Q. What does a writing coach do? A. A writing coach, like any other coach, supports, inspires, encourages and devises strategies to help you achieve success.  It is not the job of a coach to instruct or to train, but to help you set and meet realistic goals, and to design a practical program for doing so. Additionally, a writing coach brings value that no other coach can offer: she draws you out of the necessary isolation of the world of a writer and offers you a sensible sounding board, feedback on your ideas, the occasional brainstorming session and– most importantly– the reassurance that someone other than yourself cares about your work. Q. What’s the difference between a coach and a consultant? A. A consultant is basically a collaborator on your work.  She will take your manuscript– or your idea for one–and do as much work on it as you request.  She can organize chapters, write outlines or entire proposals, revise and rewrite, make suggestions for marketing, or even ghost write your entire book.  Consultants, or “book doctors” as they are sometimes called, are understandably expensive, and very often exceed what you  can expect to profit from the sale of your book. A coach does not do any hands-on work on your manuscript, unless requested to do so for an additional fee outside the coaching contract.   She offers advice and problem solving that can assist you in any part of the writing process– from plot and character difficulties, to trying to find time to write, to dealing with rejection and maintaining faith in your abilities. Q. How do I know if a coach would help me? A. Ask yourself these questions: Am I willing to work every day on my manuscript?   Am I ready to get started but don’t know where to begin... or do I have a pattern of continually getting started and then bogging down for one reason or another?   Have I educated myself in every way possible on how to write my story, through workshops and books on the writing process?  If I had someone to talk to who would mentor me, encourage me, help me keep my focus and even brainstorm with me, would the process be easier for me?  Do I know what I really want from my writing, and if not, am I ready to set some goals and try to meet them? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you would probably benefit from some kind of coaching.    Q.  How do I know if you’re the right coach for me? A. I recommend that you choose a coach in the same way you would choose a workshop instructor, or any other professional who offers services for a fee.   Make certain that her experience and background are consistent with your goals.  Make certain that she has achieved a measure of success in the area for which she is coaching you toward success.    Make certain that her style is one that you respond to, and that her method makes sense to you. Q. Do you read my pages? A. A manuscript critique is offered separately at the rate of $2.00 per page, for the simple reason that many writers do not need or want someone else to read their work while it is in progress.  (For a full description of what a manuscript critique entails, click here).  Many people do find, however, that the manuscript critique greatly enhances the helpfulness of their coaching programs. Q. Will you help me with my plot? A. Storyline discussions are as much a part of the process as you want them to be, but I will not write your book for you.  My job is to help you tell your story, not to tell you about the story I would like to read. Q. Can you fix writer’s block? A. Coaching sessions will include weekly homework assignments designed to circumvent writer’s block, or in some cases to help overcome it. Q. Will you use your influence to help me get published or to find an agent? A.  No, and I would caution you to be very skeptical of any coach who promises to find you an agent or a publisher for a fee.   No one can promise that your manuscript will be accepted by an agent or a publisher, and no writer who values her relationship with her colleagues would jeopardize her reputation by lending her name to a project that she does not personally control.  In my workshop,  Writing the Novel, I  include a list of literary agents and publishers specific to your type of book, as well as guidelines and tip sheets for all the major publishing houses, with personalized instructions on how to get your manuscript to the right desk. Q. So how does this work? A. A number of different coaching packages are offered to suit your needs.   Each consists of one phone call per week, of either an hour or 30 minutes each time, plus an e-mail follow-up from me summarizing our conversation and   detailing your success strategies for the coming week. Before we begin, I will ask you to fill out a questionnaire and to deliver a written summary of what you expect from our sessions, including a description of your current project.  You may use your telephone time with me any way you like– to brainstorm ideas,  to discuss plot points, to tell me your story, or simply to complain!   But every session will begin with a report from you on what you have accomplished in the past week, and how you have executed your homework assignments.  Deadlines and accountability are an essential part of being a working writer. Q. All I have is an idea.  Will you turn it into a book? A. No.  But I’ll help you turn it into a book. Q.  What if I”m not ready to write a book?   What if I just want to see if I can be a writer? A.  I suggest that you first take one of my beginning workshops, either Making a Book or From the Beginning.  Then decide if you would like to continue with coaching.

Contact Us                         Coaching Packages: By the month: Four thirty minute coaching sessions via telephone per month, one per week,  including one e-mail follow up summarizing your goals and strategies for the coming week: $275 Four one hour coaching sessions, one each week, via telephone or in person, including two follow-up e-mails each week summarizing your goals and checking on your progress: $485 Six Month Packages: In six months you can write an entire book! Receive hands-on coaching throughout the process, with help through stumbling blocks, discouragement and that inevitable moment when you feel you have to tear it all up and start over. (Advice: don’t do that!) For those who just need a little support and encouragement: One thirty minute coaching session via telephone per week for six months,  including one e-mail follow up summarizing  your goals and strategies for the coming week.   Includes a FREE read-through of the work completed by the end of the session with a one-page summary of suggestions for how to proceed.      $1500 For those who prefer more hands-on guidance: One hour-long  coaching session  each week, via telephone or in person, including a read-through of up to ten manuscript pages per week. Included FREE: a complete critique of your finished work at the end of the 6-month session (up to 400 pages– an $800 value!)         $3500 Contact Us to sign up for coaching Please note: There is no refund on unused coaching sessions. You are responsible for attending all sessions or rescheduling at least 48 hours in advance.    No guarantee, express or implied, is made regarding the results of any coaching package.