Orly Konig — Book Coaching and Mentoring

BOOK COACHING & MENTORING

Do you need help with your manuscript?
Are you struggling with shaping the idea for your story so you can start writing?
Are you floundering mid-way through the book and not sure why?
Are you intimidated by tackling the revision process?

Whether you have a first line, a few chapters, or a completed draft, taking those next steps can be daunting. Working with a book coach can be the difference between being overwhelmed and being inspired.

I love helping writers find the heart of their story and break through the barriers that are keeping them from completing their manuscript. Together, we’ll set goals, define an actionable plan, and knock through those milestones.

My speciality is women's fiction, but I do work with select other genres including, but not limited to historical, mainstream, upmarket, rom-com, chicklit.

Not sure if what you’re writing is women’s fiction?

The Women’s Fiction Writers Association describes the genre as “layered stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey. The driving force of women’s fiction is the protagonist’s journey toward a more fulfilled self.” Check out some of the titles on the WFWA Pinterest and Goodreads pages.

ARE YOU READY TO HIRE A BOOK COACH/MENTOR?

Ask yourself the following questions …

Am I ready to devote time to work on my manuscript? Life happens, believe me I know, but in order to reach the goal of a completed manuscript, you need to commit to making yourself and your story a priority, even if it’s only 30 minutes or an hour a day.
Am I open to feedback? It’s hard to hear feedback sometimes. Our stories are so very personal to us and we’ve invested a lot of heart and time into crafting them. But if you’re looking to hire someone to push you, then you need to be open to listening and discussing the feedback you receive. Not all feedback will resonate and that’s okay. That’s normal. The key though is to be open to ideas.
Am I ready to own the title of author? Years ago, my husband said "if you don't take yourself seriously, why should anyone else?" I hate it when he's right, but he was right. That was the turning point for me. I invested in workshops and conferences and association dues, anything I needed to take my career to the next level. This could be your turning point.

What I can help with ….

The Brainstorming. This is one of my favorite parts of writing and I’ve found that it’s crucial to have someone you can unselfconsciously bounce ideas off of. No idea is silly, regardless of how off it sounds coming out of your mouth because you never quite know what will trigger that “aha” moment.
Getting organized. I’m a planner and a list maker. I spent years in the corporate world and freelancing, managing multiple projects and I’m still addicted to organizational tools (Gantt charts and spreadsheets and mind-mapping and color-coded sticky notes make me giddy). I’ll help you develop a roadmap to whatever your goal may be and provide you with the tools to make it feel attainable.
Staying on track. We’ll set a schedule for regular check-ins and deliverables (number of pages will depend on your specific goals but no more than 10 pages per week). Knowing there’s someone out there waiting for your pages and invested in your progress is a powerful motivator.

What I can’t help with ….

Line or copy editing. If you’re looking for someone to catch grammatical mistakes or fix your commas, or do an in-depth edit, I’m not your gal. However, I’m happy to supply names of folks who can help.
Fixing your writing. I won’t be suggesting word changes or how to rewrite passages. Your voice is uniquely yours and my job is to help you tap into your potential. I’ll help you with the big picture of your story, not the nitty-gritty.
Writing your book. Hiring a book coach means you’re committed to making progress, but I obviously won’t be coming to your house to sit on you or give you the Basset Hound-guilt trip. I’m here to motivate and cheer you on. The butt-in-chair part is all you!

Are we right for each other?

Like dating, finding the right coach can be a bit scary. My style my not jive with yours or my feedback may be totally off the mark for your vision. I’ve had a number of critique and writing buddies over the years whose style didn’t mesh with mine, and that’s okay. We’re still friends and we still support each other.

Trial run: $150

What you’ll get …

Written feedback on the first 50 pages of your manuscript, or a synopsis and first chapter if you’re just starting; feedback will be received within 7 days of me receiving the pages.
A phone call to discuss the feedback and brainstorm ideas.
If, after the phone call and/or email exchange you decide to move forward, the trial run fee will apply toward the first month.

Ready to dive in?

If you’re ready to dive in and conquer that manuscript, here’s what I offer:

Monthly payments: $250 with three-month commitment ; $225 with five-month commitment

What you’ll get …

Written feedback on the first 50 pages of your manuscript or a synopsis and first chapter if you’re just starting; feedback will be received within 7 days of me receiving the pages.
A phone call to discuss the feedback, brainstorm ideas, discuss your process and how I can best help you moving forward.
We'll develop a roadmap of goals and deadlines, and set expectations for how to best work together within and around and because of other commitments.
We'll establish regular check-ins. Some people like a daily “what are you working on today” check-in while others want a Monday goal setting and a Friday completion check-in only.
We'll also set a schedule for deliverables based on your goals. For every writer, those goals will be different, but expect to submit a set number of pages each week (no more than 10 pages although if your schedule means you can only do 5, for example, that's the goal we'll set). You'll receive feedback on your submitted pages within a week.
We’ll brainstorm writing/editing processes to find what works best for you.
Monthly chats (phone/Skype/FaceTime) to review milestones and/or brainstorm ideas as needed.
Sanity checks if you’re stuck on a scene and need to brainstorm or you’re feeling stuck and frustrated and need a boost back into creative-land.
Writing career mentoring. Sadly, I don’t have a crystal ball or magic wand, but I’ve done the years of querying agents and the submission process with editors. I’ve gone through the highs and scraped along the lows. I’ll share my experiences and help you sort through the jumble of “what now?”.

Just looking for a fresh pair of eyes?

A beta read can be extremely helpful before diving into the final round of revisions. This is when a fresh set of eyes can help point out plot holes or character issues that you're too close to the story to see.

Full read: $450; coaching clients can request a full read for a discounted rate of $375

What you'll get ...

Written feedback both within the document as well as an email with overall thoughts.
A phone call to discuss the feedback and brainstorm ideas.

My goal is to have all beta reads returned within two weeks but I'll notify you before we start if I need more time.

Have questions or want to get started?

Send me a message and please include the following:

Where are you in the writing process? Are you looking to start writing that story idea, finish writing a manuscript, or help getting through editing a first draft?
Where are you in the writing journey? Are you working on your first book? Do you have a full manuscript but not sure what to do next? Have you started querying agents or editors?
Are you interested in a trial run or a longer commitment? What’s your time frame?
If you’re not writing women’s fiction or not sure if your manuscript is women’s fiction but are still interested in working with me, please tell me what genre you write. I’m open to select genres.
Please also tell me how you got to me -- recommendation, website, etc.

The not-so-fine print

Unless we’re starting from an idea, manuscript pages should have already been through an edit by you and/or a critique partner, not just a first draft. They should be formatted per industry specifications -- one-inch margins, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font.

Payment is due in full before we begin and is non-refundable. For monthly coaching services, payment needs to be received on the 1st of the month. Check, PayPal, or Venmo are fine.

I understand that needs can change and life can create complications, so if you need to take a week (or more) off for vacation or kid events or life interruptions, we'll work together on the best solution for you.