Coaching Report

Take a few minutes to report on your coaching session here. Thank you. 

This report will be entered into the writer’s folder for their records, but they will not have sight of it. It enables us to ensure we are keeping our writers on track and can work with you to help and troubleshoot any problems and stay in touch with you on how the coaching is going.

Beneath this, you can find a recap on what to cover in each coaching session as a handy guide prior to each session.

See coaching session guidelines

You can save a copy of your report as a PDF by pressing Print and choosing to save.

After completing this report, we get a copy and you’ll receive a copy by email. (Please check your spam or junk if you cannot find it.) The copy will have a link to edit this if you need to.

Thank you for all you do for our writers!

Happy coaching!

Coaching Session 1

Welcome them to The Novelry! Let them know you are recording the session and they will receive a copy afterward by email from the team. If at any point they have any questions regarding admin, please email [email protected].

Tell them there’s a fair bit to go through in this first session to get them ready to write, so you’ll keep an eye on time, but there will be the chance to ask questions at the end (and more so as their coaching program continues). 

Take control of this session to establish your authority in the relationship and advise them of the three things you will cover.

And remember, they may be very nervous. Perhaps they’ve never shown their writing to anyone, so your warmth is vital. 

1. The first coaching session begins with one question to ask the writer—what do you want to achieve? Whether that’s to become a published author or simply to hold a finished novel in their hands, let them know we’re here to support them. We need to know their ambition so we can give them the right guidance. Remember, your role is to help them finish a first draft. 

2. Break the ice by asking about their day job and lifestyle and how the one-hour-a-day writing schedule we propose in their course might fit into their life. It’s a chance to virtually high-five a commitment.

3. Dig into The Plan you have for the storyline and tell them what you LOVE about it now. Our editors will help them get the book to industry standard later on, so help them discover what they love in their book at this stage by highlighting what you think is great. Then, look at opportunities for creative development, the characterization and plot, and check how well it seems to fit their chosen genre. We don’t expect them to know the story blow-by-blow at this point. It’s fine if they don’t know the ending! Remember: you have several coaching sessions with them, so keep it positive, knowing you can build your advice as they develop their Plan.

If they tell you they have a current draft half-completed or fully done, talk about the possibility for refreshment through writing a fresh draft with your help and this course.

4. Ask which Hero Book they have picked. If they’re happy, all good! If not, you could run through the options.

5. Allow time for them to ask questions.

Closing:

Tell them they are good to go to start writing! They should feel free to book their next session for 2–4 weeks’ time or whenever works for them. Often, we suggest holding one of their six coaching sessions for after they’ve had The Big Edit, to look together at how they can get even more expansive with their work with someone they know and trust: YOU!

Do reach out to Alice at any time you want support with any writer as a coach. We have a wealth of information at our fingertips as a team and we’ll help you to support your writers at every step.

Coaching Session 2

We love to focus on their one-line hook in this session. Their hook should have these key ingredients: what the main character wants + inciting incident = change.

But do keep in mind that this is an opportunity for them to get more playful. Our editors will help them hone this book to industry standard later on.

Have they decided or changed any of these things:

  • What genre this is?
  • Who is telling the story?
  • First or third person?
  • Past or present?
  • What the reader is reading to find out?
  • Have they got the main character worked out at least vaguely?
  • Do they know what their main character wants?

Closing:

Any other questions? How are their classes going?

Suggest they make sure to join the live classes and workshops advertised at The Novelry Live, including The Story Clinic, which they can drop into every week to troubleshoot any writing problems between coaching sessions. Our Accountability Group on The Novelry Live can be a fun place for them to set goals. And Let’s Play is always a great workshop for our writers to stay playful in.

Also, they do have Golden Hour if they want quiet writing support.

Coaching Session 3

Ideally, at this stage, if you’ve been working with your writer for a few calls, you might be able to make more suggestions about how to make the story better. But see how it goes. Sometimes, writers at Call 3 just need motivation, support, and cheering on to get to the end of their draft. Often, starting this call by asking if there’s anything they want to really cover can help you move in the best direction for your writer. Try asking:

  • How is the daily writing going?
  • What’s the target word count? How many words have they got in the tin? 

Now, can we make the story better? If they seem ready and excited to dig deeper, talk again about the hook or pitch for the story to find ways to make it more exciting to stand out. 

Have they reviewed or amended any of these things:

  • What genre this is?
  • Who is telling the story?
  • First or third person?
  • Past or present?
  • What the reader is reading to find out?
  • Have they got the main character fleshed out now?
  • Do they know what the main character wants?
  • Do they know what they need?
  • Any thoughts on the theme now they’re further into the writing?
  • Are they making life hard for the main character? 
  • Could they raise the stakes?
  • Have we got an antagonist or secondary character established now for some good conflict?

Any suggestions? Can you ask them a few selective what ifs? to ramp up stakes and tension?

Closing:

Suggest they reach out to the community now for support and encouragement, too. Ensure they have joined the writing groups that appeal to them and signed up for the workshop for their chosen genre. We have workshops for Crime, SFF, Children’s... You name it! 

Any further questions? 

Coaching Session 4

Lots of our writers are ready to really dig deep in this session with a coach they’ve got to know and trust. Ask them if there’s anything specific they really want to work on. Then, dive into how the story is developing now:

  • Are they still making life hard for the main character?
  • Have we got the antagonist or secondary character adding fuel to the fire?
  • Have they thought more about the conflict in the novel?
  • How is their main character going to change in the second half of the story?
  • What does this character need to learn?
  • Who is helping them, and who is hindering them?
  • What events are unfolding in the story?
  • How is the main character showing agency? (Often our writers don’t know what this word means, so you can take time here.)
  • Have they revised The Plan sufficiently?

Remind them not to worry too much about the prose or fret the first chapter. Let them know that you can’t really begin a novel until you have finished it, and all the art happens in the second draft (and beyond). Just finding the story is all-important right now. The Big Edit will be on their radar, and you can give them a heads up that the book will need more drafting later on, but for now, how can they get to the end?

How’s the Hero Book working? They should now feel free to change it if they’re not enjoying it. Their writing and reading joy are all-important.

Closing:

Any questions?

Remember the vast library of recorded masterclasses with authors in their genre in Catch Up TV in their Membership Area.

Can you give them any Catch Up TV suggestions as homework? It’s always helpful and consoling to watch how other authors wrote their novels.

Coaching Session 5

Often at this stage, our writers are nearing the end of the draft. Congratulate them for having come so far! What’s the word count? How’s it going?

(Remind them, if necessary, not to compare with other writers. All novels get written different ways by different writers!)

Sometimes, you’ll have writers who have already finished. They are moving to editorial or they’ve already had an edit. We have some extra notes in Coaching Session 6 for these writers.

  • Have they taken another look at their hook lately? How has it changed now (if) they’re coming to the end of their draft?

  • What are they loving about the novel? What’s proving tricky? What help do they really want from you?

  • Is the main character beginning to see clearly?

  • Has the main character changed?

  • Have we passed the point of no return, no going back?

  • Where’s the conflict?

  • How do they want to leave their readers feeling? Does hope play a role here? 

Closing:

Any questions? Suggest next steps for them, perhaps working out a framework to get to the end.

Remind them that when they get to The Big Edit, there will be changes, and this gives them the freedom to be creative and open at this stage. 

Leave them feeling encouraged that they have made some good choices and great progress.

Remind them to enjoy every exciting moment as they give themselves the gift of the ending they choose.

Coaching Session 6

For this session, we find our writers tend to be in two camps. One group have The End in sight, while the other have already come from an edit. 

If they’re in the first group, talk about their preparation for The Big Edit. In the last lesson of The Ninety Day Novel, The Second Draft, we suggest a month off away from the novel, and raising their game with a reading plan (classics and contemporary) to prepare to become a reader of their novel. Help them with some ideas for Catch Up TV and live workshops. Let them know they can be playful and write, but we really want them to stay away from their draft (sideways writing of notes for the re-draft based on their reading).

They might ask you what to read, and you can tell them it’s covered in that same lesson, but books they love and admire, and some recently published in their genre, can be so helpful. The month off is about story development, and returning to the novel as a reader rather than an indulgent parent!

If they’ve come to you from The Big Edit, we suggest taking time to read through those editorial notes. Bill for the extra 30 minutes, and make sure to echo what the editor is saying. 

Frame this in a positive light. All of us know what it’s like to be edited and our writers really appreciate when you share how you approach this hard work.

Sometimes they are emotional and frustrated. Echo back to them that this work is frustrating and can feel like climbing a mountain, and work together to come up with small steps they can begin to make. 

As you look through the editorial notes and their Plan, encourage them to consider what’s possible. Help them notice what the editor might feel could be made stronger, and remind them that they may not know the solution immediately. Figuring out how to deepen this work may take some time. We have more notes in the handbook for this session if you need them, and reach out to Alice anytime if you want help and advice. 

Closing:

Tell them not to worry if they need to take longer over the course. It’s easy to extend access to the course after the year, too, with our extension plans. Remind them to enjoy their writing life. 

They can book more coaching sessions with us if they need them via their Bookings Page in their Membership Area.

If the novel is done and dusted, this would be the session for a virtual high-five and a cheers! 🎉 

Check if there’s anything else specific they want to cover and remind them that they have Story Clinics and community at The Novelry Live, before sending them on their way!

Classic Class Coaching Session

A chance to welcome a new writer to The Novelry and hear more about their story idea. Really let them know what you love about their Plan. They are probably nervous! Ask some of these questions, if they’re helpful:

  • Have they got a main character?
  • Where and when is the story set?
  • What problems is the main character facing?
  • What are the stakes?
  • Have they thought about the conflict in the novel?
  • How is their main character going to change in the story?
  • What do they need to learn?
  • Who is helping them, and who is hindering them?
  • What events are unfolding in the story?
  • Is this the kind of book they would read?

Tell them that an idea develops in the writing, so not to worry if they do not know everything right now. The important thing is they are excited to find out what happens! A novelist has questions, not answers.

Closing:

Any questions?

We look forward to seeing you next to write the story with coaching sessions on The Ninety Day Novel. Save money when you combine The Ninety Day Novel with The Big Edit in The Novel Development Course. All prices at the website. Any queries, email [email protected].