Kind and supportive community offerings to help you write your memoir.

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

Writing and learning in community can also be deeply healing. We feel held, supported, seen. And we 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.

If you’ve already got a strong foundation for your memoir and are looking for additional support, I recommend the Writer’s Circle.

The Writer’s Circle is a community offering designed to give you the accountability, support and community you need to move the needle forward on your memoir.

Staying committed to your project can be tough when you’re going it alone. Having accountability, support and a warm, welcoming community can make all the difference. Click here to learn more.

 

MANUSCRIPT REVIEWS

My editorial calendar currently supports client work. Rarely am I able to take on outside work. 

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

Currently, my private coaching slots are reserved for current and past clients. 

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, please reach out. I offer 30-minute introductory calls to ensure we’re a good fit. There is no charge for these calls.

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