it’s finally time to tell your story
wRITE A MEMOIR THAT MATTERS
why should a reader care about your life?
bECAUSE IT SHOWS THEM SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR OWN.
You've tried to outline your memoir and felt overwhelmed by the process. Gotten stuck in a first draft you’d need a machete to hack through. Or rewritten chapter one more times than you dare count, hoping that if you get it "right," it will unlock the whole story.
And when you can’t move forward, that voice in your head just gets louder. The one that says it's too late, or my story doesn't matter or I’ll get back to it after I take care of everything–and everyone–else.
I get it. I'm a single mom to a young man with autism, and for years my own writing sat at the bottom of a very long list.
What got me back to it wasn't willpower, but skill and structure: a deep knowledge of craft and a plan for moving forward during even the busiest times. And that’s exactly what I offer my clients.
Who I help
I work with women 40+ writing memoir who are finally ready to commit to their story.
Maybe you did all that was asked of you, and life still took a turn that threw you off course: super-charged caregiving duties, a health crisis, or the unexpected end of a long relationship.
Whatever the path here, you've persevered. Now you're ready to make your writing a priority.
That’s exciting, but also scary. You wonder if your story will make sense to readers or how your family will react. You might have no idea where to even start.
I help you find the story you are meant to tell, and shape it into pages that keep readers engaged. So when the doubt creeps in (and it will), you don’t get sidelined once again.
What you get
A plan built around your story and style, not some fill-in-the-blank template.
Feedback that zeroes in one what’s working and what still needs work.
Guidance toward publication, so you finish with a draft you're ready to query, not hide at the bottom of a drawer.
Accountability and encouragement to keep you on track even when life inevitably gets busy.
WhY mE?
I have an MFA from New York University, one of the most prestigious writing programs in the country.
I’m certified in coaching fiction and memoir by Author Accelerator, founded by book coaching and publishing expert Jennie Nash.
I have 20+ years of experience as a writer, editor, and publishing professional.
I have been in your shoes. I know what it’s like to try to juggle all of the things. My coaching combines expertise with deep empathy for the realities of your life.
Note: As an Author Accelerator certified book coach, I am qualified to coach writers using Author Accelerator's strategy, methods, and materials, but I operate independently of Author Accelerator and am not affiliated with them.
Testimonials
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Jen was so easy to work with. She laid out the plan clearly, hit all her deadlines with me, was flexible, and had that rare quality of being easy-going but totally on task. When it came time for comments on my work, she probed all the right weak spots and asked the kind of questions that helped me think deeper about what changes to my character and plot could move my novel forward. Her comments were kind but so on-target
Marcia A.
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Jen's editorial revisions were smart and lent greater clarity to my work, while her feedback in conversation demonstrated a close reading of my work. She was organized and communicative throughout the process, met milestones on time, and came to our meeting well-prepared. What's more, Jen's insights prompted me to undertake further revisions that ultimately led the book in the direction it needed to go.
Samie F.
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Throughout the process of completing a manuscript evaluation of my memoir, I found that Jennifer’s prompt communication, professionalism, and clear expectations not only met my goals but made the process deeply fruitful (and less nerve wracking as a first-time memoirist). Her detailed comments highlighted impactful passages and posed insightful questions that helped me reconsider the storyline and revise for clarity from the reader’s perspective. I now feel confident moving into the next revision with a clear, purposeful plan to ensure every scene supports and advances the story.
Susan W.
FAQs
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My primary focus is memoir, where I specialize in books that explore complicated family dynamics and emotionally charged territory.
I am certified in fiction, and coach select novelists working in literary and upmarket fiction.
Please note that while I am honored to support memoir writers, I am not a licensed therapist and encourage my clients to seek outside counsel when needed.
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Yes, I do. I can work with you to figure out what story you want to tell, why you want to tell it, and most important, what you want your readers to take away from your memoir.
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I can help you put together a pitch package, which includes a synopsis, query letter, and increasingly frequently a full proposal including market research.
However, I don't guarantee you'll be offered representation by an agent. No reputable book coach would.
