Writing a book asks a great deal of a writer.
It requires sustained attention, clear thinking, and the ability to organize ideas in a way that connects with readers. For many writers—especially those working on their first book—the process can feel larger and more complex than expected.
A book coach helps bring clarity to that process.
As a certified nonfiction and memoir book coach, I work with writers who want thoughtful editorial guidance as they develop and complete their manuscripts.
Some writers come to coaching with only an idea. Others already have chapters drafted or a manuscript underway.
Our work begins wherever you are.
Wherever you begin, we clarify your message, strengthen the structure of your book, and create a path forward that allows the manuscript to move ahead with steady momentum.
Why do writers use book coaches?
Writers often seek coaching because they want a knowledgeable partner while working through a complex creative project.
Book coaching provides:
STRUCTURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
A book is a long project. Coaching sessions create a framework of goals and deadlines that help the work move forward.
EDITORIAL INSIGHT
A book coach helps you see the manuscript from the reader’s perspective, identifying where the message is clear and where it may need strengthening.
CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DECISIONS
Many writers struggle with uncertainty about what belongs in the book and what does not. Coaching helps you make thoughtful choices about structure and direction.
STEADY SUPPORT
Writing can be exhilarating one day and discouraging the next. Having an experienced partner in the process helps writers maintain perspective and momentum.
Writers come to book coaching at many different stages.
Some are still shaping their book idea. Others have begun drafting but feel uncertain about structure or direction. Some arrive with a partial manuscript and want professional insight before revising.
Below are the main ways I support nonfiction and memoir writers.
If you are unsure which option is right for your project, a discovery call is the best place to begin. We can discuss your book idea, where you are in the writing process, and what type of support would be most helpful.
Writers come to book coaching at different stages in the life of a manuscript. The services below reflect the most common ways we work together.
Depending on your strengths, some stages of book preparation will be exciting and easy, and other stages will be challenging. This is because a book project is big. It's long. There will be times you get too close to it or lose your sense of purpose. Writing a book asks you to use skills you may be still learning.
A book coach is your partner in the project. A book coach is someone to talk to, someone to hold you accountable. someone to keep you motivated and moving forward, even when it is hard. A book coach can support you through all stages of book preparation, from planning to publishing, or only when you need support.
Click between Tier 1 and Tier 2 to see what options are available depending on your stage in book development.
Book coaching is an investment in a meaningful, long-term creative project. My pricing reflects the time, editorial attention, and thoughtful guidance required to support writers as they develop their books.
Writers who choose coaching are usually looking for more than encouragement. They want experienced editorial perspective, accountability, publishing knowledge, and steady partnership as they shape a book that truly serves its readers.
Will a partner in the process help you? Book a call with me to find out. You can tell me about your book project or idea, what is working and what is needed, and we'll discuss next steps. If a coach seems right for you, I'll share ways we can work together. If you need another publishing support professional, I'll let you know. In any case, you'll come away with a better idea of your next step, and you'll get a taste of book coaching and whether we are a good fit.
Many writers with the Mini Blueprint Strategy Session. In this focused session, we turn your book idea into a clear one-page plan using the Blueprint for a Book method developed by Author Accelerator. → Learn more about the Mini Blueprint Strategy Session
Some writers also enjoy participating in my online community, Writing What’s Possible, where nonfiction and memoir writers gather for co-writing sessions and conversations about craft while continuing their book projects.
The community is free to join and open to writers at any stage, whether or not we work together in coaching. It offers a welcoming place to stay connected to your manuscript, build relationships with other writers, and return to the work throughout the book development process.
It’s a place for writers who want to approach their books with care for craft, respect for readers, and the belief that meaningful work is possible. → Join us
Let me answer this one first — it's always my first question! Fees vary depending on how intensively and quickly you want to move forward. If you are seeking personalized, one-to-one coaching support, you can expect a minimum investment of $250 per session. You are investing in yourself and your dream of writing a book, and I take that seriously. I want to make sure that the time I reserve for you — in coaching sessions and during my review work — is dedicated to your needs, so my pricing is structured to allow me to deliver good-quality coaching and feedback without competing pressures.
I meet most of my clients in video calls or by telephone. Local clients can request in-person meetings. No matter how we meet, coaching sessions are focused on your goals and the challenges you want to address. We agree to the coaching schedule and deadlines at the beginning of your coaching engagement. You submit your work to me in a shared file folder, where you can also access your feedback and the coaching schedule. In between sessions, you have access to me by email if questions arise.
Yes, I ask all of my clients to sign off on a Coaching Agreement that lays out the terms and conditions of my services. I want you to have everything you need to make the decision to invest in yourself. Included in the agreement are the payment terms, how we can expect each other to conduct ourselves, what happens if you miss deadlines or if emergencies arise, and so on.
This is exactly the question I want us to explore when we meet in a discovery call, so please ask me questions about how I work and my experience. A writer and a coach need to believe they can work together productively and effectively. If we aren't a good fit, I'll try to match you with another coach who can better meet your needs. I am part of an extensive book coaching community who each have their own strengths, aptitudes and ways of working. In the Coaching Agreement, you will see I aim to stand behind my values:
I love working behind-the-scenes, supporting the dreams and goals of people who have stories to tell and loads of experience to share with the world. I have a soft spot for projects that challenge the status quo and aim to improve the lives of people experiencing unfairness.
In my off-hours, you’ll often find me reading crime novels and news bytes, listening to podcasts, or deep in other quiet pursuits like sewing or cross-stitching or trying new recipes in the kitchen. I live in the Greater Sudbury area of Northeastern Ontario, in the traditional territories of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nations, with my husband, children and our dog.
Before becoming a book coach, I spent more than two decades working closely with writers and supporting the development of meaningful work.
Over the years I’ve supported writers at many stages — from early ideas to finished pieces ready for publication.
For thirteen years, I served as the editor–publisher of Open Minds Quarterly, a literary magazine dedicated to writers exploring experiences of mental health and recovery. In that role, I worked closely with both emerging and experienced writers as they shaped deeply personal and socially meaningful stories for publication.
Those years taught me how powerful writing can be — not only for the writer, but for the readers whose understanding expands when they encounter honest, carefully crafted stories.
That editorial experience continues to shape my coaching today.
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