Help for the messy middle
No matter whether you’re stuck, just starting out, or want a writing coach who’ll develop and hone your writing skills, there are two ways we can work together: Completion or Competition.
1:1 coaching: Completion stream
Focused two-hour intensives where we work together in real time on your manuscript
In the Completion stream, I review your pages before we meet, and then we go through them together, in real time.
What’s included in these energy-packed review sessions:
before we meet, I’ll review 2500 words (10 pages) and make notes
then we meet for two hours, usually over WhatsApp audio
I provide you with feedback in real time
I help you improve your writing at the line level (voice; emotion; interiority)
you’ll also receive coaching to help you strengthen organization, flow and story arc
Six-pack bundle $1800 USD / $2100 CAD (continuing clients can purchase deadlines singly)
1:1 coaching: Competition stream
Regular deadlines & in-depth feedback on your pages, plus a coaching call for each deadline
In the Competition stream, you and I work to continually improve your technique and your writing with regular biweekly deadlines. You’ll write a lot, revise a lot, and improve a LOT.
Here’s what’s included:
I read 5000 words (20 pages) at each deadline, then provide loads of critical feedback that will improve your writing
10 of those pages are newly drafted
10 are pages I’ve already given you feedback on; you’ve revised them and now they’re coming to me for a second review
notes in the margins of your manuscript
a detailed audio that walks you through the reader’s experience (this REALLY fast-tracks your improvement)
tips for improving your writing at the line level: word choice, pacing, structure
an hour-long meeting for live coaching and questions
This is an iterative process that sees both your book and your writing improving with each successive pass. Highly recommended if you’re aiming for a traditional deal.
Six-deadline bundle $4900 USD / $5400 CAD
(continuing clients can purchase single deadlines at $700 USD / $800 CAD)
What people are saying
“I really feel 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 & department head, Algonquin College, ON“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.”
— Ian Chisholm, cofounder & principal of Roy Group, Victoria, BC“I have never thought of myself as a writer and lacked the confidence and knowledge to go about beginning a manuscript on my own. Alex's knowledge of the industry and talent with writing gave me the confidence to start on a very large writing project, knowing that I would be supported, encouraged and advised along the way. Alex is a thoughtful, encouraging and knowledgeable coach. She loves what she does and it shows in her approach. She is the perfect balance of cheerleader and taskmaster. She supports the work I'm doing and also challenges me to stretch and grow at my learning edges. ”
— Adele Fraser, principal of SageBear Consulting, Victoria BC