Services
Your Story. Your Book.
Every book takes shape differently. Where you are in the writing process determines what kind of support you need. I offer four ways to work with me, depending on where you are and what your book needs next.
Services
You have a draft but you don't know what needs to change.
I’ll give you feedback on your pages to help you see what is working, what needs attention, and what your manuscript needs next.
Assessment
- Detailed editorial letter covering the larger elements of your book.
- In-line editing on your first twenty pages
- One-hour coaching call
You’ll know what your manuscript needs next.
$1,490
You have an idea but you don't know where to start
The Blueprint helps you define the book you want to write and build a structure you can return to as the book develops. You can create your Blueprint before you begin writing or after you’ve completed a first draft.
Blueprint
Lay the foundation for your book.
- Step-by-step guidance through the fourteen steps of the Blueprint
- Three one-hour coaching calls
- Comprehensive written editorial feedback
Build a structure you can write from.
$2,990
You have been revising for years but you can't see what's missing.
You don’t have to do the whole writing and revision process alone. With me at your side, you’ll have ongoing support as you write and revise your book. Regular deadlines, detailed feedback, and coaching calls give you structure for keeping the work moving while you make decisions about your book.
Comfort
Six months of coaching.
- Bi-weekly deadlines to keep your book moving.
- Written editorial feedback
- In-line edits
- Six one-hour coaching calls
- Continuous email support
Keep writing with ongoing support.
$6,600
You have a nonfiction book and you're ready to present it to the publishing marketplace.
Your book proposal needs to give an agent a sense of the emotional journey your manuscript takes readers on. I help you shape the proposal so it conveys the impact of your story and gives you a strong foundation for pitching your book.
Book Proposal Coaching
Two months of coaching.
- Two one-hour coaching calls each month
- Two submissions each month, up to 5,000 words each
- In-depth editorial feedback
- Guidance on the key components of your proposal
- Coaching on competitive titles and marketplace positioning
- Coaching on researching appropriate agents
- Coaching and feedback on developing your query
Build a proposal that presents your book clearly to agents and publishers.
$4,900
Working With Me
My packages are designed for writers who are ready to engage fully in the process. Whichever package you choose, you agree to:
• Submit your work as a Word Document, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt.
• Be open to guidance, new ideas, and approaches you may not have used before.
• Meet the agreed-upon deadlines and come prepared for our coaching calls.
• Review my feedback and edits before our next conversation.
• Be honest about what is and is not working for you and your book.
• Ask for help when you need it.
Tell Me About Your Book!
The first step is to tell me about your book and where you are in the writing process. Once you submit the questionnaire, you’ll be invited to schedule a free 30-minute call with me. Get started by filling out the form below. We’ll discuss your book, answer your questions, and determine whether working together is the right next step.
Michaela von Schweinitz is a member of New York Women in Film and Television, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and a founding member of Greenlight Women and Memoir Nation.
As an Author Accelerator licensed 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of books do you coach?
I work with memoir, fiction, and nonfiction, including writers who are adapting a screenplay into a novel.
For nonfiction writers who are preparing to approach agents and publishers, I also offer specialized Book Proposal Coaching focused on developing and presenting the book for the publishing marketplace.
How do I get started?
The first step is telling me about your book and where you are in the writing process through the initial questionnaire. After you submit it, I’ll invite you to a free discovery call, where we’ll talk about your book, answer your questions about the process, and figure out together whether — and which package — makes sense as your next step.
Will a coach try to change my voice or story?
The first step is telling me about your book and where you are in the writing process through the initial questionnaire. After you submit it, I’ll invite you to a free discovery call, where we’ll talk about your book, answer your questions about the process, and figure out together whether — and which package — makes sense as your next step.
What are your qualifications as a book coach?
I’m an Author Accelerator certified book coach in fiction, memoir, and nonfiction, and I operate independently of Author Accelerator. I’m also a member of New York Women in Film and Television and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and a founding member of Greenlight Women and Memoir Nation.
What's the difference between editing and coaching?
Editing typically focuses on the manuscript itself — line-level prose, structure, clarity, and correctness. Coaching is broader and more collaborative: it can include craft guidance, accountability, encouragement, and help navigating the emotional and practical challenges of writing a book, often across the whole process rather than a single pass on the page.
What happens after I get feedback — do I have support during revisions?
This depends on what you’ve arranged with your coach. Some engagements are a single round of feedback (like a manuscript assessment); others include ongoing support through the revision process itself. If staying connected through revisions matters to you, it’s worth confirming that upfront so you know what kind of support is included.
Do I need a finished draft before working with a coach?
No — coaches can help at any stage, from a blank page and a rough idea to a completed manuscript ready for submission. Early-stage coaching often focuses on concept, structure, and momentum; later-stage work shifts toward refining what’s already on the page.
How long should my manuscript be?
It depends on your genre. Memoir and literary fiction typically run 70,000–90,000 words; commercial fiction and thrillers often run similar or slightly longer; YA is usually shorter (50,000–80,000). Being significantly over or under your genre’s norm can work against you when querying agents or publishers, so it’s worth checking early before starting to polish your manuscript.
Something about my book feels "off" but I can't name it — can you help?
Yes — this is one of the most common things writers bring to a coach. A sluggish middle, a slow opening, or an ending that doesn’t quite land are often craft issues (pacing, structure, point-of-view, or balance between scene and reflection) a trained read can usually identify the pattern quickly, even when it’s been invisible to you.
How do I know if my manuscript is actually good enough?
This is one of the hardest things to judge on your own — after months or years with the same pages, it’s nearly impossible to see your work with fresh eyes. A manuscript assessment gives you an honest, structural read from someone who isn’t emotionally attached to every sentence: what’s working, what’s not, and what’s genuinely worth revising versus starting over. You don’t need certainty before you reach out — that’s exactly what this process is for.