I'M CHAD ALLEN

My mission is to help writers craft powerful books that reach large audiences.

My Story

I spent over twenty years in traditional publishing as an editor, acquisitions editor, and eventually editorial director at Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. In that time I worked with hundreds of writers and saw firsthand what separated the ones who broke through from the ones who didn't.

That experience lit a fire in me. I wanted to do more than acquire books. I wanted to help writers at every stage craft work that was truly powerful and find the audiences it deserved.

Today I do that as a full-time writer, editor, speaker, and writing coach through BookCamp, Book Proposal Academy, The Winning Book Proposal Power Pack and my one-on-one client work.

Work With Me ➤

Living the Writing Life

 I started blogging in August of 2012 for one simple reason:
I felt called to do it.

Something within moved me to begin writing, and I've been posting consistently ever since. (By the way, if you too are feeling the pull, visit How to Start a Sustainable Blog)

I blog about writing, creativity, publishing, and marketing. Occasionally I post on a subject that does not fit neatly into these categories.

Following is a list of popular posts:

  • How to Do More of the Work You Love and Less of the Work You Hate
  • How Much Money You Can Expect to Make from Your First Book Contract
  • How to Come Up with a Great Book Concept
  • How a Girl's Fear Touched Me
  • How to Write a Chapter Synopsis for Your Book Proposal

If you want to know what the R in Chad R. Allen stands for, read My Dirty Little Secret...and Why I'm OK with It.

I am married to Alyssa, and we have two children. We make our home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Everything I do comes back to one core belief: you have unique art to offer the world, and the world needs you to bring it.

A few years ago I wrote a manifesto to capture that belief. It's titled Do Your Art: A Manifesto on Rejecting Apathy to Bring Your Best to the World. It's the message I wish someone had handed me early in my career.

"Chad's manifesto delivers a simple but profound truth: you have unique art to offer the world, and deliberate action is the only path to making it happen. A wonderful (and welcome) kick in the pants!"

—Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative and Die Empty

It's yours for free. Click the button below to get your copy.

Send Me Do Your Art!
"Chad's manifesto delivers a simple but profound truth: you have unique art to offer the world, and deliberate action is the only path to making it happen. A wonderful (and welcome) kick in the pants!"

—Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative and Die Empty

Living the Writing Life

 I started blogging in August of 2012 for one simple reason:
I felt called to do it.

Something within moved me to begin writing, and I've been posting consistently ever since. (By the way, if you too are feeling the pull, visit How to Start a Sustainable Blog)

I blog about writing, creativity, publishing, and marketing. Occasionally I post on a subject that does not fit neatly into these categories.

Following is a list of popular posts:

  • How to Do More of the Work You Love and Less of the Work You Hate

  • How Much Money You Can Expect to Make from Your First Book Contract

  • How to Come Up with a Great Book Concept

  • How a Girl's Fear Touched Me

  • How to Write a Chapter Synopsis for Your Book Proposal

If you want to know what the R in Chad R. Allen stands for, read My Dirty Little Secret...and Why I'm OK with It.

I am married to Alyssa, and we have two children. We make our home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

My Story

I spent over twenty years in traditional publishing as an editor, acquisitions editor, and eventually editorial director at Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. In that time I worked with hundreds of writers and saw firsthand what separated the ones who broke through from the ones who didn't.

That experience lit a fire in me. I wanted to do more than acquire books. I wanted to help writers at every stage craft work that was truly powerful and find the audiences it deserved.

Today I do that as a full-time writer, editor, speaker, and writing coach through BookCamp, Book Proposal Academy, The Winning Book Proposal Power Pack and my one-on-one client work.