​Eight Ways I Lead You From The Blank Page To A Finished Manuscript:

  1. We work out a writing schedule, because nothing happens if you don’t write. While this may seem like an obvious step to take, what I have found is that even with the best intentions, many people do not write enough throughout the week.​
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  2. ​I have ways to help you keep to your schedule. If you're running into problems keeping to your schedule, one of the ways I've devised to help you is that twice a week you call me at an agreed upon time. We'll talk for 10-15 minutes about where you are in your novel, and what you’d like to write next. Then we hang up and you write for an agreed upon time!    
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  3. We do not focus on endlessly editing and polishing your manuscript while you are writing your first draft. Your characters and story-line often deepen and change with the second draft, so it is much better to have a 300-450 page, first draft manuscript completed rather than focusing on far fewer pages and trying to make those pages "perfect".​
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  4. Believe it or not, completing a 300-450 page draft in a year is possible if the person is dedicated to their writing. It’s 8-10 pages a week, if you don't become bogged down. A big part of what I do is to use my own experience to keep you moving on!
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  5. I'll show you different ways to move ahead, recognize powerful characters, and develop your plot. I'll also show you how to read the draft material for the hidden jewels that often aren't apparent to you. This is a particular benefit of my coaching.
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  6. One of the most difficult aspects of writing your first draft is learning how to move out of your mind and let the characters drive the story. Most writers don’t understand how important and motivating this is. I show you how.
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  7. Structure… it’s very hard to put a structure on the novel while you're in the process of your first draft. You can’t tell the novel what its structure is. You have to watch the structure emerge and evolve. This is not always easy, but it's something I know well and can teach you.
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  8. Together, we celebrate your milestones in writing your manuscript!