LEARN THE RULES LIKE A PRO SO YOU CAN BREAK THEM LIKE AN ARTIST.
Accelerator Book Coaching
Short-term coaching to guide you through concept and story development, translating your ideas into story, mastering the narrative conventions of fiction, and honing your writing.ACCELERATE
YOUR CREATIVITY
MONTHLY COACHING & MENTORING
Ongoing monthly coaching offers a creative safety net as you write. Consistent feedback minimizes story drift and revision and helps you develop your narrative and writing technique.ACCOUNTABILITY
AND SUPPORT
THOUGHTFUL EDITING FOR FICTION
Whether this is your first book or you’re a seasoned author looking for fresh creative vision for your publishing team, give your book professional polish with story and line editing. PROFESSIONAL
QUALITY & STANDARDS
Transforming Aspiring authors
into emerging novelists
Specializing in Fiction by New and Emerging Authors
What if you finally understood what's going on under the hood of your novel manuscript?
No more stumbling through rough drafts, then paying an editor to help you find the story inside. You'll write a better book from the start, from concept and story to the words on the page.
As your book writing coach, I'll help you connect theory with practice. You'll pick up strategies and knowledge you'll use the rest of your writing career.
This is your writing, but smarter. Your book, but better.
"(Lisa's) the real deal. Simply awesome. In the last six months, I have learned so much. And more than that, the voice inside my head has changed her tune. Now I hear, 'You're going to do this.'"—Emile Horne
"After completing the Plot Accelerator course with Lisa ... I've just hit 30K words after making a lot of cuts and reducing it to 15K. Now I’m back to where I started with a much stronger story. Nothing is lost in the process. The scenes that will never be read have enhanced my own understanding of the protagonist's situation. Originally intended to be a novella, Collisville is now writing itself. Here's to words that grow organically! Stories shouldn't be forced. Motivation drives the characters. Characters drive the action! Action and reaction IS the story."—J. C. Thomas
"You need a great and wonderful editor to enhance and embolden the story; I found that with Lisa."—Troy Christensen
Are you new to writing fiction?
Designed for New and Emerging Writers
You’re a busy person, and you don’t have time for endless webinars and advice books and online courses. Now there’s a way to learn what you’re doing while you’re actually doing it, even if this is your very first novel.
Accelerator coaching draws theory and practice together. The process is robust enough to have led seasoned writers with MFAs to fresh insights—yet it’s designed for new authors like you. The best part: You’ll finish with writing techniques and knowledge you’ll use the rest of your writing career.
If you’re looking for someone to put a quick polish on your manuscript for publication, I might not be the right editor for you. But if you’re ready to master what’s going on under the hood of your novel, let’s talk.
Clarity
Productivity for Fiction Writers: September 2020
Stories demand so much from us. Taking apart the engine of a story and putting it together—that’s hard work, my friends. Much as your brain tugs at the knots of your story while you’re in the shower, or at the kitchen sink, or in the car, I too worry and fret over your stories. That Read more about Productivity for Fiction Writers: September 2020[…]
How long should you query your manuscript?
The decision on how long to query your manuscript can’t be determined by a formula. There’s always the chance that your very next query will knock at the right door at the right time to generate that singular confluence of fortunate events resulting in emails and phone calls and contracts and publication. But let’s face Read more about How long should you query your manuscript?[…]
Keep It Rolling: Writing momentum hacks for authors
We’re all familiar with the idea of getting the ideas on the page first, then revising and polishing later. You’ll spin your wheels endlessly if you indulge your desire to polish every chapter, every scene, and every line before moving on the next. Finish first, fiddle later. There’s more to succeeding at this than Herculean Read more about Keep It Rolling: Writing momentum hacks for authors[…]
Productivity for Fiction Writers: June 2020
When writing is a habit and not merely a goal, tackling a creative project as large as a novel becomes manageable. Despite everything happening in the world today, writing can serve as your refuge if it’s something you’re used to turning to in your daily routine. Build your writing habit When writing is a habit Read more about Productivity for Fiction Writers: June 2020[…]
The Editing Podcast’s 18 writing blogs for editors and authors
Just look at this lineup of writing craft blogs and resources for authors and editors from Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle of The Editing Podcast. Denise and Louise are two pro editors in the UK who help authors publish better books. I’m honored to be listed among these leading resources for writers and editors. Among Read more about The Editing Podcast’s 18 writing blogs for editors and authors[…]
Updated for 2020: Best books for writers
Updated for 2020: Best books for writers of fiction It’s been a stressful year to try to write a novel. It feels easier for many authors to step back from their own pages and reframe their thinking. How do experienced authors go about developing a concept into a novel? What are turning points and what Read more about Updated for 2020: Best books for writers[…]
Best places to find a professional editor
In an age when anyone can hang out a shingle on the internet as a fiction editor, sniffing out the best places to find an editor falls to authors. “I’ve been a bookworm all my life,” a prospective editor may exclaim. Or “I understand writing because I’ve written a novel.” But claims like these are Read more about Best places to find a professional editor[…]
Bite-size ways to make progress on your novel in a time of uncertainty
Whether the coronavirus pandemic has brought you more free time or less, continued stability or broadening uncertainty, continuing to work on your novel can buoy your spirit. Even so, it’s hard to prepare for a big edit when you’re not sure what’s next for your work, your family, your community. That’s why I’m making available Read more about Bite-size ways to make progress on your novel in a time of uncertainty[…]
Productivity for Fiction Writers: March 2020
What have you done to support your creative self lately? Oh, stop flopping about trying to think of something—it’s just an article, not a test—and get busy sampling all these delicious productivity resources for writers. You’ll be in the writing groove in no time. I’ve been experimenting lately with tools that keep my daily goals Read more about Productivity for Fiction Writers: March 2020[…]
Are your editing expectations sabotaging your writing?
Cleaning up messes is standard operating procedure for editors. Whether we’re handed story messes such as plot holes, writing messes such as head-hopping, or mechanical messes such as three different spellings of a character’s name, we’re ready to take on the work you need help with. We just want to make sure you’re not creating Read more about Are your editing expectations sabotaging your writing?[…]