Coaching for Writers
Are you an emerging writer wanting to get published?
Maybe you’ve got a first draft and know it needs *something* but are not sure how to make it better? Do you spend all your time editing sentences when it’s the structure of the story that really requires fixing? Perhaps you’re trying to work out if your work is ready to send to agents and publishers
Or are you a debut author?
Is your first book (Finally! After forever!) about to come out and you have NO IDEA what you’re supposed to be doing? Have you got events lined up but does the idea of getting on stage and talking about your work fill you with dread? Or you’re excited to do it but not sure how to make it interesting?
Maybe you’ve written a book or two
and had a good-ish experience but you also feel like there’s bits you could have done better. Maybe it didn’t make as much of a splash as you wanted and you’d like to do things differently next time.
I can help
When I started writing my first novel, I hadn’t written since high school. I knew nothing. I had to learn everything, from how to build a writing habit to how to edit, pitch, and finally land a publisher.
It was hard. Some days I believed I could get published; other days it felt completely impossible. There was so much to learn, and so much conflicting advice.
I wished I had someone to talk to. Someone who’d done what I was trying to do. Someone with insider knowledge who could help me focus on what actually mattered.
Eventually, after being rejected by every agent in the country, I signed with Jacinta di Mase. My debut novel, The Helpline, was published in Australia, North America, the UK, Italy, and Germany. I was thrilled — and completely terrified.
It was a long-held dream, but the stakes felt sky-high. I didn’t want to mess it up.
Again, I wished I had someone to talk to — someone who understood both the craft and the chaos of what comes next.
Hosting The First Time podcast gave me that chance. I spoke to incredible writers about the things no one tells you: criticism, sales, self-doubt, and the strange, emotional whiplash of being published. I learned what’s normal, what matters, and what to let go of.
That experience changed everything. I’ve now written four books, been shortlisted for awards and worked with dozens of writers and authors. What I’ve learned is that writing is hard, but keeping going is harder. And figuring out which advice actually applies to you? That’s hardest of all.
That’s why I created the thing I would have killed for as an unpublished writer and debut author…
The UNKNOWN TO AUTHOR Coaching Package
It’s for unpublished writers and debut authors who want to give themselves (and their work) the best possible chance of success, and build an audience in a way that actually feels good
This is for you if:
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You know you’ve got talent, but sometimes you wobble (who doesn’t?!)
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You’re not looking for generic advice
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You want support that’s tailored, honest, and industry-savvy
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You realise this is a weird career path, and you want to know how to navigate it
And also:
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You don’t just want to write, you want your work to be read
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You got into writing because you like writing and you want to get back to that
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You’re impatient for all the things and don’t want your impatience to cause you to make poor choices
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You swing between ‘I’m amazing!’ and ‘maybe I should give up’
Coaching helps you know what to do next, stay true to your work, and figure out what your version of success looks like
I’ll help you:
✔️ Know what to do: Whether you’re getting ready to submit your work to publishers and agents, or your book is about to come out and you want to give it the best possible chance of success, it helps to have a plan. There are NO guarantees of anything but I can help you put your best foot forward
✔️ Know what to expect: From practical things like how long to wait for agents or publishers to get back to you, to whether to read Goodreads reviews of your work and what is realistic in terms of an advance or book sales, to weird or sad or unhelpful feelings when things don’t go the way you’d hoped
✔️ Figure out how you’re going to build a profile as a writer or author: This doesn’t have to mean hustling on social media or entering short story competitions or forcing yourself to do things you don’t like doing. It’s a long term project, and it has to enjoyable and sustainable (and effective)
✔️ Keep going when it feels hard and set yourself up to write more books and have a long and fulfilling career
✔️ Basically, I’ll be in your corner. I’ll be on your team, I’ll know you and your work and what you’re trying achieve and I’ll provide advice and support to help you get there
The areas I can help:
✔️ Editing and how to make your manuscript better (and not just spend your time editing sentences)
✔️ Querying agents and publishers, including putting together a query letter, a synopsis and a plan for who you’re going to pitch and what to do if they yes (or no)
✔️ Figuring out a plan for what you’re going to do next — both in the short term (planning your launch or pitching a podcast) but also in the long term (what kind of career your working towards)
✔️ Being interviewed and talking about your work in a way that makes it interesting (and/or interviewing other people
✔️ Your specific situation. Everyone’s journey evolves differently and while there’s a lot of advice out there, it’s hard to know what applies and when
✔️ Understanding common worries and feelings and how you might manage them
What it looks like:
✔️ 6 x 1:1 Zoom sessions (45–60 mins, once a month)
✔️ Unlimited email support between sessions
✔️ OPTIONAL: Feedback on your manuscript (sometimes this is necessary, but not always)
Bonus: Free access to my courses and course materials
You’ll Walk Away With:
✔️ You’ll be a better writer, with a better manuscript
✔️ Practical tools for getting unstuck, staying motivated, and finishing what you started
✔️ More ease around being seen (and less panic when someone actually reads your work)
✔️ A writing practice that feels sustainable
✔️ Perspective and encouragement and a reset button you can keep pressing, even after our time together ends
✔️ A plan for your debut, or your second act
✔️ Support from someone who knows both the writing and the weirdness
✔️ Confidence in your voice, your story, and your next steps
COST:
Pricing starts at $950/month
I only take on a handful of writers at a time
If this sounds like what you need, book a call here or send me a message and I’ll tell you honestly if it’s a fit
No pressure, lotsa possibility
Six months ago, I was very sceptical of book coaching. I had already spent years attending workshops, studying writing, and rewriting my manuscript. I didn’t think I needed more help—I thought I needed to just get on with it. But working with Katherine was game-changing. She helped me rework the structure of my book in a way that finally made sense. I left every session feeling energised and excited to go back to the drawing board. I’m now querying agents with a manuscript I’m genuinely proud of. Honestly, I wish I’d done it sooner.
– Belinda McDonald (writer)
I came across Katherine’s coaching while scrolling through Instagram—at a point where I felt very stuck in my writing and completely unsure of what to do next. From our very first session, I felt supported, encouraged, and challenged in exactly the right ways. Katherine’s enthusiasm and insight helped me see the value in what I was writing, and her feedback gave me clear, actionable ways to make my work better. I now feel confident moving forward, and—maybe most importantly—happy with my writing again
– Stephanie Marianni (writer)
Katherine was practical, insightful, and so supportive. She reminded me that being an author isn’t just about the book—it’s about who you are, how you show up, and how you stay grounded through it all.
– Kirsty Iltners (author of Depth of Field)
I went from feeling unprepared and full of imposter syndrome to feeling excited and well-supported for publication. I’ll be referring back to our work again and again.
– Debut author that didn’t want to say their name
Sometimes you don’t quite know what you’re looking for until you find it. That was this coaching. Every session left me clearer, calmer, and more connected to my writing.
– Grateful debut author (this is another alias!! A lot of my debuts refer to remain annon.)
The thought of being in front of people talking about myself filled me with dread—but Katherine gave me the skills, confidence and strategy to face it with calm.
– Annie de Monchaux (author of ‘Audrey Goes AWOL’)
Katherine helped me create a clear and personalised launch plan that actually felt good. Her guidance made the whole debut process feel less overwhelming—and more doable.
– Anna Johnston (author of ‘The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife’)