Your Novel Is Ready…for You
Group coaching for novelists will provide you the mentorship of an expert writing coach, camaraderie of fellow writers, accountability, and an ongoing feedback loop as you work through your manuscript at an accelerated pace.
What will this journey include?
- Small group with individualized attention (3-8 people)
- Two 3-hour live sessions/month
- Recordings available after each call
- Each session will have a focus and structure
- Discussion on the specifics of each writer’s project
- Office hours and email access to me between calls
- Peer-to-peer accountability partnership
- Workshopping of each participant’s work-in-progress at least once during the session
- Light reading assignments and discussion to further understanding of craft through examples and analysis
- Drafting your novel
- Exploratory problem-solving writing
- Revising
Whether you’ve got a few false starts, half of a first draft, or a full draft in need of serious revision, bring what you’ve got, and we’ll take it from there—together.
Schedule a discovery call to discuss the current offerings.
The Novel Journey is a year-long coaching experience to take writers through the novel-writing process from page one to “the end.”
Quarterly Fiction Group Coaching sessions have a focus developed around the goals and needs of participants.
Hear what writers say about Fiction Group Coaching
Hear writers discuss their experience in Fiction Group Coaching in their own words. The statements below are taken from this conversation.
Writers discuss Fiction Group Coaching
- I get feedback while working on my draft, instead of having to wait until I’ve completed the whole thing.
- It helps me really see the work – re-vision as in to see it anew.
- It is just so helpful!
- Before, I could have spent many hours writing scenes that don’t work.
- I absolutely love it.
- Alida brings us back to the writing craft.
- Something unique about this program, is that Alida keeps us focused on the writing.
- I appreciate the opportunity to apply what I learn to my writing immediately.
- Alida is so responsive to what we are encountering in our work.
- The intensive learning is enormously helpful.
- We get feedback from Alida and from each other.
- It’s a very empowering process, developing this toolkit together.
- The nuts and bolts mentoring is really helpful.
- It has amazed me how similar our craft issues are, despite how different our genres are.
- It’s really helpful to realize you’re not alone and struggling with your writing.
- We get to bring our questions to the office hours and to class and get the answers we need.
- In all of the sessions, the writers really support each other and work together to get the most out of every call.
- Writers form friendships that last beyond the session.
- Alida asks us what we would like to learn before every session.
- Alida invites us to reflect on our writing and work out where the blocks are.
- Alida set the coaching up to be responsive, not rigid.
- It’s fun to have a constant exchange and flow happening on our calls!
- I love it!
The Novel Journey
year-long coaching – idea to draft
2024 – 2025 Schedule
Coaching calls will be held on Wednesdays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Central (Chicago) time. Depending on group size, calls may be shorter than 3 hours. Office hour calls will be held in the off-weeks.
*Do you live in a time zone or have a day job that precludes meeting at that time? Know some writers? Let me know. You could help me put together a coaching group for a time that suits both of us!
**See schedule for any irregular weeks due to holidays and breaks.
2025 WINTER COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- January 2 (Thursday, 1-hour orientation, recommended)
- January 15, 29
- February 5, 19
- March 5
SPRING COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- March 19
- April 2, 16, 30
- May 7, 21
SUMMER COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- June 4, 18
- July 2, 16, 30
- August 6
2024 FALL COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- September 10, 24
- October 8, 22
- November 5, 19
Learn more at your discovery call.
Quarterly Group Coaching
2024 – 2025 Schedule
Coaching calls will be held on Thursdays from 3:00 – 06:00 p.m. Central (Chicago) time. Office hour calls will be held in the off-weeks.
*Do you live outside the US or have a day job that precludes meeting at that time? Know some writers? Let me know. You can help me put together a coaching group for a time that suits both of us!
2024 FALL COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- September 12, 26
- October 10, 24
- November 7, 21
2025 WINTER COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- December 5, 19
*No office hours 12/19 – 1/9 to honor the holidays.
- January 9, 23
- February 6, 20
SPRING COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- March 6, 20
- April 3, 17
- May 1, 15
SUMMER COACHING CALLS (office hours in the off weeks)
- May 29
- June 12, 26
- July 2, 24
- August 7
Learn more at your discovery call.
Schedule Your Discovery Call Today
It was a great experience on so many levels—the learning, the support, the rich discussions…and the fun!
Meet Alida
I named my coaching and developmental editing service Word Essential, because I truly believe that every word matters. For over a decade, I’ve been the writer behind the scenes, teaching, coaching, and editing whoever discovered me and my offerings, usually through word of mouth. I love helping others develop writing craft while bringing their own, deeply personal project to life. Whether a novel, memoir, self-help, stories, or essays, if it has narrative, I’m here for you.
A lifelong writer, I’ve been at the head of the classroom almost as long, from high school to masters degree classrooms, including the inescapable Freshman Comp, and even in prisons. I’ve worked with writers of all levels with varied styles and goals, including professionals driven to craft more precise and meaningful communication.
Are you ready to finish your novel while taking your writing to new heights?
You may be asked to supply a writing sample before being offered a spot in an upcoming coaching session.
Cost for a full year of coaching: $3000 (Save $49 per quarter over quarterly rate.)
Cost per quarter of coaching: $799 paid quarterly (save $33 per month over monthly rate)
Cost per month of coaching: $299
Payments will be invoiced and may be paid by PayPal, Stripe, or check. Service fees apply and will be added to the invoice.
A scholarship may be available–ask.
Do you have questions?
I’d love to answer them.
