Fiction Book Coach & Developmental Editor for Contemporary, Literary, Women’s Fiction & Mystery Novels
Finish the novel. Fix the plot. Know your next step.
Specific, actionable feedback on your novel without vague critiques, wasted revision rounds, and waiting months for an opening. Focused services start at $95 and most are delivered within days, not weeks.
Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach & Developmental Editor · As heard on the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast
Does this sound like you?
You’ve rewritten chapter one four times, and the book isn’t getting better.
Your beta readers all said something different, and now you don’t trust any of it. You’re even losing trust in yourself.
You’re stuck in the middle and every writing blog says something contradictory about how to get out. Now your head is swimming with too much advice and you’re not any closer to finishing your book.
You’re paralyzed by the fear of wasting months of your time editing only to figure out you revised the wrong things.
If any of that rang true, you’ve found the right place. I won’t hand you a list of criticisms and nit-picks. I find the problems that actually matter, teach you the fixes, and make sure you never waste your writing hours polishing every word of a scene that needed to be cut. And you don’t have to commit to a months-long coaching package to get help. Most writers start with a single, focused service.
Note: July 18, 2026
Please bare with me while I update my services. All services will be available and all links will be working on Monday July 20, 2026
Fast, focused help starting at $95
Every service below is fixed-price, fixed-scope, and bookable today.
Stuck on your story? Send me up to 3 questions about plot, character, structure, POV, pacing, revision strategy, etc. and get thorough, personalized answers.
What's included:
Up to 3 questions, submitted together or spread over 4 weeks. You may include a short excerpt (up to ~2 pages) with each question for context. Each answer comes with clear, actionable guidance and recommended resources for further reading.
How it works:
After checkout, you'll receive submission instructions right away. Your answers will be emailed to you within 3 business days of receiving your questions.
Questions about whether this service fits your situation? Email me before you buy. I’m happy to point you to the right fit!
Get professional eyes on the pages agents and readers judge you by. I'll critique your first 10 pages and tell you exactly what's working, what's not, and what to fix first with the why behind every note.
What's included:
Margin comments throughout your first 10 pages, plus a 1–2 page summary letter with your top 3 priorities, in order. I evaluate whether your opening hooks the reader, whether the reader will care about your protagonist, whether the pacing serves the story, and the classic opening traps like starting too early, backstory dumps, over-explaining. You're welcome to include a one-page synopsis at no extra charge so I can read your opening in context.
How it works:
After checkout, you'll receive submission instructions right away. Send your first 10 pages in standard manuscript format (1" margins, 12pt Times New Roman, double spaced — the submission instructions include the details). Your annotated pages and summary letter will be emailed to you within 5 business days of receiving your submission.
Not sure if this is the right service for where you are? Email me before you buy and I'll point you to the best fit.
Stuck in the messy middle? Spend 60–75 minutes on Zoom with me, troubleshooting your plot and leave with a plan and your momentum back.
What's included:
A pre-call story questionnaire and simple outline exercise, which I will review before we meet so you're not paying for me to get up to speed on our call. Then 60–75 minutes on Zoom where we discuss where the story is off course, has holes, or has come to a hault. We will brainstorm solutions and map what happens next. Afterward you get a written summary of what we decided, your actionable next steps, and the full call recording.
How it works:
After checkout, you'll receive the pre-call materials and my scheduling link right away. Complete the questionnaire at least 3 days before our call so I have time to prepare. No formal outline required! The pre-call materials walk you through capturing your story's current state, and pantsers are welcome!
Not sure this is the right service for where you're stuck? Email me before you buy and I'll point you to the best fit.
“Samantha was instrumental in helping me figure out the messy middle of my book. I am incredibly grateful for her feedback and encouragement. She is the best at finding plot holes and character inconsistencies. My book is infinitely better than it would have been without her help, and she is so much fun to work with.”
~ Laura Sandonato
Sam Henke
Writing is personal. So is my approach.
Writing a novel can often feel incredibly overwhelming, especially when you’re navigating every step alone. It’s easy to get stuck and abandon the project altogether, doubt yourself, or feel isolated during the process. I’m here to offer meaningful collaboration and expert guidance to help bring your story to life.
Why writers work with me
Storytelling Expertise
I’m professionally trained in book coaching, developmental editing, and querying through Author Accelerator - a training program for editors developed and run by author and coach, Jennie Nash. My editing approach is grounded in proven frameworks including Jennie Nash’s Blueprint for a Book, Shawn Coyne’s The Story Grid methodology, and my love of classic literature whose prose has stood the test of time and are enduring examples of well-crafted writing.
Specific, Actionable Feedback
If you’re tired of vague, unhelpful critiques like “I couldn’t get into it” or “something feels off,” my coaching style is different. My advice is never vague and I will never hand a client a list of problems with no explanation for why those things are issues and advice on how to fix them.
Brainstorming is my favorite!
I love a good brainstorming session. It is so much fun to bounce ideas around and listen to a writer describe the story they are deeply passionate about. I strongly believe that discussion is one of the best ways to get back to writing after hitting a wall in your story.
A few things I believe about storytelling
Short version - the full list lives on the About page
Every writing rule should come with an asterisk: unless you break it well and for good reason.
Trust your reader. They can infer. The books we love don’t explain themselves.
Stakes and change are a draft one problem. Word choice is a draft three problem.
Trends never last. Craft is enduring.
“Samantha is amazing and a joy to work with! I am very happy with the feedback she provided on my manuscript. She is very detail-oriented and caught many important things I had missed. She gave me a clear way forward with revisions and even took the time to message me her thoughts and instant reactions to the book while she was reading. It was very heartening to hear she was enjoying it and her passion for her work really came through. Her enthusiasm and skill really motivated me to continue with revisions and, ultimately, with publication!”
~ Robin Nemesszeghy
Author Accelerator is setting high standards for the emerging field of book coaching through rigorous training programs. The Author Accelerator book coaching certification course is in-depth and intensive. It includes a combination of video lessons, written lessons, and hands-on practicum work with real-life clients. As an Author Accelerator certified book coach, I am qualified to coach writers using Author Accelerator's strategy, methods, and materials, but I operate independently of Author Accelerator and am not affiliated with them.
“Samantha was an exceptional book coach. She got a great sense of me and my style and therefore found fantastic matches for my agent search. She went above and beyond in every way, from polishing my synopsis to helping write query letters. I would recommend her highly to any writer wanting to send their writing career into professional overdrive.”
~ Janet Lefley