About Me as a KidLit Book Coach

"Laurie is an absolute treasure! She critiques with warmth, incisiveness, and expert knowledge of the publishing field. She was one of my first mentors in children’s writing, and I would not be where I am today without her." -- National Book Award Finalist and New York Times bestselling author Kekla Magoon

I spent twenty years working in book publishing in various editorial capacities, finishing up as an Executive Editor with the Scholastic Book Clubs. Since leaving the corporate world to write fulltime, I’ve had more than fifty children’s books traditionally published by Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, American Girl, and others. I love writing, but I miss working with authors. That’s where the book coaching came in. I studied with Author Accelerator and was fully certified as a Book Coach in December of 2023. 

I serve serious chapter book, middle grade, and YA novelists who are dedicated to improving their craft. I believe writing for kids is a calling that should be honored and that books for children are as important and worthy as books for adults. I love working with authors to help them bring their literary dreams to life and achieve their visions for their stories and their careers.

I’m happy to schedule a Zoom or telephone call to answer any questions you have and discuss your coaching needs. 

Want to schedule a Zoom call to see if we’d be a good fit? Contact me at laurie.calkhoven@gmail.com to arrange a time.

"Laurie is an absolute treasure! She critiques with warmth, incisiveness, and expert knowledge of the publishing field. She was one of my first mentors in children’s writing, and I would not be where I am today without her." -- National Book Award Finalist and New York Times bestselling author Kekla Magoon

"Through Laurie Calkhoven's coaching, I have been able to take a manuscript that had promise and uncertainty to a strongly organized, integrated nearly final manuscript." Sharon James

Are you feeling stuck and want some regular feedback your manuscript? Do deadlines help you get your butt in your chair and do the work? I can provide on-going feedback and accountability--beginning where you are with your story and taking you through the next steps. 

Includes twice-monthly deadlines of Blueprint for a Book exercises and/or up to 25-pages with in-depth feedback and encouragement.

THREE MONTH PROGRAM: Two deadlines of up to 25 pages (or the Blueprint exercises per month), two sets of feedback, Zoom calls, and additional check-ins. Investment: $750 per month

SIX MONTH PROGRAM: Commit to six months, which should take you from the Blueprint to the first half of your novel and get the sixth month at half price. Investment: $750 per month with the last month at $325

Contact me to discuss: laurie.calkhoven@gmail.com

"Laurie helped me understand what parts of the story were unclear to the reader, and asked great questions to guide me to better define the logic of my world building," Erin Radniecki

"Each time I complete the Blueprint Steps I learn so much more about the story, the characters, the point of the story…and about myself as a writer! What a great tool!" -- Marcia Thornton Jones

Do you have a wisp of an idea but wondering how to fan the flames into a full story? I can help with that.

Author Accelerator has a wonderful tool called the Blueprint for a Book. It’s a deep dive into what your book is about, why you’re writing it, and who you’re writing it for. Exercises include writing jacket copy, brainstorming as many as 20-30 titles, thinking about your novel’s structure, ideal narrators, and other tools.

The Inside Outline zeros in on your novel’s most important elements—both the inner and the outer journeys. It’s an exercise I’ve found invaluable in gearing up to write a new novel and in getting ready for revision. It’s much harder, and more useful than it sounds! 

In most cases, writers take 4-6 weeks to do this deep thinking about their characters and their stories. I would expect you to submit responses every two weeks and we would have Zoom calls to discuss. 

Investment: $750

"Laurie pointed out details in my manuscript where I had missed opportunities to build on metaphors and I so, so appreciate that! It made me feel smart while helping me make my story stronger. Her comments were just what I needed and hoped for: supportive and constructive and filled with nuance." Kristen Wixted

"Laurie took time to ask questions so that she understood my vision and needs. She pointed out flaws in plot and character development in a way that still felt positive. She gave great advice for my specific project and resources for improving my writing skills." Nicole Galbraith

Veteran author Laurie Calkhoven gave me great insight into a new project, helping me navigate where I went off course with my plot." -- Debbie Dadey

This in-depth look at your manuscript addresses high-level craft aspects of your novel: 

voice, pacing, structure, plot, and character development as well as scene-by-scene feedback. One big focus is making sure that the reader’s experience of the book matches your vision.

Included:

•  Editorial letter with observations and recommendations

•  Detailed line edits, comments, and queries within the manuscript

•  Next Steps action plan

•  Zoom call to discuss all of the above

Investment:

Early Chapter Books and Chapter Books (up to 15,000 words): $750

Middle Grade and YA novels (up to 40,000 words): $1,250

Middle Grade and YA novels 40,000-75,000 words: $1,500

Over 75,000 words: Let's talk.

"Laurie shared her vast industry expertise and knowledge of the writing craft with me as we worked together to create a synopsis and query letter to the story I was writing. She took the dread out of writing the synopsis, and helped me identify ways to improve my story on both a micro and macro level. I might still be looking at a blank page titled “Synopsis” if it weren’t for her encouragement, support, and guidance." -- Amy Grimm

Getting ready to submit to agents or editors? In today’s competitive market your submission needs to shine. I'll do my best to help you stand out in a crowded field. 

Included:

·  Two rounds of edits on your query letter, synopsis, and log line. 

·  A Zoom call to discuss the above and create a pitch strategy.

·  Optional add-in of a look at your first ten pages.

Investment: $250

Add in a developmental edit of your first ten pages for an additional $100

"Laurie took time to ask questions so that she understood my vision and needs. She pointed out flaws in plot and character development in a way that still felt positive. She gave great advice for my specific project and resources for improving my writing skills." Nicole Galbraith

Hiring a book coach is an investment. I have two lower-priced options that might serve you and help you decide whether coaching is right for you.

FIRST 25

I can read your first 25 pages and give you my editorial feedback plus a Zoom call for a smaller fee. If you decide to work with me on a full developmental edit, your fee will be deducted from the total.

Investment: $250

MINI-BLUEPRINT

Not ready to commit to a full Blueprint for your novel? The Mini will ask you to do some deep thinking about your story and give you a sense of what the full Blueprint entails, Once you submit your Mini, we'll have a Zoom call to discuss.

Investment: $150

Do you want to see if my coaching style will work for you?

Let's schedule a free Zoom call to discuss my coaching packages and your needs.

laurie.calkhoven@gmail.com

I do not coach picture books. The picture book market is so hard to break into, especially for authors who aren't also illustrators, that I don't think I can provide real value for your money. Here are some resources that might be helpful:

If you are not already a member, be sure to join the Society for Childen's Book Writers and Illustrators: https://www.scbwi.org

Author Accelerator coach Janet Fox has a great course about writing picture books: 

https://foxtales.thinkific.com/courses/perfect-picture-books?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=do_you_write_picture_books&utm_term=2024-08-30

the Hightlights Foundation has some wonderful picture book workshops: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org

12x12 is a fabulous place for serious picture book creators: https://www.12x12challenge.com

Do you want to see if my coaching style will work for you?

Let's schedule a free Zoom call to discuss my coaching packages and your needs.

laurie.calkhoven@gmail.com

Here's what some of my clients are saying about me as a book coach:

"Laurie is an absolute treasure! She critiques with warmth, incisiveness, and expert knowledge of the publishing field. She was one of my first mentors in children’s writing, and I would not be where I am today without her." -- National Book Award Finalist and New York Times bestselling author Kekla Magoon

"Laurie shared her vast industry expertise and knowledge of the writing craft with me as we worked together to create a synopsis and query letter to the story I was writing. She took the dread out of writing the synopsis, and helped me identify ways to improve my story on both a micro and macro level. I might still be looking at a blank page titled “Synopsis” if it weren’t for her encouragement, support, and guidance." -- Amy Grimm

"Before working with Laurie I had been thinking about my story idea for years, but had never shared it with anyone. Of course that meant everything about it made sense to me! But once I got my ideas onto paper Laurie helped me understand what parts of the story were unclear to the reader, and asked great questions to guide me to better define the logic of my world building.

Laurie’s experience in middle grade fiction meant that she could see how my story would connect with my ideal reader, as well as spot opportunities to increase appeal.

In our coaching call Laurie helped me brainstorm ideas for key plot elements that I was stuck on. Through our conversation I was able to see where I was over complicating things with too much backstory, and where I needed to go deeper. Now I have a clear list of next steps that will move my project forward. Laurie was the perfect coach for my story! " -- Erin Radniecki

"Through Laurie Calkhoven's coaching, I have been able to take a manuscript that had promise and uncertainty to a strongly organized, integrated nearly final manuscript. 

Laurie is exceptionally organized, an accomplished, analytical reader whose suggestions I have found to be spot on. She makes plain, unemotional observations, asks questions, or points out how the facts of the story don't connect to the scene or plot line in question. Her positive feedback is generous and realistic. Laurie is skilled at pacing, structure, character development, plot development, chapter organization, and much more. Best of all, she never tries to rewrite your manuscript - instead she elicits the writer's best." -- Sharon Sorokin James

"Feeling a little lost in your manuscript? Veteran author Laurie Calkhoven gave me great insight into a new project, helping me navigate where I went off course with my plot." -- Debbie Dadey

"Laurie responded quickly and based on her wealth of writing experience, offered thorough edits to my manuscript, plus a detailed letter outlining overall suggestions to improve its story line. The result was a cleaner, tighter version of my novel. With Laurie’s support, I completed my query letter, synopsis, and pitch and am now ready to query agents and editors." -- Barbara Gold

"Laurie pointed out details in my manuscript where I had missed opportunities to build on metaphors and I so, so appreciate that! It made me feel smart while helping me make my story stronger. Her  comments were just what I needed and hoped for: supportive and constructive and filled with nuance. " -- Kristen Wixted