Let's work out what your story needs.
You might have an idea you can't stop thinking about, a novel that's going brilliantly until it suddenly isn't, or a draft you've been wrestling with for so long that you can no longer tell what's working.
You know there's a story in there. You're just not entirely sure how to get it onto the page.
I'm Stuart Wakefield, a fiction writer and book coach. I help novelists understand their stories, work through the problems that are holding them back, and make creative decisions they can feel confident about.
And you don't have to work it all out on your own.
Writing a novel is complicated. Getting help shouldn't be.
I love writing. I also know how frustrating it can be when the brilliant story in your head refuses to behave itself on the page.
Perhaps your protagonist isn't making the decisions you need them to make. Perhaps the plot is moving along, but the story doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Or perhaps you've been rewriting those opening chapters for the seventeenth time, hoping that this time everything else will fall into place.
Sometimes the problem is obvious. Quite often, it isn't.
That's where I come in.
I'll help you look at your story from a different perspective. We'll explore what's working, identify what's getting in the way, and figure out what needs to happen next.
I won't tell you there's only one correct way to write a novel, because there isn't. And I won't try to squeeze your story into a formula just because somebody, somewhere, decided all books should follow the same pattern.
What I will do is ask questions, offer honest and constructive feedback, explain my thinking, and help you find solutions that make sense for the book you want to write.
After all, it's your story. My job is to help you tell it.
What exactly is a book coach?
Good question. It's not always obvious, particularly when there are editors, writing mentors, teachers and approximately seventeen thousand people on the internet offering advice about how to write a bestseller.
A book coach works with you on the bigger picture of your story: the characters, plot, structure, emotional journey and everything else that makes a novel work.
Depending on where you are in the writing process, I might help you develop an idea, make sense of a troublesome draft, or work out how to tackle a revision.
Unlike proofreading, which deals with errors in the text, book coaching is about understanding the story itself. And unlike simply handing over a manuscript for an editorial assessment, coaching can involve an ongoing conversation about the decisions you're making and why.
Think of me as an experienced second pair of eyes, a sounding board, and someone who's prepared to ask the awkward questions that might turn out to be exactly what your story needs.
You make the creative decisions. I'll help you make them with confidence.
How can I help with your book?
Every writer comes to coaching at a different stage. Some are still working out what their story is about. Others have a complete manuscript and need to know what to do with it.
Here are three ways we can work together.
1
Blueprint for a Book
When you've got the idea, but you haven't quite found the story.
Perhaps you're planning a new novel. Perhaps you've already started writing, only to discover that your characters have wandered off in several different directions and taken the plot with them.
My Story Development coaching helps you find the foundations of your book before you commit to writing, or rewriting, thousands of words.
We'll work through your story's central idea, characters, conflict, structure and emotional journey. You'll receive detailed feedback on your ideas and a practical blueprint to guide you as you write.
It's not about planning every last scene or removing the surprises from writing. It's about understanding what holds your story together so you can move forward with a little more purpose and a lot less guesswork.
2
Manuscript Evaluation
When you've written the draft and want to know what's actually working.
First of all, congratulations. Finishing a manuscript is no small achievement.
But now you've got an entire novel in front of you, and you're wondering whether it really works. Are the characters convincing? Does the plot hold together? Will readers care enough to keep turning the pages?
I'll read your manuscript and give you a detailed, honest assessment of its strengths and the areas that need attention.
You'll receive an editorial letter, a clear set of priorities and the opportunity to talk through my feedback with me.
The aim is to help you understand the manuscript you've written and make informed decisions about what comes next.
3
Story Revision Roadmap
When you know your novel needs another draft, but you're not sure where to begin.
Revision can be a peculiar business. You start by changing one scene and suddenly discover that Chapter Twenty-Two no longer makes sense, three characters have become redundant, and your carefully constructed ending has fallen apart.
Sometimes a few adjustments will do the trick. Sometimes the story needs a more substantial rethink.
Through my Story Revision Roadmap, we'll take a close look at the book you've written, clarify the book you want it to become, and develop a practical plan for getting from one to the other.
You'll know which changes matter, why they matter, and how to approach them without becoming overwhelmed by the size of the job.
A little about me.
Hello! I'm Stuart.
I'm a novelist, playwright and screenwriter, as well as an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach.
I have an MA with Distinction in Professional Writing, and I also train and assess book coaches for Author Accelerator. Helping people understand how stories work is something I spend a great deal of time thinking about. Possibly an unreasonable amount.
But qualifications only tell you so much about someone.
What I'd really like you to know is that I care about the stories people bring to me. I understand how much time, thought and emotional energy goes into writing a book, and I take that seriously.
I'll tell you when something isn't working, but I'll also explain why and help you explore what you might do about it. I don't believe useful feedback has to be brutal, and I certainly don't believe a book coach should take over your story.
We might have a laugh along the way, too. Writing is serious work, but that doesn't mean we have to be solemn about it.
Stories I've helped bring into the world
One of the loveliest parts of being a book coach is seeing a writer's ideas turn into something they can hold in their hands.
Every story is different, and every writer has their own ambitions. Being trusted to play even a small part in that process is something I never take for granted.
Because of You, This Is Me
Jaz-Ampaw Farr
Story Development
Daughter of the Seven Hills
Margaret McNellis
Manuscript Evaluation
Sentinel of the Sun
Eira-Morgan Jones
Pitch Development
What writers say about working with me
You don't have to take my word for it. Here are a few thoughts from writers I've had the pleasure of working with.
Eira Morgan-Jones, author of Sentinel of the Sun
"No exaggeration - Stuart is a magician and I cannot rate him highly enough. He always knows the way around a problem and has helped me take my manuscript and pitch materials from a tangled mess of insecurity and procrastination, to something that, dare I say it, actually feels like the real deal."
Margaret McNellis, author of Daughter of the Seven Hills, The Red Fletch, and Outlawed.
"I look forward to working with Stuart again in the future, and I plan to. No amount of financial recompense or testimonial or future spot on an acknowledgements page can express how truly grateful I am to Stuart. I feel fortunate to have worked with him, and I know my book will be all the better for it."
Jaz Ampaw-Farr, author of Because of You, This Is Me
"If you're on the fence about hiring Stuart jump off and do it as soon as possible. Not only will he give you insight beyond what you'd considered possible, he will also level up your skills and boost your confidence allowing you to become the writer you were designed to be."
Fancy a bit of free writing advice?
I also host Master Fiction Writing, a weekly podcast about the craft of writing fiction.
Each episode explores a particular aspect of storytelling, from character motivation and story structure to dialogue, pacing, subtext and all those wonderful complications we create for our fictional people.
It's practical, conversational and based on the same approach I bring to my coaching: understanding why stories work, rather than memorising rules about how they're supposed to work.
Whether you're planning your first novel or working on your fifth, I hope you'll find something useful.
And, of course, it's free.
Apply for one-to-one book coaching
If you've made it this far, I'm guessing there's a story you're working on, or one you've been thinking about writing.
I'd love to hear about it.
You don't need to have everything figured out before getting in touch. Tell me a little about your story, where you are with it and what you'd like some help with.
We'll work out whether coaching is the right next step and, if so, what kind of support would be most useful.
What even more writers say about working with me
Here are a few thoughts from even more writers I've had the pleasure of working with.
D. Liebhart, author of House on Fire and Feral Creatures of Suburbia.
"Not only is Stuart a delightful human being, he's an exceptional book coach. If you want to make your book as good as it can be, you won't find anyone better to help you."
Bella Cassidy, author of Shoot the Moon
"Through his unique blend of kind and gentle guidance he'll give you all the confidence you’ll need. Not least, because he: knows what he’s talking about; will be constructively critical when necessary; and is brilliant at structuring, proof-reading and brainstorming
I’d say you’re lucky to have found him. He’ll make your journey so much more enjoyable."
Andy Gallacher, broadcaster
"In short, Stuart cares. He knows what it's like to struggle, doubt and question every word you write.
At my lowest points he lifted me up and kept me pushing forward, often more enthusiastic than I was.
We worked together for a year and I still hear his editorial voice in my head, and that is no bad thing.
There are lots of coaches out there, lots of people offering advice and guidance, but I dare anyone to find someone better than Mr. Wakefield."