E57: What makes Zelda Miles with By Zelda O a good neighbor?  

The Power of Storytelling: A Conversation with Author Coach Zelda Miles

In a recent episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, host Millie had the pleasure of interviewing Zelda Miles, founder of ByZeldaO, an author coaching business based in Adamsville, Alabama. What unfolded was an inspiring conversation about the transformative power of storytelling, personal resilience, and the importance of helping others share their life experiences through the written word.

Zelda's journey into writing began in the most organic way possible – growing up in rural Alabama with limited neighbors and entertainment options, books became her closest companions. Sitting under her grandparents' China berry tree, young Zelda developed a love for stories that would eventually shape her professional life. Though initially drawn toward becoming a pediatrician, Zelda's natural writing talent was repeatedly recognized by teachers and advisors throughout her educational journey. Despite lacking representation – she didn't see many successful Black authors in her formative years – she eventually embraced her gift and majored in journalism.

This background as a newspaper reporter provided Zelda with the perfect foundation for her current role as an author coach. She specializes in helping clients, particularly women, who have powerful, often traumatic stories that they've carried for years and are finally ready to share. As Zelda explains, there's a common misconception that writing is easy and that anyone can do it effectively. While she believes everyone has a story, she emphasizes that storytelling is a gift – one that requires specific skills and techniques to truly resonate with readers. This distinction between simply writing down events and crafting an impactful narrative is where Zelda's expertise proves invaluable to her clients.

What makes Zelda's approach unique is her understanding that writing one's story often initiates an unexpected healing process. When authors revisit difficult memories, they frequently discover unprocessed emotions or new perspectives that lead to personal growth. Zelda describes how her clients often experience moments of revelation during the writing process, uncovering deeper meanings in their experiences. This psychological dimension of storytelling allows her clients not only to produce meaningful books but also to experience profound personal transformation along the way.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Zelda's coaching philosophy is her "one-to-one" formula. She teaches clients to identify a single reader they want to reach and focus on solving one specific problem for that person. This targeted approach shifts the focus from self-expression to reader impact, addressing the fundamental question readers bring to any book: "How can this help me?" By maintaining this outward-focused perspective, Zelda helps authors create work that truly resonates with their audience.

Zelda's own story of resilience adds authenticity to her coaching. She shared her recent battle with serious health issues, including pneumonia that led to kidney failure and vascular problems. This life-threatening experience reinforced important lessons about self-care and divine faithfulness that she now incorporates into her coaching. Her ability to smile brightly while discussing such difficult experiences demonstrates the very resilience she helps her clients discover through their writing.

For those interested in working with Zelda to bring their stories to life, she can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 659-232-2454. Her journey from avid reader to newspaper reporter to author coach illustrates the beautiful way our life experiences can prepare us for meaningful work that impacts others – a testament to the power of embracing our gifts and using them to help others find their voice.

To learn more about By Zelda O go to: 
https://www.byzeldao.com/

By Zelda O

(659) 232-2454