The Book Therapist
Booking
Thinking about working with a writing coach but not sure whether it's a good fit for you? Developing a manuscript and need a clear, detailed review and editorial suggestions for next steps? Looking for support at any stage of a long-range writing project? Interested in doing a private study with a pro? Let's chat. Book a complimentary consultation so I can answer any questions you have.
“When I first heard about Marya and her work, I thought “great! I will use her to be my accountability partner,” as I was trying to write a very personal memoir, along the lines of things she has done. But, Marya cannot be captured so simply; she is a woman of many surprises. She is firm without being harsh, she encourages rather than dictates, she is both intuitive and structured in her thinking. And, to cap it all off, she has brilliant story sense and a fine-tuned ear for language. She is everything I could have imagined she would be and look forward to our every encounter. I consider her so much more than a mere coach; she is a true partner and muse in this painstaking, long and sometimes thankless process.”
The Book Therapist
Ever thought that you need some kind of help with your writing, but not quite sure what? Maybe you're already published and you'e moving into uncharted creative territory, and you'd benefit from the insights of another writer; maybe you're developing your skill set but you don't want to take a class; maybe you're early in the project and you need input but aren't ready for editing yet; maybe you're exploring unfamiliar genres or new forms, maybe your writing practice just benefits from the boost of structure and accountability that comes from working with someone else.
You need a coach.
Working with a writing coach gives you just the right kind of support for your project at just the right time. Your coach should have deep experience and proven skill as a writer, editor, and mentor—and they should have the flexibility to wear any and all of those hats at any given time. Coaching offers the creative mentorship, editorial feedback, professional advice, and support for the writing process that you need.
The other day, in a session with one of my clients, I made a comment about what I thought her scene was really about, and suggested a strategy for getting that out of her head and onto the page.
She looked startled, then smiled. "That's it," she said. "I can't believe I didn't see it." She started to laugh."You're like the book therapist."
That's the idea.
“I have been deeply blessed over the past seven years to work with and learn from Marya Hornbacher; were it not for her guidance and teaching I would not be the writer I am becoming. She has been there for me every step of the way, from introducing me to the genre of creative nonfiction to helping me navigate submitting essays for publication, and now to looking at publishing houses for my first book. In addition to being an extraordinary writer herself, Marya is an exceptional, patient, deeply humane teacher who meets students where they are at and communicates clearly and in detail about the art and craft of writing. Few creative writing professors manage to walk the line between providing concrete feedback on craft and honoring creative artistry that Marya navigates so seamlessly. ”
Editorial Consulting
The world is overrun with writers—thank goodness it's also teeming with great editors. But where do you find one? How do you choose? What's the difference between developmental editing and a "close edit?" What kind of editing does your project need? What's a reasonable rate? How many editors should you hire? Is your book ready for an editor, or is now a better time to work on big-picture questions of long-range planning, story structure, or research?
It would help if you knew where to start. So—start here.
Editorial consulting is an ideal opportunity to get professional guidance in assessing the status of your project, identifying areas for development, and creating a strategy to move the project ahead. I offer 30- and 60-minute consults to answer your questions, provide information about the vast array of options, and tell you the dang truth. I'll also help you tap the resources you've got and develop the ones you need to move your work ahead. As a working writer and editor with decades of experience in the intersecting industries of publishing, education, freelancing, and more, I can offer insight, clarity, and strategy in navigating not just the wilds of this brave new media world, but—much more importantly—guidance in navigating the winding, bumpy road that we all walk in trying to make a little art.
“As a mentor, I recommend Marya without hesitation. Her own success as a writer and as a teacher more than qualify her as a personal writing coach. Her advice and encouragement have catapulted me forward in my writing: she has encouraged me to follow my own instincts, to embrace and improve the raw material that exists in my head, and to press forward to create output where any previous speed bump would have sufficed as a reason to not produce, to not write. A friend once sat in at our working breakfast where Marya and I were discussing my ideas for a book in progress; after listening to us for an hour, he had only one remark: “Wow. Just wow.” That pretty much says it all. ”