Coaching Old | Sheila Ellison

Writing and Creativity Coach

Do you have a book idea but you aren't sure how to proceed, what steps to take, how to determine what slice of your life or experience to focus on, are you stuck in the minutia and can't see the forest through the trees? Do you have a finished rough draft and need structural help? Or maybe you are creatively stagnant, unable to move forward with a project that is dear to your heart, or you've lost your spark and need support, encouragement and direction. Perhaps you work best in life and art in brainstorming collaboration. I am here to offer you all of the above and whatever else you need to thrive in your life. You set the parameters, I do what serves your creative soul.

Schedule a FREE 30 minute phone OR zoom consultation. When you click this link you'll be taken to a calendar of available times.

Book Doctor and Editing

My editing style is not to tell you what to do, but to take what you've created, massage it, and offer ideas to open your own intuitive and creative process. Then we work together until you get the book YOU want. It's always your book!

There are different kinds of editing. I do developmental and structural editing. I do NOT do line editing or copy editing.

I focus on giving you feedback, guidance, and ideas and you make the changes.
I’ll look at your character development, your use of dialogue, plot and setting to move the story forward.
Content issues like repetition, areas that might be taken out, not enough content or depth.
Structural feedback to include what works and doesn’t work according to your goals. Suggestions I have on how your book structure works or needs improvement.

My editing will depend on your needs and goals. The first pass of a structural edit is to understand the scope of your work, to identify weaknesses and strengths and offer concrete and doable suggestions to improve your work (a developmental edit).
Then we dig in and make the changes!
I make sure your tone is consistent, improve the clarity, flow and structure, remove unnecessary or repetitive text. I make recommendations on how the project on a whole could be improved. All of my questions, notes and suggestions are written within the manuscript.
I look at character development, scene structure and other aspects of craft are addressed to create the strongest possible story.
My editing style is not to tell you what to do, but to take what you've created, massage it, and offer ideas that open your own intuitive and creative process until you get the book YOU want. It's always your book!

Schedule a FREE 30 minute phone or zoom consultation.

It is so rewarding to shepherd a project to completion! Even more rewarding when I can help clear out the creative cobwebs, weave confidence and spark new ideas, habits and direction. I understand how important it is to banish the critic and open space for creativity to flourish!!

I only take on projects when I know I am a good fit for both the writer and the book. If I don't believe I can help you, I will tell you. . I take one new client at a time. I want to be available, and often when I'm not working on your project, my mind is still processing. I am really good at what I do, I immerse myself in the world, idea, vision you have, and I'm able to see and hold the entire project in my mind when editing. I have done this for so long, I am fast and decisive, while trusting my intuition. I promise I will listen to you, and I'll help you create exactly your vision. My job is to create the space and support for your creative soul to thrive.