FICTION: THE NOVEL JOURNEY

What is Group Coaching?

In Group Coaching, a collective of writers come together to share a journey. It differs from a workshop or classroom experience in that the coach guides the journey and ensures progress toward the end goal. The experience is responsive to the needs and desires of the collective. (In a classroom, the teacher has set a curriculum before even meeting her students, so while the best teachers are responsive, the students do not help to design their experience.)

The Novel Journey is formatted into three quarterly sessions. Schedule below.

Group Coaching is goal driven. Our goals:

• To complete a draft of your novel in one year.*
• To further your knowledge and handling of novel-writing craft, including:
  • structure
  • plot arc
  • character arc
  • role of supporting characters
  • subplots
  • point of view
  • narrative style
  • story time or narrative chronology
  • and more.
• To access the expertise and guidance of a storycraft expert in a forum that provides the opportunity to advance your unique project with the aid of purpose, deadlines, and accountability.
• To write your novel with the ongoing support of both your coach and your peers, in a small group space where your questions are answered and your writing concerns are addressed throughout the process.
• To engage in a model of group learning with carefully selected, competent peers in which no one is a “passive student” but an active member of a collective.
• To develop a core network of fellow writers for mutual support long after the coaching session ends.

What will this journey include?

• Drafting your novel
  • Exploratory and developmental writing
  • drafting
  • revising
• Small group with individualized attention (4-10 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

• Prepare a reading assignment and lead discussion on a rotating basis
• Peer-to-peer accountability partnership
  • 1 half hour video call per month and 1 email check in, minimum.

• Office hours and/or email access to me between calls
• Sharing of work for discussion during live calls
• Providing verbal feedback to peers during live calls
• Workshops twice during the year
  • Reading and offering feedback on peer work
  • Receiving feedback from peers

Schedule of Live Calls

Our journey together will begin in February 2022 and run for 4 quarterly sessions. This will give us time during the year, between sessions, for writing, family, travel, etc.

*Our aim is to work on the novel specifically and it would be beneficial to commit to all three sessions, but you need only commit to one to participate. You will have the opportunity to enroll (or not) for each session.

Coaching sessions will run the first and third Wednesdays of each month on the dates below.

Coaching will be done over Zoom. Attendance at each session is mandatory. 3:00 – 6:00 Central (check your time zone).

FICTION SESSION SCHEDULE

First & Third Wednesdays, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Central

Focus: Development & Plotting, Prewriting

• February 2, 16
• March 2, 16
• April 6, 20

Second quarter dates

Focus: Act I

• May 4, 18
• June 8, 22
• July 6, 20

Third quarter dates

Focus: Act II & Act III

• September 7, 21
• October 5, 19
• November 2, 16

Fourth quarter dates – 2023

Focus: Act III & Revision

• January 4, 18
• February 1, 15
• March 1, 15

Are you ready to take your writing to the next…next…next level in 2022?

Fill out the application below. Alida will be in touch with you. You may be asked to supply a writing sample before being offered a spot in the upcoming coaching session.

Cost for each quarter of coaching: $699

• $600 paid in full (save $99)
• $233 paid monthly

Payments will be invoiced and may be paid by PayPal, Stripe, or check. Service fees apply.