A Guided Coaching Workshop to Turn Overwhelm Into a Clear Writing Plan

Program is two 90-minute sessions. Thursdays, February 19, at 7:00 p.m. CDT and March 5, at 7:00 p.m. CDT

You know there’s a veteran story that needs to be written.

You may even have documents, family stories, notes, photos, maps, or half-formed ideas.

But knowing where to start — where to find military and genealogical records and how to turn research into a real book — is where most people get stuck.

This coaching program is designed to change that.

From Service to Stories walks you through the essential foundations of a veteran book project so you can move from overwhelm and uncertainty to a clear, doable plan. By the end of this program, you will be able to confidently start writing your veteran book.

In this two-part coaching class, I’ll teach you the core building blocks of starting a veteran book project. This program includes: program workbooks, my WWII Writing Book, homework, and access to the program replays for six months.

For students who enjoy or need that 1-1 private help, coaching is optional and available with this program at a discounted rate.

Day 1 - February 19, 2026

We will dive into the basics you need to start the research, move it forward, and how you will define your book. 

Where Do I Begin?

• We will talk about the start points
• Do's and Don'ts of research and writing

Research basics

• What records and sources matter most at the beginning
• How to avoid over-researching and stalling
• How to work with incomplete or missing records

Project planning

• How to define what kind of book you’re writing
• Clarifying scope so your project feels manageable
• Creating a realistic research plan

Day 2 - March 5, 2026

We will take the research to the next phase and create outlines, discuss writing prompts, interviewing, create your project plan, and discuss the emotional cost of war.

Outlining your book

• Turning information and memories into structure
• Simple outlining methods that work for veteran stories
• How to organize chapters before you start writing

Starting to write

• Interviewing family basics
• How to move from notes to sentences
• Where to begin when the story feels heavy or complex
• Writing without needing everything “figured out”

The Emotional Toll

• Learn to identify the emotional toll of this work
• Discover ways to use self-care as you move through

The Writing Plan

• Create your specific writing plan

Next Steps

• Where do I go from here?

Optional Coaching

Registrants have the option to purchase this program with two, private, 45-minute coaching sessions at a discounted rate.

Session 1 must be scheduled and used by March 5. We will review your research plan and go over any questions you have on your specific project.

Coaching session 2 must be scheduled and used by March 19. We will review your writing project plan and go over any questions on your specific project.

Jennifer's courses and Zoom chats have removed so much mystery from the process of researching a military veteran. I appreciate the straightforward approach that avoids going down endless trails of research that does not yield any results. She has designed a method to work through the labyrinth of military records which makes it possible for any level of researcher to understand.

I am an experienced researcher and Jennifer opened research doors for me I was unaware of. If you're serious about your research invest the time with Jennifer, her knowledge is the kind only gained from decades of experience in this field.

~Monique 

As a writer and researcher of a family biography, I have used Ms. Holik’s expertise in military research, editing, organization and drafting skills now for several years. Jennifer has the ability to take a body of work, in any stage of development, and evaluate the contents and direct an action plan that moves the project forward in a superior way, on all fronts. I have depended on her professional insight into my family biography that is both complicated with multiple time periods and source material also requiring the insight to understand how to engage the reader. The finished product will in no small way reflect her dedication and professional research, guidance, suggestions, edits and actions. I can, without reservation, recommend her military and publication research services for any personal or commercial publication project.

~Doug Hall Freelance writer. Purchase Legacy of the Skies. Published 2025. Amazon Hardcover