Book Coaching
I realize this is blatant favoritism, but Chris is the only writing coach I know who works with aspiring writers . . . exactly where they are, not where 'regular' coaches expect them to already be.
-Claudia Suzanne, the "Einstein of Ghostwriters"
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Everyone's creative process is different. And I believe you'll do your best work when you're following yours – not mine.
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I can help you manage that process and direct it toward meeting the demands of the industry.
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I'll always assess your chapters in ways appropriate to their stage of development. Early-draft chapters don't need to be ready for publication. They just need to capture the energy and substance. But when we're revising, I'll help you ready them for other eyes.
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Writing a book will challenge you – sometimes on a deeply personal level. And it won't go the same way for every writer. In fact, if it hasn't gone the way you expected, or if the methods you were taught have not worked for you, then you're in good company.
I didn't understand why my writing process seemed so different until I came to understand my autism and ADHD – and even more, until I began to unlearn my internalized ableism. That journey has given me great compassion for the exceptions to the rule. Writers like you and me.
I'm here to serve the writer you are – not the one you think you should be.
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Book Coaching is $500/month. Below, I'll break down what that package includes.
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As a member of the dis/ability community, I am also happy to offer an text-based version of this package for those unable to use Zoom.
Intake
Our work together will normally begin with a consult call. I'll find out who you are as a person, what drives your project, and what aspects of the book are most important to you. We'll also discuss potential paths for publication and how your book will fit into the literary marketplace.
When it's appropriate, I will send you a project proposal, which will enable you to review our agreement in depth. Once you sign off, I'll send you a Dropbox folder for your documents. It's time for me to read what you've written!
Don't worry if it's still a mess. That's what I'm here for. Messy writers are truly my people. 😉​
Manuscript Review Sessions
We'll begin our coaching sessions together with an in-depth review of your manuscript, talking through its unique strengths and potential markets. While I will be straightforward about any problems, this isn't a critique session. Working together skillfully means maximizing what your book does well.
I was originally trained to type up this analysis as a separate service and charge you several thousand dollars for it. But I've moved away from that approach. Talking through the analysis saves you money and me time, and as a disabled writer who works mostly with other disabled writers, I consider that a win-win. It also gives you more agency. And if we need to make large-scale changes to the book over several weeks, I'll be there with you every step of the way. (For more on that, see the next session.)
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Reading your manuscript may take up to two weeks. If the current document is significantly over 30,000 words long, a reading fee may apply.
Weekly Coaching Calls
Each week, we'll meet for a 60-minute coaching session. We'll review whatever manuscript material you've sent me since last time, celebrating your wins and flagging any concerns.
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I'll also keep an empathetic eye on your unique creative process, helping you identify what works for you. There's no precise timeline for developing a complete, cohesive manuscript, but I can help you avoid some of the pitfalls.
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I'll also give you help that's tailored to your particular project stage. When you're writing a first draft, I'll help you nail the book's substance and energy. In revision, I'll help you prepare it for audience and agents.
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Toward the end of the session, we'll discern your next steps together. Most of the time, we'll agree on a homework assignment that will tangibly move the project forward.
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Feel free to send me up to 5000 words on any given week, at least two business days before our meeting.
Mid-Week Email Support
For many of my writers, creating a book is an even more complex, nonlinear, and sometimes frustrating experience than it would be for most. That's not a problem, but it may feel like one.
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That's one of the reasons I offer mid-week email support. The other is that if you're putting in the work and sending me material during the week, I'd like to be able to meet you in the middle.
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My feedback for mid-week support won't be quite as in-depth. It's a service that most book coaches don't offer. But I'll tell you what you're doing well and help you discern what to work on next.
Industry-Driven Project Management
I'll tell you a secret. People in the creative writing world – that's where I'm from – tend to assume that if writing is hard for you, it's a craft problem. You just must not be good at this.
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But for me, that was never the bottleneck. My limitations in writing were just like my limitations in life – they came from struggles with executive dysfunction.
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Maybe you're the same.
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Throughout the project, I'll help you discern how to follow what energizes you about your book – in a way that's realistic for your brain.
And I'll do it from the standpoint of a book industry insider.
Publication
Pitching, querying, submissions – I'll help you navigate parts of the endgame that many writers find intimidating. I can also help you develop plans to promote and sell your book.