Working with a Book Coach is Active Learning!
“Nita has made me a better writer. Simple as that. She’s brilliant at showing versus telling, is detail orientated but can still see the big picture. If this is your first book, or your fiftieth, you will become a better writer with Nita by your side.
Holly Kerr, author of the Don’t Tell Me You Love Me series (and so much more)
Classic 1:1 Book Coaching
Nita’s waiting for my pages!
For writers with a manuscript in progress, whether it’s a first draft or a revision.
There’s nothing quite as motivating as knowing someone is on the other end of the line, waiting for your pages to pop into their inbox. A real, live human being who doesn’t just work with your words, but works with YOU – the person behind the words, the person with something to say.
You’ll get personalized feedback on your manuscript pages, accountability, and emotional support while you write. I’ll listen, help you brainstorm, guide you past the roadblocks, and help you stick to your goals.
How it works:
You’ll submit up to 20 pages for each submission deadline, on a schedule we’ll determine together.
With each submission you’ll receive:
- Written feedback on your submission
- Curated exercises as needed to hone craft skills
- One 30-minute video chat
- On-going email support
- An Author Accelerator trained and certified book coach in your corner, cheering you on.
Your investment:
$600/month
Two submissions per month
This is the best option for making good progress without feeling overwhelmed.
$300/month
One submission per month
For those writers who prefer to move at a more leisurely pace.
NOTE: If I’ve done a full developmental edit on your manuscript and you decide you want coaching support after getting my feedback, you can move directly into either the Revision Coaching Package or Classic 1:1 Book Coaching and receive the first session of the coaching package free.
“I am so fortunate to have Nita on my team. With her innate skill, she pointed out places where readers would benefit from being inside my character’s head and heart. She also, in her inimitable way, affirmed the specific gifts I have in writing and firmly addressed my major fear and shortcoming that undermined my story and its ability to attract potential readers. I am so grateful for her skills in helping me hone the story I have to tell.”
Lisa Bodenheim, author
Revision Coaching
For writers with a completed draft.
The Problem: writers often finish their novel and then immediately jump into line and copy editing without examining the soundness of the foundation. It’s like building a house – it doesn’t matter how many awesome paintings you hang on the wall, they’re ALL going to hang crooked if the house is sitting on a crooked foundation.
How? The first step is to get clarity on the novel as it exists in this moment. Using the 3D Revision strategy developed by Jennie Nash of Author Accelerator, we’ll reverse-engineer your novel to its bare bones, creating an as-is version of the Inside Outline. Next, we’ll make adjustments right on the outline itself, identifying the problems and brainstorming the fixes. This may take several iterations. What you’ll end up with when we’re done is a next-steps version of the Inside Outline – a roadmap for you to follow when you open the manuscript and start working on the actual pages themselves.
The Revision Package consists of four deadlines over four weeks. In addition to workbook materials and written feedback with each submission, you also get five 1:1 coaching calls (one intro call plus one per deadline) and email support.
Your Investment: expect the process to take the equivalent of approximately four coaching sessions ($1200)
What’s next? You can either continue with Classic 1:1 Book Coaching for accountability and support as you revise the pages themselves using the next-steps outline we’ve just created, or work on your own.
NOTE: If I’ve done a full developmental edit on your manuscript and you decide you want coaching support after getting my feedback, you can move directly into either the Revision Coaching Package or Classic 1:1 Book Coaching and receive the first session of the coaching package free.
“Nita’s insights into my manuscript helped me to discover the way to break into the next round of revisions. Her examples illustrated how subtle the difference between telling and showing can be, and her breakdown of the weaknesses in my manuscript will be my guide as I work to take my draft to the next level. Offered with kindness, humour, and tough love, Nita’s comments and editor’s letter have allowed me to see the possibilities of what my novel can become–published!”
Melanie Marttila, author
Novel Foundation Coaching
For writers who have an idea for a novel they want to write, and for those who started a draft but then found themselves out in left field wondering why it isn’t working.
The Problem: there are a lot of pieces involved in crafting a novel, and lots of times you just get excited about an idea and start typing without thinking beyond that thrilling nugget of what if. And then you’re off and running and it’s all plot plot plot. But there’s a lot that makes up a novel beyond just the plot, and after 20,000 words or so, you start to realize it. You stutter to a halt. Why? Because you’re trying to build your story house without a foundation. Eventually those poor houses start to fall down and all that’s left is a pile of pretty pictures and no walls to hang them on.
Truth: At some point, if you want to write a novel that readers are going to connect with, you’re going to have to do some deep work. And by deep, I’m talking about things that go beyond the plot. Those basic structural elements that are so critical and yet so often overlooked.
Using the Blueprint for a Book method developed by Jennie Nash of Author Accelerator, I’ll guide you through a series of exercises aimed at figuring out what you want to say, how you want to say it, and why. You’ll get a solid start on an Inside Outline and come away with clarity around your story.
The blueprint consists of four assignments completed over four weeks. In addition to workbook materials and written feedback with each submission, you also get five 1:1 coaching calls (one intro call plus one per deadline) and email support.
Your Investment: expect the process to take the equivalent of approximately four coaching sessions ($1200)
What’s next? You can either continue with classic 1:1 book coaching using the blueprint we’ve created as a roadmap, or start writing on your own.
“I met Nita by chance when we exchanged pages on the Women’s Fiction Writers’ Association website. Myself a long-time professional editor, I quickly realized I was in the hands of a naturally gifted editor by the type of feedback she was giving me. I immediately hired her to edit the rest of my book, and I’m thrilled with the suggestions she’s made to make my writing, characters, and story stronger. I highly recommend Nita’s editorial services.” Betsy Thorpe, author & editor
Betsy Thorpe, author & editor
More Kind Words…
“As I’m really digesting your comments, I’m even more grateful for your time and attention to the story detail. Your suggestions are a great boost and are really going to help me make some improvements.”
Susan Morris, writer
“Nita was an absolute joy to work with. She was communicative, her feedback was thorough, insightful, clear, and delivered with just the right balance of kindness and unflinching honesty. I can’t recommend her highly enough! ”
Natalie Dale, author