Certified Book Coaching Services

what the heck is a book coach?

A book coach is like a basketball coach or a life coach or a personal trainer, cheerleader, accountability partner, midwife, and part stuffy old schoolteacher who parcels out tough love when you need it.  A book coach is a trained professional who will provide a solid path on which to pursue your writing.

 

This is what I will do:

• I will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.

• I give you feedback and praise.

• I will lift you up when the going gets tough. (Sorry for these mixed sports metaphors, but they seem appropriate).

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Think of it as a recipe for cooking – you know you have the ingredients, you just don’t know how to put it all together.That’s where I come in. I will also mix cooking metaphors with sports to get my point across.

 

While I will be looking at the big picture of your overall novel, I will also provide line edits, corrections, and suggestions for additions or deletions. This means every word of your book will be read. In addition, I will provide an education based on my years of experience in publishing and writing. I can provide industry insights and share resources that may help you. Above all, I will provide the emotional support you need to complete this arduous journey.

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Let’s face it – giving your book to a stranger to review is a scary proposition. Your deepest dreams, hopes, and private emotions are wrapped up in the book. You want and need validation. You want to know if you have what it takes to succeed. You’ve been working for years and you want the world to read it and to applaud your talent, but you’re scared. I understand. We’ll work together in a safe, confidential space.

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​why me?

I have been a voracious reader and a writer my whole life. I have completed  extensive book coach training with Author Accelerator, the foremost book coaching company in the world.  The business is run by Jennie Nash, an amazing woman who has an unearthly ability to discern exactly what is and is not working in a manuscript. I am the author of published short stories, essays, and magazine articles. I have finished an historical fiction novel which is part of a planned trilogy. The first book is now out on submission. (Like I said, it’s a long arduous process. Perseverance is key.)

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I've been a critique partner in several long-running writing groups. I am a member and contest judge of the Women Fiction Writers Association. As a certified book coach, I have helped writers draft query letters, synopses, and elevator pitches. I know the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I understand the pain of rejection letters or the joy of acceptance. I've been in your shoes, from newbie to professional. It's a long, long road with numerous pot-holes along the way, but we can work together to get you to your destination.

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​can you guarantee that I will be published?

 

In a word -- NO. But I can help you finish. When you reach THE END, your book will be the best it can be. If any prospective book coach assures you that you will be published if you only choose him/her, run, run, run far away. There is absolutely no guarantee. Publishing is a labyrinth of many lost dreams and a few incredible stories of success. Sometimes none of it makes sense. So, no, I will not guarantee that you will be published. But you will be your best. I won't let you be otherwise.

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what can you do for me that I can't do myself ?

​Absolutely nothing. Surprised? Well, look at it this way: you can find beta readers yourself, you can join a group, you can work by yourself, you can buy craft books, attend conferences, and enter contests, but you may still find yourself years behind. Still not finished. Still stuck in the middle. Still wondering if you have what it takes. Here’s a surprising statement coming from an introvert like me: Writing a book takes a village. You have to engage with others. Sometimes you need the help of someone who knows the craft.

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That would be me.

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what genres do you coach?

II specialize in:

• Literary Fiction

• Women’s Fiction

• Historical Fiction

• Mysteries

• Non-Fiction

 

​so how do we start?

Our first step is a form. It’s just a small form that can be finished in five minutes. Consider it a get-to-know-you form. When you contact me (see below). I will send you a form to fill out and send back to me. I’ll get back to you and we’ll set up a FREE discovery Zoom call of 30 minutes.

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I want to get to know you and to determine what you want out of your writing. What do you want to accomplish? How will you achieve your goals? Do you like cats or dogs? Pen or pencil?

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If we both agree that we want to work together, I’ll send you a contract and we’ll get started. We’ll start with the Blueprint for a Book and will move on to Manuscript Development.

 

blueprint for a book

Our first step will be using the Author Accelerator Blueprint for a Book. The Blueprint is an important step that will save you hours and hours of time. You won't flounder around wondering if you are on the right track, wasting months, if not years. You will learn how to write a novel in the most efficient way by tackling the hardest part BEFORE you start to write. We’ll pin down your story and characters with a plan that will send you in the right direction. Don’t worry – this is not a plan set in stone. There is opportunity for imagination and deviation from the path. After all, sometimes characters absolutely refuse to do what you want. In those cases, there is room for compromise.

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When you finish, you will understand your motivation as a writer, have insight into your readers' expectations, and will forge ahead on your book knowing it has a solid structure that will hold up inside and outside. The work will be yours, but with guidance from me. I’m not going to leave you out there hanging by your lonesome. We’ll work together on your Blueprint for a Book for a maximum of six weeks. Once we have a finished Blueprint, we’ll turn to book development.  

 

book development

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You will turn in 10 pages every two weeks. Your project must be completed in 6 months. ​I will complete extensive in-line comments for every deadline. 

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• ​Blueprint for a Book and Book Development – $1500.00 or $250 monthly for 6 months

• Two 30-minute check-ins by phone/Zoom per month

• You turn in 20 pages every month

• I provide extensive in-line comments.

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manuscript audit

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still not sure? how about a taster?

The Mini-Blueprint will give you a sample of how you will work under the larger Blueprint for a Book. You will work on the foundational elements of how to write a novel by tackling the hardest part BEFORE you start to write. You will fill out the Mini-Blueprint form and we'll make arrangements for a Discovery Call. We will finish it in one month and have a Zoom call at the end of the month. I will diagnose your proposed novel’s strengths and weaknesses and offer suggestions for improvement. I will also offer advice as to possible pitfalls which could cost you a lot of time.

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Here's how it works:

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• Mini-Blueprint : $199. Must be completed in one month. Includes two 30 minute Zoom calls.

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This project will give you an idea of what it will be like working on the larger blueprint, as well as how we function together.

 

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