COACHING
THE
BOOKSMITHS WAY
Wherever you are with your work, Alex and Becky offer a fresh pair of eyes to help pull your novel into focus, renew your confidence and develop a plan to get you over the finish line. With four novels between us and two more in the pipeline, plus a host of mentoring and teaching experience, we have the skills and insight to move your project onto the next level. We’ve worked with writers starting out on their very first pages, through to final edits that need nothing more than a polish. Our mission always begins with what’s working — uncovering what is unique and promising about your voice and idea — then highlighting the strengths on which you can build.
At Booksmiths, we offer manuscript assessment, mentoring and everything in between. We love to see a project through to the end and can provide brainstorming, a manuscript reboot, structural edits, manuscript annotation or whatever else you need to get you finished. Drop us a line, and we can discuss.
Manuscript assessment
For those who have a partial or full draft
Is this the right time for editorial guidance on your manuscript?
Have you finished your novel and redrafted so many times, you’ve lost sight of what is and isn’t working?
Have you had feedback, but still don’t have the clear vision you need to move forward?
Do you want to improve your story and the quality of your writing, and would love a trusted opinion on how to achieve this?
Do you feel stuck creatively and need a final push to get your manuscript ready for submission?
Mentoring
For those with work at an earlier stage or who have had the assessment and would like on-going support
Is mentoring right for you?
Are you brimming with ideas, but just can’t get started?
Do you find it easy to begin, but quickly run out of steam?
Have you reached a block, lost sight of where your story is going and need a road map to get finished?
Would you like creative feedback and accountability on your writing journey?
Testimonials
“Becky has been an invaluable mentor in my writing process. She has excelled at every juncture, from monthly feedback while I was writing my novel, to giving me a full developmental edit of the final draft. I would highly recommend her as a knowledgeable mentor who shows insight and skill in helping a writer polish their work at any stage.”
— Kathy, California
“Like nearly every person I know I have spent years talking about the novel I’m never going to write. The problem wasn’t the idea, more the process. Alex managed to break it down, explaining clearly and concisely exactly what is needed to get started and, more importantly, get to the end. During numerous discussions after that, her advice, notes and encouragement have been an invaluable help.”
— Tommy, London
“Although I’m a published writer, with my debut set to be adapted for BBC One this year, I wanted a discerning eye on my next novel.
Alex's feedback was always razor-sharp, honest and motivating. Without doubt, Alex kept me believing in myself and my novel until it was done.”
— Jo, Brighton
“Rebecca gave me deeply insightful, supportive feedback and suggestions that made me think about my plot, the characters, style, dialogue, pace and audience. She has this way of coaxing your idea out of you in its purest form then editing and distilling that into its essential version. I felt I could be myself creatively and take risks while feeling safe with her.”