Book Coaching and Development
Your book begins with something you want to say.
I’ll help you find its shape, strengthen the writing, and keep moving, while protecting the voice that makes the book yours.
A partnership for your book
We all have stories to tell and wisdom to share. Turning the ideas in your head into a finished manuscript is another matter.
That’s where I come in. I help you understand what your manuscript needs, make thoughtful decisions about its shape, and keep going through the long work of writing and revision. Whether you’re clarifying an early idea or developing a complete draft, there’s a way for us to work together.
We start with your goals, your intended reader, and the pages you’ve written. Then we choose the level of support that fits and set practical milestones. Throughout, my aim is the same: stronger writing that still sounds like you.
What we'll work on
Every book needs something different. For fiction and memoir, we might look at structure, character, emotional depth, and pacing. For nonfiction, we might focus on your central idea, organization, supporting material, and clarity.
- Purpose and audience. Clarify your book’s theme, goals, and readers so every editorial choice pulls in the same direction.
- Structure and pacing. Identify the gaps, the repetition, and the passages that slow the pace. Rethink the chapter order and how the pieces connect.
- Voice and development. Deepen character agency and emotional resonance, or turn research and raw information into clear, engaging prose.
- Revision and accountability. Set priorities, writing assignments, and deadlines, with email check-ins and conversations about suggested edits.
- Publishing direction. See how your manuscript fits its readership and map the right next steps toward submission or publication.
First Steps
Shape your idea into a plan
Starting at $750 · 3 one-on-one meetings
Who it’s for: You have an idea, a few pages, or a draft that has lost its way.
Every book starts with a first step. Over three one-on-one meetings, we get clear on what your book is about, who it’s for, and how it should unfold. You’ll leave with a focused direction and a working outline you can build on.
Your work is yours. Everything we develop together for your book belongs to you.
Mapping the Road
A full review of your manuscript
Starting at $4,500 · 6 one-on-one meetings
Who it’s for: You’ve finished a draft and want to know what’s working, what isn’t, and what to do next.
You’ve done the hard part of getting the story on the page. Now we map the road ahead. I read your complete manuscript and give you a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, detailed notes or tracked changes throughout, and six meetings to talk it all through. You’ll know exactly where to go in revision.
Journey to Publication
From first draft to published book
Starting at $7,500 · 12 one-on-one meetings
Who it’s for: You want a partner for the whole journey, from shaping your manuscript to holding your finished book, published by Minerva Rising Press.
Some journeys are better with a guide. Over several months, we work side by side to develop your manuscript, keep you moving with milestone check-ins, and prepare it for publication. Then Minerva Rising Press brings it into the world in print and e-book.
How it works
- Begin with a conversation. In a free 30-minute consultation, we talk about your book, your goals, and the support you need. Come ready to share your genre, approximate word count, where you are in the process, and your timeline. Together we’ll choose the right package.
- Confirm the scope. Before we begin, we agree on the materials I’ll review, the deliverables, the number and length of sessions, revision rounds, milestones, and the final fee. It’s all spelled out in a simple project agreement.
- Do the work. Send pages or chapters at least seven days before each review session so I can give them the careful attention they deserve. Late pages move to the next available session.
Meet your coach
I’m Kimberly Garrett Brown, founder and executive editor of Minerva Rising Press and author of the award-winning novel Cora’s Kitchen. For 14 years, I’ve led a press devoted to women’s voices, publishing 29 books, 23 literary journals, and an online magazine. I know the editor’s side of the desk, and I know what it takes to write, revise, and publish a novel.
My background shapes how I coach. A psychology degree from the University of Michigan helps me understand characters. A Master of Science in Written Communication sharpens clarity. And an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College grounds my attention to craft.
What I offer every writer is careful attention to the manuscript and honest feedback that respects your voice, so you can approach revision with confidence.
Credentials strip:
- Cora’s Kitchen: 2022 Sarton Women’s Book Award for Historical Fiction, Story Circle Network
- Cora’s Kitchen: Bronze, 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year, Multicultural Fiction
- Published in The Rumpus, Chicago Tribune, and Today’s Chicago Woman
Booking and payment information
How do I reserve my spot?
How does payment work?
Developmental editing projects require a 50% deposit to schedule the work. The remaining 50% is due when I deliver your editorial notes or structural report.
What about multi-month coaching?
Journey to Publication follows a custom installment schedule tied to the phases of our work.
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