Eleah Horwitz -- Writing Coach
You Have a Book in You!
Whether it's your first or your fiftieth, starting a book may be terrifying. I will guide you from beginning to end with proven methods of story development, ongoing support, manuscript evaluation and market placement.
I’d love to hear your story idea and publishing goals. (If any! It's okay to write a book just for you, too!) Let’s book a complimentary 30-minute discovery call to talk about it.
What You'll Get
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Six weeks of weekly writing assignments designed to develop your story idea into a plan you feel good about.
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Three biweekly 45-minute Zoom calls to discuss your progress, generate ideas and brainstorm through any trouble spots.
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Unlimited email access in between meetings.
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Resources including Author Accelerator’s Blueprint for a Book e-book
Why You Want This
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You’ve got the seed of a story idea, but you’re not sure if it’s worth pursuing.
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You know you’ve got a great idea, but you don’t know how to turn it into a novel.
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You’ve started writing, but you keep getting stuck because you don’t know what happens next.
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You’re looking for guidance with novel planning and outlining.
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You know that having your ideas organized will make the writing process easier.
Solid Start
You know more about your book than you think you do. I will help you dig deep into not only your story but your reasons for writing it using a series of conversations, exercises and short writing assignments. You’ll come away with a fully realized outline and character profiles, but most importantly, the confidence to start writing!
What You'll Get
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Weekly or biweekly deadlines to submit pages of writing for developmental-edit level feedback on your book’s plot, characters, worldbuilding, theme, pacing, dialog and narrative drive.
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Weekly or biweekly 45-minute Zoom calls to discuss your progress, generate ideas, brainstorm through any trouble spots and set goals.
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Unlimited email support in between meetings.
Why You Want This
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You’re looking for accountability and support from someone who understands the writing process.
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You’ve started books but haven’t finished them, and that’s something you want to change.
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You want expert advice from someone with years of experience and a deep understanding of storycraft.
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You’re a first-time author looking for guidance and mentorship on how to finish your first draft.
Write Away!
You’ve gone from idea to outline, and now you’re staring at a blank screen. I will help you get your first draft out of your head and onto the page with manageable deadlines that work with your schedule and keep you moving forward.
What You'll Get
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A full developmental edit of your entire manuscript. A deep dive addressing story structure, character arcs, narrative drive, theme, dialog, pacing and more.
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In-line comments offering constructive feedback and pointing out where your book is already working beautifully!
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An editorial letter (minimum four pages) clarifying the issues and offering detailed steps on how to solve them in your next draft.
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A 45-minute Zoom call to review your editorial letter, answer any questions you may have and help you make a plan to move forward.
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Email support up to two months after you receive your edits for any further questions you may have about my feedback
Why You Want This
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You need expert advice on all aspects of your story.
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You know something’s not quite working, but you’re not sure what.
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You’ve been through several rounds of revisions but you’re still struggling to pull your story together.
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You’ve had this draft in a drawer for a while and don’t know whether you should finish it.
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Your beta readers don’t have the expertise to see what’s working/not working, or they only offer surface-level feedback
Manuscript Magic
You’ve accomplished an amazing thing and completed the first draft of your book. What you need now is a thorough evaluation of every aspect of your novel, from the top down, and clear, actionable steps for your next draft. You’ll come away with a comprehensive manuscript critique and a revision plan you’ll be excited to start working on.
What You'll Get
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A 30-minute Zoom call to discuss your hopes and goals for publication.
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Clarity on whether you want to pursue traditional, hybrid or self-publishing.
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A query letter you can personalize to each agent and a two-page synopsis that summarizes your story without sacrificing voice or themes.
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A full developmental edit of your first ten pages to make sure the reader is hooked from the start.
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A list of 10 literary agents I think are a good match for your book, and an Excel spreadsheet with their wish lists and submission guidelines.
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A 30-minute Zoom call to plan the order and timeline for your agent search.
Why You Want This
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You’ve never queried agents before and have no idea where to start.
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You’ve queried other projects in the past, without success. This time you know you’ll need a pitch package that shines.
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You’ve sent out a few queries for this manuscript, but gotten no response, and you want to rework your pitch package.
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You’ve been querying for a while and have received nothing but rejections—and you don’t think your book is the problem.
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You want expert advice on how to navigate the huge, complicated, daunting field of book publishing.
Pitch Perfect
How are you going to get your book into readers’ hands? Do you need an agent? Make sure you’re putting your very best foot forward with a captivating query letter, gripping synopsis and unputdownable opening pages. I’ll help you navigate the path between polished and published with a customized strategy based on how the publishing world works and where you fit into it.
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What does it mean that you’re an Author Accelerator Certified Coach?It means I am one of fewer than 250 book coaches worldwide who has graduated from a rigorous training program created by acclaimed writer and book coach, Jennie Nash. The work took me over a year and, combined with my three decades of experience as a writer, gave me the skills required to imbue you with confidence and to give you the tools you need to write your book.
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What does a 1:1 coaching session look like?Each coaching session has three parts.: In the first, you submit your work to me on the pre-arranged deadline. It may be manuscript pages, a writing exercise, a character profile or something else we’ve identified as important to your writing journey. In part two, I do an in-depth review of what you’ve submitted, provide in-line edits and comments, then email them back to you. The final part is a Zoom call where we can talk about my feedback, discuss any aspect of your writing life, do some brainstorming and make a plan for the following session. Coaching sessions are one or two weeks apart, depending on which package you choose—which should depend on how much time you can realistically commit to your book—practically and emotionally. Additionally, I will help you develop a workable writing schedule you can stick with, including times to rest and recharge, so you don’t burn out. I’ll help you create a sacred, creative workspace you can take with you wherever you go, and I’ll support and encourage you to keep going when it gets hard—which it always does.
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What genres do you work with?Sci-fi and Fantasy have always been my jam—all sub-genres (such as urban fantasy, romantasy, alternate history, soft science fiction and anything to do with mythology) included!
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Are there any books you won’t coach?I prefer to stay away from books involving politics, racism or violence of any kind. However, I can hook you up with Author Accelerator certified coaches who specialize in your genre or subject matter.
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What software do I need?We’ll exchange materials in Word or Google Docs. If we’re doing ongoing coaching, I can set up a Google Drive folder to share with you, so we can keep all of your documents organized. We’ll meet on Zoom; I’ll send you a link. You don’t need to have a Zoom account or have it installed on your computer, it will work through your internet browser.
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Do you guarantee that I can get published?Of course not. Anyone who offers that is probably selling a package with a vanity press. What I do is help you create writing you’ll be proud of, that readers will want to read, and have fun doing it. I’ll guide you toward the type of publishing that best suits your needs and goals, then make sure you’re poised to make it happen.
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Do I have to have publishing as an end goal?Not at all! The process of writing—of creating—feeds the soul, whether that book ends up all over the world or in a drawer. Guess what: You can write a book for fun! It helps some writers to visualize their book in the hands of readers, but some books need to be written before the author decides whether to publish. And if you do publish, you don’t have to market. This can be something you’re doing for yourself.
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Can we chat before I commit to working together?Absolutely! You can book a free 30-minute consultation call to talk about your ideas and challenges, what you’re looking for in a coach, and learn how I can help. I can't wait to get to know you and your story!
FAQs
FAQs
“Eleah has an amazing ability to get into the heart of a scene and really make it shine. Her technical expertise makes her a pleasure to work with. She has not only made me a better writer but has helped me to believe in myself.”
--Cheryl Cain, Independent Entertainment Professional
“When I send work to Eleah, I know I’m getting a thorough review with perceptive notes from a proven professional. She’s a trusted and reliable resource for me.”
--Laura Karr, Author and Script Analyst
“Eleah gives really insightful feedback. It always makes my work better.”
--Lisa Klink, Television Writer and Novelist