Work with me

FUN AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OFFERINGS TO HELP YOU WRITE YOUR MEMOIR or Nonfiction book.

Clarifying your story’s scope and structure while learning the craft and technique of how to write a book can be a process. A fun and supportive group shortens that learning curve, since we’re often able to see what works in someone else’s writing before we see it in our own.

Accountability is also important. And having a community to cheer you on can make all the difference! It can help us feel supported as well as seen — so that we can make progress more quickly as well as more sustainably.

As such, I recommend starting with my Memoir Mastery program if you’re looking for help with your memoir.

Once folks have taken my course, I’m available to them for manuscript reviews and private coaching calls.

MANUSCRIPT REVIEWS

WHY MANUSCRIPT REVIEWS ARE IMPORTANT

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is waiting until they’re done with their manuscript before hiring an editor. This often leads to major rewrites, increasing the cost, time and emotional investment of your project.

Getting a developmental manuscript review early in the process will help you figure out if your story works before you spend precious time and energy polishing your manuscript—saving you lots of frustration, not to mention time and money. It’s essential to get big-picture help with narrative style, pacing, structure and technique before you get bogged down in line-edits and final revisions.

For this reason, I always recommend that writers hire a developmental (or substantive) editor long before hiring a line editor or proofreader. They’re vastly different parts of the editorial process.

What is a developmental manuscript review? 

A close read of your manuscript pages (double-spaced, in 12-pt font) with an editorial report, customized for each writer’s needs and level of expertise. A developmental manuscript review covers what’s working well in the manuscript as well as what needs to be strengthened, and typically addresses the following components:

• story structure
• pacing
• character development
• conflict
• setting
• dialogue
• perspective and/or point of view (POV)
• tone/voice
• showing v. telling
• narrative style and organization.

WRITING COACHING

Many of my clients find that taking one of my courses is the best way to create the solid foundation they need for writing memoir. From there, individual coaching can be much more efficient as well as cost-effective. 

WHAT IS WRITING COACHING?

Coaching is tailored to your needs and expertise level and meets you where you’re at—whether you’re just starting a project, are stuck or are looking for concrete support to help you reach the finish line. Writing coaching typically includes a mix of the following:

• Help clarifying your project’s focus and narrowing your audience and goals.
• Help creating a road map for your project.
• Help setting up a consistent writing schedule that works for you.
• Craft and technique teaching to address
  • story structure
  • pacing
  • character development
  • conflict
  • setting
  • dialogue
  • perspective and/or point of view (POV)
  • tone/voice
  • showing v. telling and
  • narrative style and organization.
• Support, coaching and resources for inner critic and writer’s block.

If you’re interested in seeing how my offerings might support you, you can schedule a free consult here. I offer 30-minute introductory calls to ensure we’re a good fit. There is no charge for these calls.

You can also contact me here. 

Please note: I will return your email within 48 business hours.