A book coach is a creative partner, project manager, and steady sounding board as you plan, draft, revise, or polish your book.

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As your book coach, I help you see your story more clearly: what’s working, what isn’t, where the structure may need support, and how to move forward when you feel stuck. Coaching is collaborative and flexible. We can brainstorm big-picture ideas, untangle plot problems, clarify character arcs, talk through revision strategy, build accountability, and create a plan that keeps the project moving.

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Unlike a traditional edit, book coaching happens during the writing process. It’s especially helpful if you want ongoing guidance instead of waiting until you have a complete draft.

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Book coaching may be a good fit if you:

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• have a brand new idea you want to brainstorm

• have tons of brainstorming and outlining done and want to start drafting

• need accountability and momentum

• enjoy having a sounding board for brainstorming and problem-solving

• like to revise as you go or receive feedback while drafting

• struggle with perfectionism, overthinking, or getting stuck in the middle

• want support from someone who understands both story craft and the emotional side of writing a book

 

My coaching style works best when we’re talking face-to-face about the book, so Zoom calls are the foundation of every coaching plan. From there, you can build the level of support that fits your project, schedule, and budget.

 

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Build Your Own Book Coaching Plan

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Every writer needs something a little different. Some clients want weekly accountability and regular brainstorming. Others want a twice-monthly check-in while they draft. Some want written follow-up after every call; others prefer to leave with notes they’ve taken themselves. We can work week to week or month to month, and adjust as your project evolves.

 

Step 1: Choose Your Zoom Call Length

 

Zoom calls are the foundation of my book coaching process. You can choose the call length that best fits the kind of support you’re looking for:

 

30-minute Zoom call: $125
A focused check-in for accountability, quick questions, or talking through a specific story problem.

 

45-minute Zoom call: $190
A deeper working session for brainstorming, troubleshooting, or discussing your next steps.

 

60-minute Zoom call: $250
A full coaching session for bigger-picture story development, revision strategy, or more in-depth creative problem-solving.

 

Step 2: Choose Your Meeting Frequency

 

You can choose the rhythm that works best for your schedule, goals, and budget:

 

Every other week
A good fit if you want steady support while leaving plenty of time between calls to write or revise.

 

Weekly
A strong option if you want consistent accountability, regular brainstorming, and ongoing momentum.

 

Twice weekly
A great option if you’re working intensively, moving through a draft or revision quickly, or want close support during a concentrated period.

 

Optional Add-Ons

 

After each call, I can provide a written action plan with clear next steps, priorities, and suggested assignments so you know exactly what to focus on before our next meeting, and/or provide feedback on what you've worked on.

 

Action Plan Add-On: $50 per call

 

This is a good option if you want a written roadmap after each session, especially during drafting or revision, helping ensure you never run into the dreaded writer's block. You can add this onto as many or as few calls as you'd like.

 

Page Feedback Add-On: $0.05/word

 

You may also choose to send pages for coaching feedback between calls. This is not a full developmental edit or line edit. Instead, I’ll respond as a coach: looking at how the story is progressing, what’s working, where I’m getting confused, what opportunities I see, and what questions or craft issues may be worth discussing in our next session.

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Testimonials

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"Thank you Michelle Schusterman, for being a light in the dark. You are such an inspiration and an amazing writing mentor. I learned so much from you, ranging from how to make an outline to how to make a story idea come to life. Your guidance and wisdom came at the perfect time and I am so grateful." ~Raegan Revord, author of RULES FOR FAKE GIRLFRIENDS (Wednesday Books, 2025) and star of CBS's Young Sheldon and George and Mandy's First Marriage)

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"Michelle Schusterman, collaborating with you has been an exciting and fulfilling experience. We value your playfulness, curiosity, and passion for storytelling. You are an amazing partner—thank you for caring about Mika and Andy, humor, adventure, and food as much as we do." ~Alex and Maia Shibutani, authors of the KUDO KIDS series (Razorbill, 2021 and 2022) and two-time Olympic medalist ice dancers. 

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Flexible Support for Your Writing Process

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We can build a plan around your goals, your timeline, and your budget, then adjust as needed. You might start with a few brainstorming calls, move into weekly accountability while drafting, add page feedback during a tricky section, or use action plans during a major revision.

 

The goal is simple: to help you keep moving, make stronger story decisions, and feel less alone while writing your book.

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Interested? Let's set up a free 20-minute Zoom to chat about it!