Coaching
PLEASE NOTE: We're currently closed to new coaching clients.
Check back in case this changes.
Have you ever thought a one-on-one conversation with a publishing professional could get you unstuck and move your writing career forward? We offer publishing coaching for any phase of your career, focused on your area of need: coaching, consulting, or design.
If you don't have a literary agent but could benefit from professional insight and feedback, check out our coaching services below.
If you're looking for a freelance EDITOR rather than a coach, click here.
We can help in various aspects of your journey:
GETTING UNSTUCK
Stalled somewhere in the writing or publishing process?
Work with your coach to:
- Assess whether the project is viable and if you're going in the right direction with the writing or with your approach to publishing.
- Identify why it's stalled, and how to get you going again.
- Establish measurable goals and specific next steps.
CONSULTING
WANT TO TALK BIG-PICTURE?
Work with your coach to accomplish any of the following:
- Determine the right trajectory for your writing.
- Plan your approach to publishing: whether to go indie; how to get an agent; how to identify potential publishers.
- Build your brand so you can sharpen your core message.
- Formulate a social media strategy.
DESIGN
NEED TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR LOOK?
Work with your coach to:
- Customize a design palette that'll give your socials an update.
- Create one-sheet or two-sheets to showcase your work.
- Polish your website look.
STALLED SOMEWHERE IN THE WRITING OR PUBLISHING PROCESS?
Work with your coach to:
- Assess whether the project is viable and if you're going in the right direction with the writing or with your approach to publishing.
- Identify why it's stalled, and how to get you going again.
- Establish measurable goals and specific next steps.
WANT TO TALK BIG-PICTURE?
Work with your coach to accomplish any of the following:
- Determine the right trajectory for your writing.
- Plan your approach to publishing: whether to go indie; how to get an agent; how to identify potential publishers.
- Build your brand so you can sharpen your core message.
- Formulate a social media strategy.
NEED TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR LOOK?
Work with your coach to:
- Customize a design palette that'll give your socials an update.
- Create one-sheet or two-sheets to showcase your work.
- Polish your website look.
Choose a specific package:
Coaching & Consulting
Coaching is done by phone or Zoom. Each session includes:
- Pre-coaching consultation via email
- One hour of advance reading, editing, evaluation of materials and/or email exchange (prior to coaching)
- One hour private one-on-one coaching session by phone
Investment:
Special 4-pack:
- Pre-coaching consultation via email
- Four 30-minute sessions of coaching, two weeks apart
- For each session: 30 minutes advance reading, editing, and/or evaluation of your materials (prior to coaching)
- Total cost $400
- Great for accountability and getting started on a project!
Book Proposal Preparation
Your coach will read your proposal, chapter outlines, and two sample chapters and make notations on your proposal about ways to strengthen it. The coach will analyze whether you have uncovered the primary competitive books, including doing online research to verify the competition; assess whether you have adequately documented the audience for your book, including online research; and offer additional thoughts, ideas, and recommendations.
Some questions the coach may address are:
• Is the proposal enjoyable to read and well written?
• Does the author’s passion for the topic come through?
• Is the proposal logically organized?
• Does the author offer compelling reasons why this book will be successful?
• Does the first page of the proposal hook the reader?
• Does the author clearly show the book’s commercial potential?
• Has the author positioned the book so that an agent (and publisher) would understand there is a need for the book?
• Does the book have a clear hook or selling handle?
• Is the overview persuasive and informative?
Investment:
$110/hour (two hour minimum)
Please note: Preparation of a book proposal from scratch is usually $2,000 to $4,000. Contact me to discuss.
Query Critique
- Your coach will study your query letter along with your synopsis or book proposal.
- You will have a 30-minute coaching call in which you and your coach discuss your query and how to improve it.
- You will have the opportunity to rewrite your query and send it back again for a final critique.
Investment: $129
Self-Publishing
Need to learn about self-publishing? We don't personally handle this, but can refer you to a coach who knows all about it. Scott Douglas offers a free consultation to start with so that you can determine what level of service you need. Additionally Scott offers coaching on all aspects of self-publishing, handling interior design and cover design, and marketing your book.
Contact Scott at his website: