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| If you're working on
or have written a book and want feedback,
help, a writing coach,
or someone to mentor the process, I
can give you a professional editorial
review, work closely with you on
it through an editorial
critique or ongoing
coaching. I’ll help you find the points at
which to strengthen your book, advise
you on how best to do that, and discuss
your redrafts. I'll also support you in the working
process.
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SAMPLE
COACHING CLIENTS : SECTORS : JOB TYPE
Visit my Writer's
Tools page for ideas, inspiration, and practical
tips. |
Help writing a book rests on three pillars:
- practical: helping people separate a
huge project into stages, set targets, and manage the process,
while keeping their creativity & their sanity
- conceptual: discussing ideas, developing
the book’s shape, advising on creative activities
to explore and rearrange concepts
- language: getting the tone right, expressing
ideas clearly, developing a personal style guide, and making
the final text as professional as its content
I’m happy to pick up the slack where someone needs
me to, but also empower people to improve their own abilities.
I’m committed to process teaching – understanding
why and practising how, not just learning
what; keeping the focus and always keeping the fun.
 I
was amazed how quickly and thoroughly Megan understood the
target vision. Her feedback was spot on, practical, provoking
and very encouraging.
Filip Dousek of Bondaii
Editorial review
gives you a professional overview
of your work
This is ideal if you want some general feedback on your book
or if you're planning a book and have some writing
done already - a draft of your book, a batch of blog posts
you want to draw on, some chapters, etc.
how it works
We discuss on email what you're working towards, what you
want your work to be - whether that's an ebook giveaway, a
literary novel, or a full-length non-fiction print book -
and what it's for. You send me everything you've written so
far, I read through it and assess it, and then we arrange
a time to speak on the phone for half an hour. I give you
an overview of your work's major strengths and weaknesses.
You'll also get an email afterwards summarising the main points,
for you to refer back to.
Editorial critique
gives you a detailed critique
with specific recommendations
An editorial critique is a detailed assessment of your work,
to indentify its strengths and weaknesses, going into the
specifics more carefully and presented as 10-12 pages of feedback
plus a one-hour discussion.
For non-fiction, it includes...
- structuring your book: your organising principle, your
model, how you arrange information within chapters, sections,
and parts; logical flow of the whole book. This is usually
the biggest issue with non-fiction books and potentially
the biggest editing expense if your editor needs to resolve
this for you.
- prose style - formality / informality, accessibility,
appropriateness
- aspects that need more explanation or examples and the
strength of arguments
For fiction, it includes…
- prose style – tense choices, point of view, mood,
recurrent foibles
- plot – structure, tension, pacing, deepening
- characterisation – complexity and development of
main characters, richness and role of secondary characters
- time & place setting – resonance, point of view,
originality
- themes & symbols
Have a look at my novel-building
courses for more detail on what these aspects of fiction
involve.
how it works
I first work through your book, over one or two weeks. I then
send you detailed feedback (usually about 10 pages) giving
an overview, its specific strengths and weaknesses, where
it needs work and suggestions for how to resolve that. We
then arrange a time to discuss it over the phone or on Skype
(for about an hour) for additional feedback and discussion.
Book coaching
Megan
has been a brilliant support. She is positive and motivating;
as well as being extremely knowledgeable - but the real
proof is that I have been more productive whilst working
with Megan than any other time in my life as a writer.
Carole
Hautot on LinkedIn
gives you ongoing support with your book
Ideal if you want support, motivation, and ongoing advice
- whether you're reworking a book or beginning from scratch.
You can send me your writing regularly and get coaching and
mentoring with weekly check-ins (½ hr – 1 hr).
Each person's project is different and each individual has
their own preference for where they most value input or support.
Coaching typically includes...
- conceptual: discussing and developing
ideas
- organisation: working together on planning
or replanning the structure, ideas, and flow or the
plot, characters, and narrative
- practical: setting and managing targets,
being accountable
- language: advice and help on style
- feedback: reading and giving feedback
on outlines, drafts, and rewrites
- the creative process: help bringing the
creative process into a usually busy life, from creativity
exercises to finding the right head space and physical space
- publishing process: advice on writing
synopses, blurbs, cover letters, and submitting to publishers
or agents
how it works
Email
me to discuss your project and your plans, and we can
arrange coaching and times to suit you. We then have a weekly
session on the phone or Skype, to discuss your writing, your
plans, the shape of your work, your goals, etc. It's an ongoing
arrangement, one month in advance, for as long as you need.
What next?
Email
me - let me know what kind of book it is, what it's about,
how long it is (in words), and how far you've got with it.
If you can, attach a sample page or two. If you'd like a Non-Disclosure
Agreement (NDA) first, I can send you one.
And in the meantime, have a look at my help
for writers and read feedback
from other people I've coached.
Rates
| Editorial review |
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£10 per 1,000
words |
| Editorial critique |
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£16 per 1,000
words |
| Book coaching (monthly) |
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£510 |
| Ad-hoc support (per hour) |
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£80 |
A minimum rate of £180 per
job applies.
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