Hi, I’m Erin.

I’m a developmental editor and book coach. My mission: to help fiction writers connect to the emotional heart of their stories so they can solve the problems that are stopping them from getting to The End.

So…what does that mean?

To say the world is awash with writing advice - and people slinging it - is an understatement. But all the craft books and classes, all the Save the Cat-Hero’s Journey-5 Act-Beat Sheet-Outline Till You Drop formulas, all the inspirational Instagram influencer reels can’t tell you what you really need to know…

Does YOUR story work?

This is where I come in.

Writing From the Inside Out

Successful stories are written from the inside out. That’s why tips, tricks, and formulas often fail to get writers to The End. Unless you know WHY you are writing this story and what it is you’re trying to say - AKA the emotional heart of your story - you’ll struggle to write a story that works.

So that’s where I start. With you. With your Why. Your vision. Then together, we work outward to your Who (your characters) and your What (your plot). We figure out where your story is working, and where there’s room for development. When you take the time to understand your story at this deep level, you’ll stop…

-Getting lost in the messy middle

-Struggling to figure out if what happens next is what’s supposed to happen next

-Rewriting the first three chapters over and over

You’ll finally be able to weave theme and character and plot together into the story you’ve always dreamed of telling.

But What is Book Coaching?

A book coach is to writing what a music teacher is to learning how to play an instrument. No one expects to sit down at a piano for the first time and knock out a Mozart sonata. Now matter how good an ear they may have, they understand that they’ll need someone who’s trained in the skills, technique, and theory to teach them how to blend melody and harmony, and bring nuance and musicality, to that sonata.

That’s what I do. Help writers take the story melody they hear in their head and build the skill, technique, and confidence to turn it into a multilayered, wholehearted story that sings. Instead of learning craft in the abstract from a class or a book or an Instagram post, you’re hands-on, practicing craft using your own manuscript. And watching your story get stronger along the way.

Musicians don’t do it alone. And neither do writers. Just take a look at all the people an author thanks in their acknowledgements.

You don’t have to do it alone, either.

I have more than 25 years experience shaping stories that work. As a book coach, I bring a deep understanding of how stories are built. I help writers chart a path forward. And I provide the support and accountability to make those stories happen. Click on my About page on the menu to learn more about me, my writing, and my journey to book coaching.

Make Meaningful Progress…Finally