ABOUT — Alex Van Tol

Honed by journalism. Published by four traditional houses. And certified by one of the gnarliest coach training programs on the planet. I know the way words work on the page. It’s about cadence and voice. Emotion and conviction. Story and song.

This work will change you.

Some people say I’m exacting. Others have called me a wizard. More than a handful say they feel seen.

I am story coach, writing instructor, editor, brand-builder and marketer all rolled into one. The written word is my discipline and my gift. Over the years I’ve helped authors break into print and win awards.

By the age of seven, I knew I wanted to write books when I grew up. By Grade 12, I was a fierce journaler and poet, and had been appointed editor of the school newspaper. I went to uni, collected a couple degrees, and taught in K-12, writing all the while. I wrote freelance for magazines, pitched a few lousy picture books and got rejected for all of them, stepped away from teaching to raise my boys, and wrote like a demon in the quiet hours. I published my first book in 2010 and followed it with 14 more. I’ve shared the world of books and writing with all ages, from kindergarteners to high schoolers to college-level classes—and now with my writers.

I’ve written and edited a huge variety of materials—for universities and fashion designers, convenience stores and governments, publishers and profs. I worked for years in websites and content marketing, and have discovered web UX to be an astonishingly useful training ground for providing a superior understanding of the reader experience.

Readers come to books to be swept away. Absorbed. Merged. A book is nothing if not a demanding exercise in designing a kickass UX.

As a book coach, I hold a high bar and am committed to high-quality work. It’s one of the things that distinguishes me, along with my experience in publishing, my ability to teach craft, and a long track record in project management and marketing—all essential traits to move a book out of your brain and onto the shelf. I’m an Author Accelerator-certified book coach, too—one of just a handful worldwide.

I’m also a certified Big Leap coach, deeply trained in somatic and emotional processing, and steadied by years of philosophical study. I hold degrees in Education and Psychology, both of which help me teach, coach and understand my writers—and the latter which gives me an edge on understanding readers and what they’re hungry for.

That’s good news, because it’s the one thing publishers are forever trying to forecast.

Writing a book is a commitment not unlike starting a business. It’s huge work. It’s hard work. And I stand in awe of you for undertaking it—because I get it.

As your book coach, I’m a trusted partner to walk the road with. One who’s walked the road lots of times before, long familiar with its potholes and soft shoulders, its sun-baked asphalt and unexpected forks.

Writing with a coach is intensely personal one-to-one work that lasts for months, if not years. There’s no other experience like it. And we travel every inch of the road together. You’ll discover more about your beliefs—and about yourself—than you knew was there.

As an Author Accelerator certified book coach, I am qualified to coach writers using Author Accelerator's strategy, methods, and materials, but I operate independently of Author Accelerator and am not directly affiliated with the business.

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.

— Ernest Hemingway

“Working with Alex as my book coach has been an incredible experience. She guided me through the often daunting query process and helped me craft a tailored agent strategy that perfectly aligns with my goals. Because of her years of knowledge of the publishing industry I really trusted her feedback. Alex embraced my vision and her insightful feedback and personalized approach have been invaluable, making the entire process feel uniquely customized to me and my book. I couldn't have asked for a better mentor on this journey.”

Daphne Gordon, writing coach & professional writer

Writer and book coach Daphne Gordon

“You are an amazing editor. Your skills, both as coach and as editor, made all the difference with me.”

Sean Rodman, bestselling author

“I’ve read all the new material now—wow, what a completely different book it is! I think you’ve done an incredible job. The overview is such a clear statement of intent, and the structure is brilliant—love those three parts. There are some scenes which are so powerful they really stick with me.”

Rachel Mills, agent & director, Rachel Mills Literary (to one of my clients)

“I get what needs to happen with this book now and it is really all because of your reading and notes. It's certainly going to be a better book. But beyond that, what I've learned from going through this has changed the way I think through everything I'm writing AND how I'm teaching writing.”

Jeff Ross, bestselling YA author

“This has been a time-consuming effort for you and a great gift for me. I am pleased you engaged so deeply with the story and the characters. I felt you really understand them and their courageous lives. It’s what I need to start writing again, as with your help, I see the many gaps.”

First-time writer of a historical fiction saga

The inclination to write a book is exciting—and then immediately daunting. Plain and simple. I sensed that I had a body of work and perspective that is valuable and that a book might be the best way to pull it all together and send this thinking out to the world. But writing a book isn’t just writing (which is daunting enough!). It’s about the design of your thinking, the business of a rapidly evolving publishing industry and a deep inner journey of discovery. PLUS the writing.

I knew that I needed someone to navigate this all with—both the external and the internal journey. I needed someone who a) knows and understands the territory of publishing a book and b) has the patience, intuition and understanding that my process for getting this done will be unique, intensive and fraught with all kinds of twists and turns.

That is a rare combination. Alex Van Tol is a rare find.

Alex has held a belief with me (and sometimes for me) that this book would be very, very special. With that belief, a certain set of actions are required. Alex worked with me rigorously on the outline of my book to understand the reader’s experience in each chapter: what they will feel, discover and come to know. This methodical development of the arc has been invaluable. It has allowed me to write into whatever chapter I feel like writing, knowing what it will connect from and to.

An experienced writer gave me a heads-up from the outset that writing a book would mean I would feel totally and utterly lost at sea. At the time, it seemed a bit melodramatic and unnecessarily negative. I am so grateful that he gave me that heads-up. I think I may have quit if he hadn’t told me that. His warning allowed me to be honest about wherever I am—and Alex was the person I could be honest with. Self-doubt, procrastination, dead ends and confusion are inevitable. The intention to write a book must be paired with paying attention to the journey. Alex never judges or pulls punches. And clarified next steps are always worth taking.

One of the great gifts my life has been blessed with is the chance to work with a collection of world-renowned coaching practitioners during periods of my life when I was in well over my head. My standard for coaching is ridiculously high—even unfairly high—because of this. These include coaches like Tim Gallwey, Barry Ayre, Liz Coffey, Robert Henderson, Mark Bell, Peter Hill….and Alex Van Tol.

Alex’s coaching practice is focused, steady and honest. Her expertise in creating a book is thorough, robust and discerning. She has an ability to go with me, intuitively, to wherever I need to go and use our discovery to make my book better and better and better.

You wouldn’t climb Everest without a guide. If you want to write a book that the world needs, build Alex Van Tol into your plan and your budget. Honour your creativity by allowing yourself to be accompanied by someone who will elicit the best in you and your creation.

Ian Chisholm, Founder, Roy Group