The Novel Journey is a year-long coaching experience to take writers through the novel-writing process from page one to “the end.”
The process is built into a manageable schedule that’s all about balancing our commitment to writing with our busy lives, with built-in time for holidays, vacations, catching up on writing, or just taking a break.
During our journey together, you will develop your story craft skills and knowledge, becoming a better, stronger writer, while gaining:
- the mentorship of an expert writing coach,
- an ongoing feedback loop,
- immediate solutions to your questions as they arise,
- accountability and accelerated drafting,
- the camaraderie of fellow writers,
- workshopping of your work-in-progress, and
- live sessions and office hours.
We meet for live, craft-focused calls designed around specific topics and regular Q&A support calls, a special opportunity to have questions answered and to problem solve nitty-gritty, in-the-moment issues with your work-in-progress.
It was a great experience on so many levels—the learning, the support, the rich discussions…and the fun!
Make this the year!
Hear what other coaching members say about the Novel Journey
Novel Journey writers discuss their experience 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 Opens for Enrollment Soon
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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, with an MFA in writing, three award-winning novels, two indispensable craft books (The Story Works Guide to Writing Character and The Story Works Guide to Writing Point of View), and numerous literary journal publications, I bring a lifetime of dedication to the written word. For over 12 years, I’ve been at the head of the classroom, from high school to college to graduate school, and even in Minnesota prisons, while connecting with writers the world over through my own platform, here at Word Essential. I’ve mentored novelists of all levels with varied genres, styles, and goals.
A three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, Notable in Best American Essays, winner of the Minnesota Library Association’s Minnesota Author Project Award, Page Turner Award Winner, and others, I am the creator and host of the Story Works Round Table podcast with over eight years and 325 craft-focused episodes. The writer’s writer, I know what it takes to elevate your craft. Whether you’re starting your first book or your fifteenth, I want to be in your corner.
Do you have questions?
I’d love to answer them.
