Seven problems a 1:1 consultation can help you solve (for writers)
There is a particular kind of frustration that comes with writing a book: when you know something isn’t working, but you can’t quite figure out what.
Maybe your novel has started to drag, but you aren’t sure whether the problem is the pacing, the plot, or something deeper. Maybe you have a character who feels flat despite everything you’ve tried. Maybe you’ve received conflicting feedback from beta readers and have no idea which suggestions to follow. Or maybe you’ve finished the manuscript and suddenly have no idea what to do next.
The internet can be incredibly helpful in these moments (and my own website resources!). There are blog posts, books, courses, podcasts, writing communities, and endless advice about virtually every aspect of the writing process.
But sometimes you don’t need more general advice. You need someone to look at your particular problem and help you figure out what to do about it.
That’s where a 1:1 writer consultation can help.
Here are some common situations where a one-on-one conversation may be more useful than another hour of searching for answers online (or prompting ChatGPT).
1. You know something is wrong with your manuscript—but you don’t know what
You might read through your manuscript and think, Something feels off. The story isn’t holding your attention the way you hoped it would, but you can’t identify the source of the problem.
Sometimes the issue is structural. Sometimes a character’s motivation isn’t strong enough. Sometimes the pacing slows down in places you didn’t realize were important. And sometimes several smaller issues are combining to create a larger problem.
Talking through the manuscript with an editor who can ask targeted questions can help turn that vague feeling into something concrete: Here is the problem, here is why it’s happening, and here are some ways you might address it.
2. You’re stuck on a specific writing problem
Writers often encounter questions that don’t have simple, universal answers, like:
How much backstory is too much?
Does this scene belong in the novel?
Should you show this information now or save it for later?
Is your protagonist active enough?
Does the ending feel earned?
How do you handle multiple points of view without confusing the reader?
You can certainly find general advice about all of these topics in books and all over the internet. But your manuscript may not fit neatly into a general rule.
A consultation gives you the opportunity to explain what you’re trying to accomplish and explore the options that make the most sense for your story.
3. You’ve received feedback—and now you’re overwhelmed
Feedback is invaluable, but it can also be confusing. Maybe one beta reader loves your protagonist but another thinks the protagonist is unlikable. One person says the beginning is too slow, and someone else says they wanted more time to get to know the characters. You’re left staring at a list of suggestions and wondering whether you need to rewrite the entire book.
Of course, you don’t necessarily need to act on every piece of feedback you receive.
An editorial consultation can help you identify patterns in the feedback, distinguish between a reader’s personal preference and a potentially significant manuscript issue, and decide which changes are worth pursuing.
4. You’re struggling with a particular element of craft
Sometimes you don’t need someone to evaluate your entire manuscript right now, but you do need help understanding one aspect of writing.
You could be struggling with dialogue, characterization, description, pacing, point of view, scene structure, or showing versus telling. You may understand one of these concepts in theory but have trouble applying it to your own work.
Talking through examples from your manuscript can make an abstract craft concept much more practical. Instead of simply learning what good pacing or strong characterization is supposed to look like, you can discuss what those things might look like specifically in your book.
5. You’re trying to figure out your next step
Sometimes the problem is the writing and revising process itself—the next step isn't always clear. You’ve finished a draft, but now what? Should you revise it again? Find beta readers? Hire an editor? Start querying literary agents? Look into self-publishing? Put the manuscript aside and work on something else?
There isn’t one correct path for every writer, but a consultation can help you look at where you are, what you’re trying to accomplish, and what your realistic options are so you can make a more informed decision about what comes next.
6. You’re going in circles
Have you ever spent weeks revising the same chapter without feeling like you’re actually making progress? It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of changing something, changing it back, second-guessing yourself, and starting over. The longer you work in isolation, the harder it can become to tell whether you’re improving the manuscript or simply moving words around.
Sometimes an outside perspective can help you break the cycle and help you see the choices in front of you more clearly.
7. You need a sounding board
And sometimes, you just need to talk about your book with someone who understands writing.
You might have an idea you want to explore, a plot problem you need to untangle, or a decision you keep wavering over. Talking through a problem out loud can reveal possibilities you couldn't see while staring at the page.
That doesn't mean you need to arrive at a consultation with a perfectly defined question. In fact, you can come in with a problem that is still a little messy. Part of the process is figuring out exactly what you need.
All about 1:1 consultations for writers
A writer consultation isn't a replacement for a full manuscript review or a line-by-line edit. It's something different: dedicated time to focus on you, your project, and the questions you’re trying to answer right now.
During a consultation, we might discuss writing craft, troubleshoot a problem in your manuscript, talk through the editing or publishing process, or identify your best next steps. And if you’d like feedback on your writing, you can submit up to 15 pages of your manuscript for me to review ahead of time so we can incorporate that feedback into our conversation.
The goal is simple—to help you leave the conversation with greater clarity about your writing and a practical plan for moving forward. Because sometimes the most useful thing you need isn't another blog post telling you what writers usually do; it’s a conversation about your book.
