Book Coaching and Mentoring & Manuscript Evaluation of Nonfiction Books, Proposals, and Novels

Offered by Linda C. Anderson
25 years of Professional Experience

Author of 10 books and 150    articles
National award-winning playwright
Publicist and media coach
Anthology, nonfiction book, novel, and newsletter editor
Screenwriter
Writing Instructor at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis
Winner of an Anderson Center Residency for The Loft’s Outstanding Teacher

(See About Linda for more information and to view clips by Linda C. Anderson click Linda's Clips.)

Offering encouragement, support, and professional advice
 to help you write, publish, market, and promote your book.

Linda says:

“I enjoy helping writers to achieve their dreams and become successful. My experiences with agents, editors, and publicists have taught me much about what publishers are looking for and how to shape material into exciting and fresh presentations. I’ve been fortunate to become knowledgeable about how to write books and proposals that sell. I’ve learned the shortcuts and the pitfalls. After years of having my own work successfully published, I’m eager to coach and mentor others as their books evolve from idea stage to becoming readers’ favorites.”

What previous clients say about Linda C. Anderson:

“I am a first-time author. When I signed a contract with a leading New York agency, I had the task of preparing a book proposal. Next, the initial round of rejection letters from the publishers. Though they were positive, it was apparent that something was missing in my presentation. I was stuck!

“Linda Anderson and I connected and discussed the book proposal and its various aspects. Her comments were invaluable. She was able to point out the potential weak spots in my presentation and give constructive advise on how to make my objectives clearer and more upfront. The proposal is now much stronger and I feel confident that it will soon find its proper publishing home.

“Linda’s wealth of experience and feedback made the job of refining my proposal so much easier. I thank her for her guidance and support and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her services to new and skill writers alike!”
--Barbara Morningstar, British Columbia

“Linda Anderson, like other good editors, cares about the content and presentation of a writers’ work, displaying care and expertise in her editing and in her relationship to those with whom she works.”
--Sally Rosenthal, contributing editor, Best Friends Magazine, Cats Magazine, and lajoie

 “Linda was a thorough and savvy editor of my early non-fiction efforts and helped my stories make it into print. She played a key role in my later becoming a wire services writer.”
--Laurence Cruz, Associated Press reporter, Seattle

“As an editor, you surprised me with your amazing insights and broadminded approach to my novel.”
--Peter Longley, Legacy of a Star and Love Is Where My Rosemary Grows

“As a book coach, Linda Anderson is nothing short of miraculous. She is sharp, decisive, and very talented. Every suggestion Linda made helped me sell my latest book to a publisher.”
--Debbie Johnson, author of Think Yourself Thin and Think Yourself Loved

Book Coaching and Mentoring

The Process:

You e-mail information about your project to writingontherun@writingontherun.com. We arrange a time for a 15-minute telephone conversation.

After you decide you want me to be your book coach and I agree that I can be of assistance, we set up a schedule for a once per week or every other week telephone consultation. You call me at the agreed-upon time. I provide verbal and written information for whatever you need to take the next steps on your project that week.

For NONFICTION PROJECTS, coaching and mentoring may include how to:

Write and do research for a nonfiction book proposal,
How to build a platform for your writing topic,
How to structure the book’s chapters and content,
How to find an agent or publisher.

For FICTION PROJECTS, coaching and mentoring may include:

Writing exercises to help you develop the characters better,
Information on how to structure a stronger plot,
Guidance on creating a more vibrant setting, point of view, voice, or theme.
How to find an agent or publisher.

For both nonfiction and fiction, I give you assignments and deadlines to keep you on track. I read your manuscript in process and evaluate it through its drafts until it is ready for copyediting.

After your manuscript or proposal is ready to sell, I can continue to coach you through the process of finding and agent and/or publisher for your work.

Coaching and mentoring are billed at $50 per hour. This includes telephone calls with you as well as time I spend evaluating your writing or doing research related to your project. Payment is due after each session and before the next session.

Manuscript Evaluation of Nonfiction Books, Proposals, and Novels

The Process:

You e-mail information about your project to writingontherun@writingontherun.com. We arrange a time for a 15-minute telephone conversation.

After you decide that you want me to evaluate your manuscript and I agree that I can be of assistance, you mail the manuscript to me typed, double-spaced with SASE or e-mail it. In a cover letter, you tell me what you want to know.

Your questions might be:

• Is this interesting?
• Is this publishable?
• What are the strengths?
• Where does it need improvement?
• How are my grammar, punctuation, spelling, style, and formatting?
• What should my next steps with this be?

I estimate the amount of time it will take for me to give you a thorough evaluation. I charge $50 (fifty dollars, U.S.) per hour. You pay half up front.

After I receive your check, I schedule your manuscript evaluation and tell you when it will be completed (usually about two-three weeks). I read your manuscript thoroughly and make notes. I write a three to four page critique and send it to you. This may include additional information to steer you in a direction that will help to improve the manuscript.

You send me a check for the other half you owe me.

After I receive your final payment, we complete the process with a twenty-minute telephone conversation about your manuscript and what next steps to take.

“Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled ‘This could change your life.’”
--Helen Exley