Book Coaching 101

I work with writers of contemporary middle grade, young adult, or adult fiction and memoir. I support and guide writers through the early stages of the writing process, from blank page to solid manuscript, using a mixture of proven strategies, deadlines, tough love and deep compassion for people who struggle with self-doubt around their ideas, craft, and worthiness of publication.

Here are Frequently Asked Questions about how the book coaching process works, what to expect, what you’ll achieve, and much more!

Click on any question to reveal my answer!

  • Book coaching is a partnership between writer and coach with the sole purpose of making the story on the page the best it can be. Book coaching is a process of walking together through the hard parts, moving past obstacles, and celebrating wins. While the writer is doing the hard work of detailed scenes, character development, and more, the coach keeps an eye on the bigger picture of what makes a good story and what will work for the reader. While there is editorial feedback on your pages, it is more than that. It is a holistic approach to creating a story that works. Logistically speaking, book coaching with me involves deadlines for submission of pages-in-progress, regular revision based on experienced feedback, Zoom calls to dig deep into the work, and ongoing support.

  • I work with writers who are deeply invested in the emotional journey their characters are going to take and who have a strong sense of purpose with their book. I specialize in contemporary stories about regular people living regular lives, including literary, upmarket and commercial fiction.

    I work with stories for adult readers as well as middle grade (ages 8-12) and young adult (ages 13-18).

    While I’m happy to support stories with a little bit of magic, a touch of the strange, some romance and/or that take place in the not too distant past, I’m NOT the best coach for the following genres: nonfiction, high fantasy, sci-fi, horror, thrillers, dark mysteries, or fan fiction. I work with memoir writers occasionally.

  • No. Here’s the thing: the publishing market is not something that any one person can control, dictate, or even predict. I make zero guarantees of any kind of commercial or literary success. What I do promise is that I will be 100% in your corner when it comes to making your story great.

  • Yes! First-time writers are my jam. Let’s work through the things that have kept you from this goal for years or for decades.

  • Absolutely! You are writing a brand-new book, so let’s make it a brand-new experience. Many prolific writers work with book coaches on multiple projects. It never hurts to have a second pair of eyes on your project!

  • Oh, there are so many ways. The main difference is that book coaching, unlike classes and workshops, is specifically tailored to YOU. It’s all about your writing practice, this story, and the pages you produce. Classes and workshops rarely give even a smidgen of the kind of personalized attention you will get with a book coach.

  • First of all, I’m so sorry that you have had a negative experience. So often I have heard from writers who were hurt or discouraged by teachers, writing groups, editors, etc. This hurts my heart as both an educator and a champion of people who want to share stories.

    One of my superpowers is empathy for the challenges of writing. I am a writer, too, and I know how hard it is. To work for days, months or years and then get negative feedback can be debilitating for a writer. As a coach, I work hard to find and share the positives in addition to areas for growth. I will help you set specific next steps with each call, rather than making global statements. I will help you see that you can do this. Think of our work together as a new beginning.

  • If you have a contemporary (or even historical) story about regular human people leading regular human lives, I’m your coach! I am also open to coaching genre fiction for middle grade audiences. But if you are writing YA or adult genre fiction and don’t know where to turn, please let me know and I will try to connect you to a great coach for your genre.

  • Please see my list of coaching services. Click here >>

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