What is book coaching?

Book coaching focuses just as much on developing the writer as it endeavors to enhance the writing. Where an editor provides guidance on just the text itself, a book coach is a partner in the writing project, giving the writer feedback and guidance as she writes.

Like coaching in any other realm, book coaching provides a framework and expert guidance to help you perform your best—in this case, as a novel writer.

I won’t make you do wind sprints, just word sprints!

A running coach creates a training plan with mileage and workouts for each day; I provide a structure for your writing, with regular page submission deadlines so you can complete your first draft or revisions.

A basketball coach gives players advice to improve their free throw form; I give regular, constructive feedback on your pages so you can continually improve your work.

A gymnastic coach gives her gymnasts a much-needed pep-talk before they perform; I keep you motivated to write forward, even when self-doubt sets in.

Do I really need a book coach?

No, not if what you’ve been doing with your writing is working. But if you’re frustrated that you haven’t been able to achieve your writing goals or you’re feeling stuck, a book coach could be the answer for you. I know I work best when I have accountability and a sounding board for my ideas. Also, I sometimes need a little boost when my confidence flags.

So, if you want to remove all the barriers keeping you from completing your novel, working with a book coach is right for you!

What if my writing isn’t good enough?

Then a coach is a great idea! Your writing is probably better than you think, but the only way to improve is to continually work at it. Working with me is a commitment to improvement.

• I provide feedback to help you see what’s working well and what could be better

• I give you resources to learn how to work on the areas for improvement

• I encourage and challenge you to practice your skills

I have an idea, but I don’t know what to do next. Can I work with you?

Yes! My ideal client is starting from square one so we can build a solid foundation for your story before you begin to write. I’ll take you through a series of exercises to refine your idea, to flesh out your characters and their motivations, and to plan out your story from the beginning to the end.

From there, I can coach you through each chapter and revisions, too!

I’m stuck, and I don’t know how to write forward. How can you help?

I’ll diagnose why you’re stuck. Do you just need some fresh ideas or a confidence boost that things are working so far? Or is there something off about the story that’s creating a roadblock? Through regular coaching, I’ll help you get your story back on track.

I finished my manuscript. What do I do next?

No matter how good you are, your first draft is probably not ready for prime time. In fact, the key to good writing is rewriting and revising. I offer manuscript evaluations to help you figure out where to start your revisions. From there, we can working together with regular coaching to execute the changes and polish your manuscript.

Who do you work with?

If you’re passionate about writing, but you don’t feel confident in your abilities, I’m the coach for you. I want to help beginners develop and improve your writing practice. I want to work with novice writers to build your skills and help you complete your novel. I want to help writers without a process establish your consistent writing habit so you can accomplish your goals!

I can help with any fiction genre.

How do I know if we’d be a good fit?

Let’s talk! I’d be happy to have quick chat with you to discuss your goals and my process to determine that they’ll gel. I also provide a questionnaire to you when you sign up for coaching so we can ensure we’re starting our working relationship on the same page—literally.

Can you guarantee that I’ll get published?

Unfortunately, I cannot make that guarantee—but no one else can, either. The publishing industry is driven by so many variables, that it’s hard to say what will sell at any given time. However, you give yourself the best chance if you can write a solid, polished, compelling story. That’s what I can help you with!