How can we help?
Frequently Asked Questions
What genres do you work with?
Katie here. I work with contemporary fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, soft sci-fi, and romance.
This is Andrew; I work with all varieties of speculative fiction! Anything from epic fantasy series to hard sci-fi to horror—it's all up my alley.
Neither of us works with picture books or middle-grade novels. If you have a book that doesn’t fall neatly into a genre, or you’re unsure which age group you’re writing for, book a free consultation and let’s chat about your options!
Read more about our areas of focus here.
What is a book coach and why do I need one?
Back in the good ol’ days, editors at publishing companies were able to seek out new writers and spend time helping them develop their craft and eventually grow into the famous authors we all know, like Fitzgerald and Salinger. Now, with the advent of eBooks and self-publishing, editors at traditional publishing companies have way too many books on their plate to have time to help writers hone their craft– they look for books that are already edited and market-ready.
Enter the field of book coaching. A book coach is the one person who knows your book just as well as you do and knows how to improve it and understand what features make for an excellent book. Coaches offer accountability on your project, objectivity about your writing, and honest advice on where you can improve. You can read more about book coaching in this blog article.
Will having a book coach get me published?
It’s complicated.
While there are no guarantees in publishing, investing in working with a book coach gets your manuscript as ready as possible for an agent and a publisher to say “YES!” to your project. We help you along the entire process– planning, writing, editing, querying, and everything in between.
The reality is, traditional publishing is a tough arena. You may have a fantastic book with realistic characters, a compelling plot, and a rewarding ending, but if the timing with the market isn’t quite right your book might get rejected. On the other hand, you might have an okay book that gets pitched at just the right time and picked up even though the main character is a little flat or a subplot is distracting from the point of the story.
Bottom line? We can help you strengthen your book to meet its potential, but we can’t guarantee that you will find an agent and get traditionally published. Read more about publishing and finding an agent.
When is the right time for me to get a book coach for my project?
Our coaching services are highly flexible. Can we help with brainstorming? Yes! Planning? Of course! Story building? That is literally what we are here for. Can we help with a finished manuscript? By all means, yes. And I’ll tell you why—it’s because we apply an adaptable coaching method. It’s not some formula or one-size-fits-all. We listen to you, read the necessary materials, and then dive in and meet you where you are. It’s one of our favorite parts of coaching—no writer is at the same place in the writing journey so every project presents a different challenge.
That said, a number of our writers come to us during the writing process—or even before starting on a manuscript! This is because we can help you get the fundamentals of your story strong before you launch into your narrative. We help you hone your craft while you are writing. This means that you will finish your first draft wayyyy ahead of your peers who are working on their third or fourth draft without a coach. In the end, a coach saves on time, planning, and lots of heartache.
Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can meet you right where you're at!
What if I want a package that is different from the ones listed?
We have worked with TONS of writers who have specific needs and wants and quirks (we love it!). Here’s the deal: our services are designed to adapt to many different styles of writing and our hands-on coaching approach gives us the flexibility needed to work with all kinds of projects. Check out what we have to offer and we can put together a package that works with your goals. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your needs and what you're looking for!
How does payment work?
Once a writer contacts us about a service and we have discussed it with them (often through a free consultation), we send you a contract and invoice, which the writer can then pay via PayPal or debit/credit card.
Certain services typically require a deposit or are paid for in full at once; other services are typically paid for on a monthly schedule, such as for ongoing coaching.
Can I pay in installments?
Many of our writers choose to pay in monthly installments. Schedule a free consultation with us and we can work something out!
Can I purchase a package for a friend/family member?
Of course! We can’t think of a better gift to give someone. Contact us, and we can come up with the perfect gift for that special writer in your life.
What other resources do you have for writers?
So glad you asked. The answer is TONS. Our resource page is stocked with free articles just for writers.
We also host an incredible community of writers. By joining, you get access to a network of writing peers, twice-weekly writing sprints, and weekly group coaching opportunities with Katie and Andrew. We also have a designated time for submitting ideas and projects for group feedback and an exclusive discount on new products and services. Check it out here!
What does it mean to be an Author Accelerator certified book coach?
Author Accelerator is a company that is pioneering book coaching as an industry. They've established a rigorous certification course that requires hours of study, working with multiple writers as practice clients, and submitting a portfolio for review by their certification team. The certification team reviews the feedback and coaching call recordings from the portfolio and then determines if the book coach is qualified to earn their certification.
Katie's portfolio passed with flying colors and she's been a proud certified coach since 2021!
As of July 2023, Andrew has completed the curriculum (plus been trained extra by Katie!) and is almost ready to submit his portfolio for review.
This page has more information about why working with an Author Accelerator certified book coach is amazing.
