Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.
Leo Burnett
What is book coaching?
Coaching is a trusting, professional partnership between writer and coach for the growth, learning, and goals of the writer. Coaching can take place at any stage of your project’s progress, such as:
- developing your idea
- drafting
- revising
- creating or revising your book proposal
- querying/pitching to agents or publishers
- navigating the publication process
What are the general steps in book coaching work with Laura?
You might enter book coaching with Laura at any of the 4 steps in the book coaching process. You might already have a draft complete, or know your final publishing path, or have your pitch package complete. Just know that sometimes we might need to bounce back to an earlier stage of the process if something needs a bit more development, as the creative process is often not linear and is usually iterative. When agreeing to work with Laura you can pick and choose what steps you’d like to work on. You do not need to commit to all four steps, but it is often helpful to have someone who knows your book deeply at each of the four steps.
What are some of the advantages of book coaching?
- Book coaching is customized to how your writing brain and writing process works.
- My thorough organization of the details and big picture thinking make things easier to digest, to remember long-term, and put into practice.
- Book coaching gives real time feedback that connects with you during, not after, the process of creating your work, before it is released into the wilds of editing and the marketplace. You can hone your ideas before exposing them.
- I am a coach who understands and is empathetic to the struggle of getting the big idea and the big break. I encourage you to do your best in a firm but gentle way.
- Having a sounding board and someone to process questions with can be incredibly clarifying. You have someone with you, in it, for the long haul, who’s looking out for your best interest in what may be an overwhelming, confusing, or tangled project or publishing path.
What kind of knowledge and skills do you bring to the table?
I have been certified through Author Accelerator’s Book Coach Certification program in nonfiction, memoir, and fiction. Author Accelerator is a premier book coaching company, offering certification through a series of lectures, practicums, and work with real authors on real projects, often over months of their work.
I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing Concentration) from Crandall University, where I had to write a book before I could graduate.
I worked for over a decade in a busy public library, connecting readers to books and my workshop writers to words that fit just right.
Giving actionable feedback, creative prompts, practical tools, and detailed next steps are my superpowers. I have a thorough attention to detail, but also a warmth that makes the feedback easier to receive and hear.
Please note: As an Author Accelerator certified book coach, I am qualified to coach writers using Author Accelerator’s strategy, methods, and materials, but I operate independently of Author Accelerator and am not affiliated with them.
What does a typical coaching session include?
Coaching usually consists of three stages:
- Submission Stage: You would prepare and submit a agreed upon amount of work to me.
- Feedback Stage: I will review your work in depth, giving edits and feedback throughout your document(s). I will send it back to you to review.
- Video Call / Meeting Stage: You will meet with me, either online or in person, to review feedback, brainstorm new ideas, discuss known issues or possibilities, and to go over the next steps for your project.
There is also email support included in all my packages to support you through the ups and downs of the writing life and to clarify questions you might have.
I see you offer different pacing of coaching for different price points. What does this mean?
A full deadline means you are purchasing a coaching session with a submission size of roughly 40 pages or 4 items requiring intensive feedback (such as four book proposal sections). A half deadline is usually 20 pages maximum or 2 items requiring intensive feedback. Booking full or even extra large submission deadlines is the fastest, most efficient timeline for completing your project with the most support. Booking half deadlines can mean your project takes longer to complete, but it is less expensive and enables some clients to continue coaching more long term.
What does coaching cost?
Coaching package prices vary on the type of deadline you purchase, and if you want to be coached one-on-one or in a group. Coaching is an investment in your writing career and is often a solid path to growth as a writer because it is tailored to your specific situation and needs.
What is expected of the writers who work with you?
- Intentionality: firmly setting out to do what you have committed to. There will be deadlines and writing that need to be finished at a pace we determine together. The publishing world and its approval cannot be controlled, but what we commit to can be.
- Honesty: trust and transparency are the foundations of a great coaching partnership. There will be feedback given on your work, and you will need to be honest if it aligns with your writer’s gut and vision for your book. You can expect me to honour your emotions and your authority as the author by regularly checking in with how things are feeling for you.
- Curiosity: writing is rewriting, and rewriting is learning new things as you go about your work. Being open to new possibilities and discoveries is much easier with curiosity and a sense of adventure. Writing is a journey over new terrain, so buckle up, this is going to be fun!
I’ve written in depth about what to expect in coaching with me in an article for Book Coaches Canada. It’s a short read and will help answer your questions and put you at ease.
I do not see what I want to work on listed in your website. Can I still get coaching with you?
Yes, we may still be a good fit for coaching! Book a free discovery call and we can meet to talk about your project.
Email LauraAliese@gmail.com to start the discussion.