Do you

…have an idea for a story but you don’t know how or where to start?
…have a manuscript you’ve been working on for months (or years) that you just can’t seem to finish?
…have a finished draft, but are overwhelmed by the prospect of revising and polishing?

As a writing coach, I’m your editor, your project manager, your emotional support and your enthusiastic cheerleader. As a writer myself, I understand how emotional the process can be, often littered with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. But I strongly believe that every story matters, and it is one of my greatest passions to work with writers to find the heart of their stories, while building their confidence and skills.

I’ll work with you to establish your writing goals (Finish the manuscript? Self-publish? Query traditional agents and publishers?), and then craft an action plan of small, doable steps to get you there. We’ll dive deep into your story and find fun and motivating ways to keep your momentum going while exploring the elements of an effective and compelling narrative. Above all, I’ll give you the support you need, tailoring it specifically to the stage you’re at and your best feedback style.

Whether you’re taking the first steps into story or you’re struggling to cross the finish line, I’ll walk with you every step of the way. You can do this.

Each hour of Coaching is $125, and includes up to 5,000 words reviewed beforehand and an emailed summary of my notes.
Blocks of 4 hours are discounted to $450.
All coaching fees are due up front.

Contact me to book a free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit!

Editing gives you detailed feedback on your completed project, whether that’s a novel, short story, non-fiction manuscript or commercial copy. All editing is charged per word, ranging from $0.02-0.04 per word. Developmental and Line Editing packages can be bundled and/or customized to fit your specific project.

The Forest vs. The Trees

Developmental Editing includes a full read-through of your manuscript and provides big-picture feedback on the overall concept, story flow, narrative and points-of-view, pacing, plot issues and the reader’s experience. Ideal for fiction or creative non-fiction, developmental editing includes in-text and margin notes as well as a detailed editorial letter and a follow-up phone call to discuss the feedback and help you build a roadmap for implementing revisions. Packages can also include a full character report listing each character, their physical descriptions, personality traits and growth throughout the story; and a chapter-by-chapter analysis, which lists major events and plot developments in each chapter, as well as suggestions for each chapter’s individual narrative arc.

Line Editing offers a much more detailed look at a manuscript at sentence level, getting into the nitty gritty of grammar, syntax, crutch words, repetition, tone, consistency and word choice. Line editing includes two full read-throughs: one to implement initial edits through Track Changes, and a polish pass after revisions to ensure everything is in perfect shape. Ideal for writers who have already gone through a developmental edit or who have a strong handle on their story already, or for commercial or business projects that need tightening and smoothing.

Contact me to schedule a FREE sample edit of up to 1,000 words!

Editing packages require a 50% deposit upon booking.

Testimonials

“Since the beginning of 2023 I have taken two writing workshops with Angela Cowan: World Building and Character Development. Angela creates a safe space to explore writing no matter the level of experience one has. She is organized, confident, and prepared, bringing her passion for writing to the workshops. Angela leads interesting discussions for sharing the work produced by the writing exercises she offers. In both workshops I think we were all pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing that was being produced. I didn’t want either workshop to end! I am EXCITED about her upcoming workshops in April and I hope she considers offering full day writing workshops. Angela Cowan is working Big Magic!” -Wendy Picken, Artist and Author, owner of Mango Smile Studio

“I very much enjoyed meeting Angela and taking her workshop on Writers’ Block. I found the exercises challenging given the time limits but they were fun to do. After we read our work to the group, Angela’s positive feedback was extremely encouraging. It really helped to build my confidence. The four hours went by very quickly, which is a compliment to Angela’s skills in knowing how to keep us so engaged.” -Cam Ballantyne

“I have been away from writing for a number of years. I have been stuck, unmotivated and with no new ideas, and then I discovered Angela’s workshops. I have attended three over the past few months and I am so excited to be writing again. Her workshops are stimulating and so much fun. The techniques she uses are motivational and provide me with the stimulus I need. Thanks so much, Angela, looking forward to the next session.” -Diana Grant