Mentoring
The Aspiring Writer:
A Personalized Mentoring Program
*****
Do you want to be a better, more confident writer?
Do you have an idea for a book, or bits and pieces of notes, perhaps even chapters, but you don’t know where to start?
Do you suffer from feelings of doubt, frustration, and imposter syndrome because you WANT to put something together but just don’t know HOW to do it?
I can help you. Believe it.
In the past 32 years, I’ve helped thousands of people, from those in their teens to retired adults, to improve their writing skills and gain confidence. My clients and former students have wanted to learn new techniques, or brush up on long-forgotten skills, or even organize their work and put something together to self-publish. I wanted to offer a cost-effective option for those who want the personal attention I can provide as I create a space where I can assist an aspiring writer on their journey, so I developed a bespoke program called The Aspiring Writer.
Who is an Aspiring Writer? Do any of these apply to you?
Someone who wants to practice and improve their writing skills in a chosen format (essay, poetry, short story, novella, novel, for example).
Someone who has an idea for a fiction or non-fiction work.
Someone whose writing may not be organized, perhaps a “serial starter” with no finished projects.
Someone who has the desire to be published, but doesn’t know how to begin, suffers from doubt, needs to improve writing skills, and needs someone to help them stay motivated.
Someone who needs advice and guidance from a seasoned writer and editor with experience in all stages of the process.
Someone whose bucket list includes: “become a published author.”
What is the Aspiring Writer Program Like?
It is entirely individualized based on the writer, their prior skillset, their goal(s), and the type of mentoring they require, but with that said, there will be some commonalities for all writers who participate, such as…
Zoom Meetings: Once a week or twice a month, to keep momentum. (1-hour long)
Homework: Assignments are by arrangement: at the end of each meeting, the writer and I will make a decision on an appropriate size and focus of the assignment for the next meeting (ex. draft or revise an essay, a poem, a chapter).
Email communication: The assignments are turned in via email 24 hours before our session, and I’ll spend 1-2 hours reading it and making some notes in MS Word track changes to help the writer learn and revise. Writers are also encouraged to send emails at any time if they have questions.
What Does the Program Cost?
An initial package is $250. This covers 8 hours of my work with you, which is a huge bargain! I spend 4 hours outside of sessions working with your writing and 4 hours in session with you over zoom. It also includes any email communication between us outside of that. I never cut your session short, and sometimes I even end up running a little over, which I do not charge more for. This is a fantastic value considering my level of professional expertise, my attention to detail, and my reputation as a mentor and editor.
You can pay all up front or pay in 2 installments of $125 each. It is your choice whether you want to complete the work over the course of one month (one meeting a week) or two months (one meeting every other week).
Your rate at first booking is locked in for good if you choose to book another package in the future. Guaranteed.
Common Questions
I’m paying you BEFORE I have met with you and I don’t know you well. How can I trust you to deliver when I’ve never worked with you before?
*My ethics wouldn’t allow it. I would never do anything to sabotage my business’s very strong reputation (and 5-Star Google rating). I can also provide references and testimonials from satisfied and happy clients.
What happens if I don’t do my homework?
*Thing come up—So if we need to, we can reschedule your session to give you more time to finish up. Alternatively, we can keep your meeting as scheduled and we can work on another aspect of your project, or I can do a grammar lesson with you on a problem area, or really cover just about anything you need in terms of content and writing assistance. The goal is to always be moving forward and not lose momentum. Please be advised that no-shows are not refunded, though.
What if I work with you for a month and then can’t rebook because of finances, work, family, or life in general?
*That’s ok!! With a month complete, we’ll have made some measurable progress for you to build on. If you have to stop or pause working with me, we will make an “exit” plan for you: a list of things you can work on by yourself, an accounting of what needs to be finished if you are looking to get ready to publish. If you’re far along in your project, you may be able to upload and publish on your own; if not, the skills you’ve learned will help you stay more organized and on track to work on your own. In addition, I’m always here if you just need a quick pick-me-up and some moral support—reach out by email!
We’ve worked on my project, and it’s finished! But…my grammar and spelling are kinda problematic. Now what?
*At this point, it makes sense for us to STOP our mentoring work and SWITCH to my being your editor. You can hire me as your editor/proofreader to comb the entire manuscript for any errors in grammar, usage, typos, etc. There is a different price model for that which goes by word count and is listed here: Editing Rates. If you have gone through this program with me, I will ALWAYS offer you a discount on those rates as my thank you for being my client in this program!
Sounds good, but I still have questions!