* Wait, wait, wait... What is a book coach?

Fair question! A book coach provides editorial, emotional, and project-management support throughout the entire creative process of writing a book. Think of it like a personal trainer for your writing. When you go to the gym, you can get a perfectly good work out on your own. Maybe even achieve all the results you want. But if you hire a trainer, they can help you plan your exercise program, cheer you on as you go, correct and improve your form and performance, and help you reach your fitness goals in the most efficient way possible. I will be your personal writing trainer!

* What genres do you coach?

I mainly coach Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy and Women's Fiction,

but have been known to fall in love with projects in other genres. In general, I love stories about love. But those come in many forms. All Romances are love stories, but not all love stories are Romances. There are so many different kinds of love. Platonic-love, familial-love, self-love, and, yes, romantic-love. It's hard to find a story that's actually NOT a love story.

Also... love is love is love. I am here to raise up stories that are in the work of fighting the fight. Whatever the cause is that you are passionate about, if you have a story focusing on a social justice issue, I would love to help you get your message out there!

(But in case you were still wondering after all this love talk...no,
I don't work with stories that center on horror or gore. It's just not my thing.)

* Why do you only coach moms?

This is a topic I could speak about for hours. But, to put it as succinctly as possible, my mission is to help mothers discover, embrace, and embolden their creativity. Mothers have to sacrifice so much and recently, with everything going on in the world (Covid and political & civil unrest) moms have been asked to sacrifice even more. We are frequently asked to give again when we have nothing left. Often times, this means giving up a passion that might, to others, be considered unnecessary.

We need moms' voices now more than ever. Moms need to use their words to change the world.

In fiction we find the truth and it's our turn to tell it. I will support all moms on this journey.

* What is your feedback style?

While I will cheer you on and support you in your awesome writing journey, I am also straightforward and honest with my critiques. I will be clear with you about what is working (I love giving glowing comments about beautiful writing and I will definitely note when something made me laugh or cry or when a turn in the story was just brilliant) and what is not working. And if something is not working, I will definitely tell you why. And then, together, we'll figure out how to fix it. I am highly hands-on and my editing is thorough.


* Can you guarantee that I will get traditionally published?

Sorry, no. And any book coach who makes you that kind of guarantee is lying. I'm sure you've heard by now that the publishing world is very subjective and there are no guarantees of success. So I cannot promise you that you will get an agent with the manuscript you write with me and I cannot promise you that it will ever get traditionally published. What I can guarantee you is that I will be here with you throughout the creative process and that, if you put in the work, your book will be as strong as it can possibly be.

* I have never written a book before... can you help me?

Absolutely! I am here to help brainstorm and pull your ideas together in a cohesive outline, creating a solid foundation for your story so that you can take the next steps in writing your book. I will be your accountability partner to make sure you are doing the work. I will support you every step of the way to make the very daunting process of writing a book (a whole freaking book!) manageable and, dare I say, fulfilling!


* I have already written and published two books... how can you help me?

Maybe those those first two book ideas came easy to you and the stories just flowed. Now you're stuck and your previous method just isn't working with this new book. I can help. Or maybe, you wrote those two books before becoming a mom. You had all the time in the world to "pants" your way through drafting and revise all day long. You don't have that time anymore and you need the structure and accountability to help write in those precious few moments that mom writers get. I can definitely help!

* Speaking of "pantsing"... I am a pantser and you're clearly a planner, so we can't work together, right?

Ah, the plotter vs pantser discussion. I would argue that even the biggest pantsers need some point of focus. Some direction. Or else how can the flow of words become a story? Susan Bell, author of The Artful Edit, puts it best when she says "Without intention, we can prepare and explore, but we cannot tell a story." There must be intention in your writing to develop a whole novel and if there is intention, dear pantser, there is a glimmer of a plan. I will help you develop a foundation. And if you desperately don't want to use the word "outline" then we can call it a living, breathing, changeable guide to encourage and focus your pantsing. But yes, we can definitely work together.

* I have a great idea for a book... will you write it for me?

Um, no. That's ghost-writing. Book coaching is a deeply collaborative process and relationship between writer and coach. And I am here to support you through that entire process.

But you are the writer of your story and you have to do the work.

Are you ready to choose your

writer-self in the midst of motherhood?

FAQs

M. A. Clancy

The Book Coach for Moms

Copyright © Megan A. Clancy. 2023. All rights reserved.