Bothersome Words

  • Home
  • About
    • Specialist Subjects
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Website Terms and Conditions
  • Services
    • Editing and Proofreading
    • Manuscript Assessments
      • Flash Feedback
    • Submission Materials
      • Blurbs and Jacket Copy
    • Mentoring and Book Coaching
      • Mentoring
      • Book Coaching
    • Ask Me Anything
    • Writing
    • Workshops
      • Bothersome Words Writing Clinic
        • BWWC Forum
        • Research Project
    • Literary Agent
  • Portfolio
    • Science Fiction and Fantasy
    • Romance & Contemporary Fiction
    • Children and Young Adult
    • Non-Fiction
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • FAQs
  • Get a Quote

Book Coaching

What if you could get one-on-one writing and publishing support and advice from a professional editor and literary agent?

I’ve been in the publishing industry for over 20 years as an editor, and more recently as a literary agent for Alex Adsett Literary, and during that time I have worked authors and writers at all stages of their careers and writing processes. I know that whether you’re planning to self publish or working towards submitting to agents or publishers, or even trying to meet a contract deadline, sometimes what you really need is someone to get you there. A helping hand from someone who works in the industry, who knows how different publishers and agents work, and also understands the difficulties of not just getting the right words on the page in the right order, but getting the piece finished and put into the world.

  • Maybe you’ve hit a block and you need someone to talk it through with, to bounce ideas off and brainstorm.
  • Perhaps you have a great story idea but you’re not sure how to get it onto the page.
  • You might be passionate about your writing but still in need of a gentle nudge (or a cattle prod!) to keep you on track.
  • Or maybe you’ve already started but you keep finding yourself in need of reassurance and feedback in order to keep going.

This is where coaching comes in. Regular check-ins with someone who is on your side and who values your story as much as you do can keep you focused, boost your confidence, and help you avoid getting tangled in plot weeds or falling down procrastination rabbit holes.

A coach is a sounding board, a guide, and, yes, a mentor as well. They will help you get the story in your head onto the page. They will support you, hold you accountable, keep you on track and give you a push when you need it! They can advise on what to do next when it comes to submitting or publishing your manuscript, and provide resources to help with those next steps.

My goal, as a coach, is to help you develop the skills, habits and routines that will enable you to keep going without me.

All coaching begins with the 1-month Essentials Express package

This may be all you need to achieve your goals, but if you feel you need ongoing support, there are 3 coaching levels available after this, depending on your needs: Guidance is the most intense and hands-on (the same as Essentials Express); Encouragement is the steady middle ground and Nudge is for when you know where you’re going.

Coaching is offered online only – via email, phone and/or Zoom.

Once you’ve registered your interest, but before you commit, we begin with a 30-minute introductory call so we can see if we’re the right fit for each other and briefly discuss your goals and challenges.

Book coaching packages^

Essential Express
All coaching programs start here.

This is the same as the Guidance package below. The idea is to immerse yourself in the process. A month may be all you need to get where you want to be, whether that’s a completed manuscript or a new routine.

15 hours:
* 1 x 1hr call per week
* Up to 10hrs reading/feedback (around 30,000 words)
* $2000
(one-off)
The following packages are available on a month-to-month basis only once you have completed Essentials Express and only if you feel you need ongoing support.

Each level includes a set number of hourly calls and reading/feedback time per month, but remember, you only get out of coaching what you put in, so if you’re not sure what your schedule will support, keep in mind that you will need writing time as well!
Guidance package
This is the most intense program and is focused on development. If you need someone to hold your hand and walk you through your manuscript either starting from scratch or reworking an existing draft, the guidance package will take you through the process step by step.

15 hours per month:

* 1 x 1hr call per week
* Up to 10hrs reading/feedback per month (around 30,000 words a month)
* Per month: $1950
Encouragement package
More of a progress focus. This is for when you need someone to hold you accountable and make sure you’re making regular progress on your goals. If you’re a procrastinator with a deadline, or you keep hitting imposter syndrome writing blocks, the encouragement package is designed to keep you on-track.

7 hours per month
* 2 x 1hr call per month
* Up to 5hrs reading/feedback per month (around 15,000 words per month)
* Per month: $925
Nudge package
A maintenance package, this one is for you if you tend to be laser-focused and self-driven, but want someone to give you the occasional tap on the shoulder and check in. If you just want someone to run a couple of ideas past every now and then, or to talk through a last-minute panic, the nudge package is intended to give you reassurance and an outside perspective.

5 hrs per month
* 1 x 1hr call per month
* Up to 4 hrs reading/feedback per month (about 12,000 words per month)
* Per month: $660
^Please note all pricing is in Australian dollars and includes GST.

If this sounds like something that would work for you, please click here to apply, or book a no-obligation discovery call to learn more. And if coaching doesn’t seem like the right fit, we also offer mentoring.

Connect On Social

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Find What You Need

Connect On Social Media

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Our Services

  • Editing and Proofreading
  • Submission Materials
  • Manuscript Assessments
  • Flash Feedback
  • Mentoring and Book Coaching
  • Ask Me Anything
  • Workshops
  • Writing
  • Bothersome Words Writing Clinic
  • Literary Agent
  • Newsletter

View Our Work

  • Non-Fiction
  • Children and Young Adult
  • Romance & Contemporary Fiction
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy

Privacy Policy

  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2025 Log in