All coaching strives to teach specific aspects of an art and elevate the apprentice. Novel coaching is no different. It provides a unique and highly individualized approach to your particular needs as a writer. Novel coaching is designed to help you achieve your writing goals by helping you organize your thoughts and ideas into a coherent, logical format that will then help you plan and write in a constructive and focused way.

Unlike with editing (which happens after you have written and self-edited your novel), coaching often happens while the writing is still in progress or before it’s even begun. If you have lots of ideas, but a hard time putting them on paper, coaching may be for you.

Coaching may also be for you if you are ready to:

• Learn how to make your writing goals a reality
• Push the boundaries of your craft
• Explore different styles and techniques
• Empower your writing life
• Immerse yourself in the writing world

I have many one-on-one coaching options available and I also offer group coaching packages.

One-on-One

This type of coaching is just you, the author, with a writing project or idea, and me, the coach, helping to identify your strengths and build your skills where necessary.

One-on-one coaching can be a super flexible service. It can be just about whatever you need it to be. My goal as a coach is to help you write a novel, to empower you, and to provide you with the tools you’ll need to actually get that idea on paper.

It can be difficult to know what sort of support you need, which is why I have created multiple coaching packages. In my experience, there are a few specific areas where I see authors needing or wanting some extra support, so those are the areas I have created my coaching packages around. Even within these pre-set packages there is plenty of flexibility. Every author has a different approach to writing and one-on-one coaching strives to accommodate whatever style or approach you take.

Group Coaching

This is one of my favourite groups and one of my favourite services.

Unsurprisingly, group coaching involves a group! The meetings include myself and up to five authors rather than just the two of us. That may sound scary, but I promise you this group is a thing of beauty. It’s the meeting of many creative minds with a common goal: to harness the power of positive peer pressure.

This group is for people with a decent grasp of what they want their story to be but are struggling to execute their ideas. It’s less about bouncing story ideas around and more about getting you to sit down and actually write the damn thing (whatever it may be).

Unlike with one-on-one coaching, group coaching has a fairly rigid structure that involves goal setting on a bi-weekly basis.

Group coaching is a good place to start because it is cheaper than one-on-one coaching, you’ll get to crowd source different approaches to overcoming your writing hurdles, and you get to experience the joy of being part of a close-knit writing community.

Novel coaching, whether you prefer a one-on-one or group setting, is a great way to make progress on your writing dreams. If you have any questions about coaching in general, drop them in the comments. If you think you’d like to try coaching, get in touch with me directly to set up your free 30-minute consult call.

The post Is Novel Coaching Right for You? appeared first on Clovis Editorial.

Starting a writers group is relatively easy. Regardless of which type of writer’s group you are trying to start, there are some basic things you’ll need:

A Leader

In order for any group to run smoothly and successfully, a leader is needed. This person (most likely you) is responsible for recruiting members, choosing a venue, creating a schedule, and keeping the meetings on topic. There can, of course, be more than one leader as long as there is clear communication about who is responsible for each aspect of running the group.

Members

Dedicated members are crucial for a writers group. Ideally you will have a core group of people you can count on to always show up, and a few other people who will drop in when they are able.

Depending on the type of writers group you are running, size does matter. Discussion groups are the most flexible; they can accommodate groups both large and small. Prompt groups, accountability groups, and critique groups, however, all have a membership sweet spot. That sweet spot may be different for different leaders and depending on what you’re trying to accomplish with the group. For me, the sweet spot tends to be in the 4 to 6 people range.

A Schedule

Schedule and structure are vital in a writer’s group. Many people find the idea of sharing their writing with others to be daunting. An easy way to minimize their unease is to give them fewer variables to worry about. A firm schedule and structure does just that.

When I talk about schedule, I’m referring to the broader logistics of the group. Such as:

• How often will you meet? – weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?
• What day will you meet? – every Tuesday, the 15th and 30th of every month regardless of what day it falls on, the last Wednesday of every month?
• What time will you meet? – morning, afternoon, evening?
• How long will you meet for? – an hour, two hours, three?
• Where will the meeting be? – a café, a library, someone’s house, online?

A Structure

Structure refers to the sequence of events at each meeting. Here is one example of structure for each type of group. (But remember there many ways to run your group, so don’t feel confined by what I share here. Do what works for you and your fellow writers.)

• Discussion group – the leader introduces the meeting topic and gets the ball rolling. I know this isn’t much of a structure, but for this type of group that’s okay.
• Accountability group – the leader discusses their writing progress. They go over what their goals were, if they achieved them, and if not, why not. The leader then decides on their next set of goals. Going around the table, each member takes their turn discussing their progress and goals.
• Prompt group – the leader gives a prompt and members have twenty minutes to write something using that prompt. The leader gives a warning when time is almost up (I typically give a three-minute warning). Once the twenty minutes are over, the leader reads their piece. Going around the table, members share what they’ve written (if they are comfortable doing so). When everyone has shared, the leader gives the next prompt, and the process is repeated. 
• Critique group – the leader introduces the piece that is going to be critiqued then goes through their thoughts on the piece. Going around the table, each member explains what they liked and didn’t like about the piece covering whatever aspects have been set out in the guidelines. The author of the piece does not participate in the discussion. When the critiquing is finished, the piece to be critiqued at the next meeting is handed out.

Guidelines

Guidelines tie in with the goals of the group and contribute to the structure. For most groups, except maybe a relaxed discussion group, guidelines are important. They let people know what is expected of them and what they should avoid doing.

At the first meeting, the leader should go over the guidelines to make sure everyone is on the same page. Personally, I like to quickly go over guidelines anytime a new member joins the group in addition to at the first meeting.

I also like to keep guidelines as concise as possible. Here are what my guidelines look like for certain groups:

• Accountability group – goals must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time bound)
• Prompt group – this is not a critique group, comments about people’s writing should be positive, comments will be kept to a minimum so we have more time for writing, you don’t have to share your writing if you don’t want to, and pressuring someone to share their work will not be tolerated
• Critique group – if you submit a story for critique you must be willing to give a critique in return, criticism must be constructive

For critique groups, I also recommend you have guidelines detailing how critiques are to be given and what topics they should cover.

Snacks

Snacks are arguably the most important element of any in-person writers group. I don’t feel the need to explain this one, but I do have a tip. Don’t choose snacks that are crunchy. Crunchy is distracting. Also, don’t choose snacks that are sticky or gooey, especially if you’re starting a prompt group and people need to be able to snack and write simultaneously.

Those are the basics of starting a writers group. Remember writers can be flaky creatures so the real challenge is keeping the group going. If you have a committed leader, a firm schedule and structure, clear guidelines, and good snack sense, keeping your group going should be a cinch.

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments. Or if you’re just looking to join a writers group, check out the ones that I run.

The post Writers Groups: How to Start One appeared first on Clovis Editorial.

How do they go about improving their craft? This can happen in a few ways. With writers groups, the important thing is to have a specific goal. The goal will help determine what kind of group you should look to join (or start; I’m more of a start one myself kind of gal).

There are many types of groups available. Here is a break down of what I believe to be the four most common types of writers groups.

Accountability Group

Goal: To finish or make progress on a project you are struggling with.

Accountability groups harness the power of positive peer pressure. These groups are often the most helpful when you’ve stalled out on a project or are having trouble getting into the swing of it.  Accountability groups are also helpful if you know yourself to be the sort of person who loses focus mid-project.

In my experience, during the first accountability group meeting, you setup your goals. For example, I will finish writing two chapters of my novel. After that, the meetings function as deadlines. At the meetings, each member gets the chance to speak. They say what their goals were, if they achieved them, and if not why not. Then they set their new goals.

Prompt Writing Group

Goal: To create or nurture the habit of writing.

At prompt writing groups, the focus is actually sitting and writing. A prompt can be a short sentence or phrase, a song, an image, or an object. At the meeting, a prompt is given and members have a set amount of time to write something about it. Often the writing is then shared.

Prompt writing groups are a great way to ensure you’re getting regular writing practice in. They push you to explore new topics and provide you with opportunities to experiment with different writing styles or techniques.

Critique Group

Goal: To receive (and provide for others) feedback on a specific piece of writing.

Critique groups focus on things you’ve already written. As with all writing groups, there are several ways critique groups can be run. Typically, you submit a piece of writing to be critiqued and the other members have until the next meeting to read what you have submitted and make notes on it.

At the meeting, the piece is discussed and then the next piece to be critiqued is submitted. There is a need for reciprocity in critique groups. If you want your writing to be critiqued, you need to be willing to critique other people’s writing in turn.

Discussion Group

Goal: To talk about all things writing related.

These groups generally go one of two ways. The first option is a less structured group in which members chat about whatever writing-related things tickle their fancy. They may have some loose topic ideas, but essentially it’s writing people talking about writing things. This approach is lovely if you are looking for community and connection in a more laid-back environment.

The other way is more structured in that each meeting has a specific theme. Often with this approach guest speakers are invited to present to the group on the chosen theme. This is great if you are looking to get expert knowledge on various aspects of the writing and publishing process.

Those are four basic types of writers groups. If you can think of any I’ve missed or have questions, let me know in the comments.

In the next post, I will share some thoughts on how to go about starting up your own writers group. Or, if you’d simply like to join a group, sign up for my mailing list to receive email notifications about my group coaching (a form of accountability group) and prompt writing groups.

The post Writers Groups: What They Are appeared first on Clovis Editorial.

What is Writer’s Block?

Before we get into the remedies, let’s talk about what writer’s block is. It’s easier to fix something if we understand what’s causing the issue. The thing is, with writer’s block you still have both the time and ability to write but no drive or inspiration to do so.

Writing well is hard, and there are a number of things that may impede our ability to even try. There are lots of theories about what causes writer’s block, but in my opinion it comes down to two things: fear and exhaustion.

There are so many things to be afraid of in writing. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of imperfection are some major ones. And they sneak up on you. I recently had a bout of writer’s block that I attributed to stress. It wasn’t until I started putting together this blog post that I realized I was being blocked by the fear that my recent stories weren’t as good as previous ones.

Writing is mentally exhausting. We sit and think. Then we sit and think and write. Then we sit and think and revise. There are so many aspects of life that we need to consider as we create characters, situations, and entire worlds. Writing is an act of constant reflection and critical thinking. No wonder every once in a while our mind says enough, go take a nap.

Now let’s talk solutions!

How to Combat Writer’s Block

Embrace it.

If you are mentally exhausted or experiencing creative burn out, just take a nap. Okay, maybe not literally (although I am a big supporter of the power nap as a productivity tool), but depending on your level of exhaustion, take a few days or a few weeks off. Seriously. Don’t write anything, and don’t think about writing anything. Let your system recharge. And while you’re recharging, why not take stock of the other aspects of your life? You may find the block doesn’t even have to do with writing but something else in your life that is begging for your attention.

Track your writing habits.

Not only is this a good way to get into a writing routine by having a physical record to keep you accountable, but it is also a great way to figure out when and where you are most productive. You may be surprised by what you learn. I know I sure was. I used to be a morning writer. Until very recently I thought I still was a morning writer, but then I started tracking my writing habits. Every time I had a writing session, I’d make a note of how long I wrote, how much I wrote, the time of day, and how I felt about what I’d wrote. Within a week, I realized not only do I write significantly more in the evening, but I feel better about it.

Build a support system.

It can be hard to kick start ourselves and to keep ourselves accountable. This is where a support group can come in handy. Ideally your support system will be made up of fellow writers, because they’ll understand your struggles and be able to help you get through them. There are different types of writers groups you can join or start depending on what sort of help you need. For me, the two most beneficial types of groups are the prompt group and the accountability group. The first forces me to write even when I don’t feel like it and often helps me get through dry patches. And the second makes me articulate goals and keeps me on track so I achieve those goals in a reasonable time frame.

Leave yourself a jumping off point.

Stop writing mid-scene so that when you get back to it the next day you already know how you’re going to start. Much to my chagrin, I resisted this advice for years. It seemed illogical to me. Then I tried it, and it’s been a game changer.

Allow yourself to write poorly.

As my mother would say, accept that writing a first draft is supposed to be like putting bones in a bag: You can sort them out and build skeletons later. Meaning, just get that story down on paper because you’re going to have to revise it regardless of whether it’s jumbled up or well ordered.

Try Freewriting.

If you need a break from your story but want to keep up with your writing habit, freewriting is a good way to do that. It also allows you to sort out your thoughts on paper, which can be a great way to solidify ideas and get yourself back into a better writing flow before taking another stab at that draft.

There isn’t one perfect solution for combating writer’s block. Everyone will take a slightly different approach, and what worked one time won’t necessarily work for you every time. The point is that writer’s block doesn’t have to mean the end of your project or your craft. Perseverance is key. I know you got this.

Do you have any other advice for people struggling with writer’s block? Share it in the comments!

The post How to Combat Writer’s Block appeared first on Clovis Editorial.

Here are four things to consider after you’ve put your beta team together.

Provide Direction

Ideally, you want to avoid responses like “it was good” or “I liked it.” While it’s nice to know your book is being well received, those sorts of responses aren’t helpful at this stage. Your aim should be to get constructive criticism. To do that, be sure to provide clear instructions specifying the areas in which you want feedback.

It is a good idea to send a cover letter outlining key feedback areas along with the manuscript. I have provided a template for you to use. Feel free to download and change it to better suit your project needs.

Delivery of Feedback

How do you want to receive the feedback? Are you looking for a report summarizing what works and what doesn’t? Would you prefer comments inserted into the manuscript? Maybe you want to meet up with your beta readers (either as a group or individually) to discuss and take your own notes on their feedback.

Whatever your preference, be sure to discuss this with your prospective beta readers before they get started to make sure they are comfortable giving feedback in the way you’d like.

Delivery of Manuscript

Think about how you want to present your manuscript to your beta readers. Will you print them out a hard copy or email them a word file or pdf? Will you give them the whole manuscript, or only a couple chapters at a time to avoid overwhelming them? Remember, there is no right or wrong way, it all depends on what you hope to get out of the experience and how best you’ll take in the information.

Again, this is a discussion you can have with your betas to figure out which approach works best for both of you.

Time Frame

Always be sure to give people a deadline. There is nothing worse than handing over your manuscript thinking you’ll get notes back in a week and then not hearing anything for months.

When choosing a deadline, remember to respect your beta reader’s time. They probably aren’t going to drop everything to do this favour for you. If you think they should be able to read it in a week, tell them you’d like to hear from them in two weeks and halfway through send them a quick message to check in.

It is also a good idea to consult them on the time frame. Rather than demanding they get it back to you by a certain time, tell them what date you’d like it back and ask if that would work for them.

One final point: remember that beta reading comes after you have self-edited. Just as hiring an editor for your first draft is not the best idea, giving your beta readers an unrevised manuscript is asking too much of them.

Do you have any thoughts about other ways to get the most out of your beta readers? Leave them or any questions you have in the comments section.

The post How to Get the Most Out of Your Beta Readers appeared first on Clovis Editorial.

Often, beta readers aren’t trained (or paid, though you should compensate people for their labour in some agreed upon way) and they aren’t necessarily writers or editors. They are just people who like to read. Most writers will (and should) have many beta readers. If multiple betas point out the same issue, it’s worth addressing, but if only one beta points out an issue it may just be a personal preference and not worth fussing over.

Critique partner is another term that comes up a lot. Critique partners are similar to beta readers except that they are writers as well. As the name implies, this is more of a tit for tat relationship, in which you swap manuscripts and provide a critique for each other.

It is also worth noting that many editors do now offer beta reading as a service, but if you are not yet ready to work with a professional editor here are some ways to find the non-professionals.

Finding Them Online

Now that you understand what beta readers and critique partners are, I bet you’re wondering how to find them. Here are a few links to get you started:

• Critique Circle
• critters.org
• Fantasy-Writers.org
• Scribophile
• Goodreads — a search through the Goodreads communities shows there are many active editing and writing groups where beta readers abound.

More generally, go where the writers are. Places like Facebook, Bluesky, and writing blogs or forums.

Finding Them in Person

Another way to find beta readers and critique partners is through local writers groups. This is a good option if you prefer in person interactions, but sometimes finding a group you are comfortable in, whose meeting location and time works for you, can be tricky.

While not commonly advised, a final option for beta readers and critique partners is friends and family. I advise caution if going this route. It is difficult for people close to you to give an honest, objective opinion. Also, the potential for this to cause tension in your relationship may outweigh the benefit of the critique. Only you can evaluate your situation and level of sensitivity. If you’re unsure, play it safe and don’t ask this favour of friends or family.

Let the search for beta readers and critique partners begin! And once you’ve found some come back and check out my next post: You’ve Found Your Beta Readers, Now What?

The post What Are Beta Readers and Critique Partners? appeared first on Clovis Editorial.