You're frustrated. You've set writing goals you know you can reach. But you haven't been able to get the words on the page, or the pages to the right publisher. There are always excuses. You don't have enough time, know-how, connections, or caffeine. Your chair's uncomfortable. The dog needs a bath. You know the drill.

I’ve worked to help many writers overcome such obstacles. Coaching works by:

--Helping you create a workable plan of action for meeting your writing goals.
 
--Providing support, encouragement and accountability from an experienced writer who has your best interests at heart.
 
--Giving you a means to overcome -- or at least manage -- any self-doubts you may have about your writing.
 
--Helping you finish the projects you start.
 
--Delivering constructive, encouraging feedback on works in progress.
 

Clients

As a coach, I work with:

--Experienced professionals from a wide range of industries -- including business, education, medicine and law -- who want to turn their expertise and knowledge into a column, series of articles or mass-market book.
 
--New and experienced writers who want to take their writing careers to the next level: i.e., breaking into the national magazine market, boosting their annual income, writing a memoir, or researching and writing a nonfiction book.
 

Getting started

For new clients, the recommended schedule is two 45-minute coaching sessions per month for at least three months. This package costs $300 per month and includes: constructive feedback on manuscripts (up to 20 pages per month); access to contacts and resources; assignments tailored to your specific writing challenges; and tons of accountabiliy and encouragement. All coaching sessions take place over the phone, however, clients are also encouraged to use e-mail for questions in between sessions.

Call or e-mail me to schedule a free, 15-minute initial consultation.

Testimonials

"Of all the decisions I’ve made in 2007, coaching with Shari is in the top two! I hadn’t met Shari before contacting her, but simply followed a “gut feeling." Boy, am I grateful for intuition! Shari is the kind of person who comes from the heart, so talking with her is as easy as talking with a good friend.

Her incredible insights helped me get to the heart of the matter in my writing. Her wisdom and experience in the publishing world also helped to dissolve my personal anxieties. I came away from each coaching session with enthusiasm, confidence and so much creative inspiration. I produced more writing in those three months with Shari than I had in three years. But that’s not all. The dynamic energy generated in our coaching sessions carried over into other parts of my life as well." --Denise Turner, essayist

• When I was too close to the material, she provided the objectivity of an unbiased perspective.
• She taught me how to write a book proposal and gave me the confidence that it was possible to write a book.
• She forced me to set goals with a timetable and held me accountable.
• When I was overwhelmed, she helped me breakdown my goals into manageable components.
• She was supportive of my writing but also knew how to provide constructive criticism in a helpful way.
• She encouraged (or coerced) me into starting a blog about my experiences of living with Parkinson’s disease. My blog was recently ranked #1 by the PD blog network.

But mostly, Shari was a warm and caring teacher, and it was a pleasure to learn from her. --Kate Kelsall, award-winning blogger, writer of nonfiction articles