Chicago Law School
(and loving it). One
of my classes is Legal Research and
Writing, and my professor just repeats
everything you
taught us in the writing seminars I took
freshman year. We
had our first assignment due a couple of
weeks ago, and then
had individual meetings for feedback.
My professor told me
that my writing skills
and style are well
above average and
that I write simply
and to the point,
which is exactly how
legal writing should
be. I attribute this
solely to your teaching.
Camila Panama, Yale
University, Class of
2011

Coffey decided to give it a try. It worked. The resulting book,

Wherever I Wind Up, was a New York Times best seller.

Tania von Allmen

For years, Tania von Allmen had been developing a fantasy
novel. She gathered ideas and notes. She wrote a chapter here and
there. But the pieces did not fit together.
Thats when she started working with Charlie Euchner.
In long phone sessions, Euchner not only explained the essential
elements of storytelling, but also a methodology of gathering and arranging pieces into a unified whole.
Working with Charlie Euchner gave me the
high-leverage skills and strategies I needed
to write my first book.

As he did with Ambassador Soderberg,

Euchner asked for a sample chapter. He
read it carefully and marked it up. Then he
got on the phone and explained every concept in detail.
Working with a short sample of my work,
Charlie identified a number of simple principles and, more important, ways to apply those principles as I organized my story and
produced drafts.

At one point, Euchner challenged von Allmen to draw a picture

of her whole storyone image that captured every episode in her
sprawling story. She did. That image became the North Star for her
project.

In their phone sessions, von Allmen quickly revised her scenes

and assembled them into a coherent structure. Before long, she had
all the tools she needed to realize her dream of writing a novel.

OTHER VOICES
The genius of a
Charlie Euchner
presentation is in the
simple eloquence
with which he delivers a bounty of usable information and
advice. He connects
with people using a
conversational style
loaded with ideas
borne from his years
of application and
research. Given his
impressive academic
and real-world experience, hes earned
his credentials as an
intellectual, but he is
as accessible as an
old friend. Listening
to Charlie extemporaneously engage a
group is an exhibition of a brilliant and
nimble mind at work.
Chris Carroll, Director of Student Media,
Vanderbilt University

We worked together for about four hours to identify and fill the gaps
in my repertoire. Overall, I have felt confident, equipped, and focused
to write. I now know that I have the tools I need when I need to kick
it up.

That she did. After years of halting progress, von Allmen completed her novel in months.

Now its Your Turn

If youve gotten this farif you have taken the trouble to seek out these case studies and read themchances are that you have a book that you need to write.
Chances are, also, that you need help.
By his own account, Charlie Euchner has made just about every mistake an author
can make. He has written academic books (Playing the Field, Extraordinary Politics, Urban Policy Reconsidered, Governing Greater Boston). He had written sports
books (The Last Nine Innings and Little League Big Dreams). He has written about
writing (The Elements of Writing and nine other short titles).
He has written for major American newspapers (The New York Times, The Boston
Globe, New York Sun, New York Daily News) and magazines (Newsweek, Commonwealth, The American). He has written academic reports for Harvard and independent think tanks. He has even written government memos (for the Boston Redevelopment Authority).
Along the way, Charlie has mastered all the tricks of the trade that you need to write
your book.
Ive climbed the steep learning curve, Charlie says, so you dont have to.
Sign up for one-on-one coaching with Charlie at thewritingguru.com/options.
Or call 203-645-5112 or email charleseuchner@gmail.com.
Write your book.