1-to-1 author coaching

What is stopping you from writing your children’s creative non-fiction book?

Do you never seem to find the time to write? Do you have a great idea but no clue what to do next? Or maybe a lack of confidence – perhaps from past disappointments – is getting in your way?

The fact that you are here, on this page, tells me that you really care about being a children’s author. That you want to create exciting, inspiring books for kids to love, learn from, and read over and over again. But it also tells me that you’re feeling a bit stuck, right? Dreaming of holding your own beautiful book in your hands but not quite knowing how to make it a reality?

Writing for children can be the most wonderful thing in the world. But when you’re trying to do it all alone, it can be really tough. Trust me, I’ve been there too. And it really doesn’t help that publishing is still such a mysterious, closed-doors sort of industry. How does it all work? What do they want from you?!

Whatever obstacles are standing between you and your writing dreams, I want to help you overcome them – and write a book that makes you truly proud.

get an expert in your corner

I’ve been on both sides of the publishing process, as an author and an editor specialising in children’s creative non-fiction, and I can help you create the very best version of your book. Just as importantly, I can help you build the knowledge, confidence, resilience and good habits to keep you steady and strong when you might otherwise have abandoned your writing dreams.

So what makes me the right person to help you? Well, only you can be the judge of that, but here are some highlights of my experience – after all, you want to know that your coach knows what they’re talking about!

• I have 10+ years experience as an in-house and freelance children’s book editor
• My books have been translated into eight languages and are sold all over the world
• I’ve edited numerous award-winning and critically acclaimed children’s books
• My own books have been longlisted for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2021 and shortlisted for the UKLA Awards 2022
• I’ve developed books for the Science Museum, the Centre Pompidou and the Louvre
• My books have been featured in publications including the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal
• I’m an elected member of the Society of Authors’ Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group Committee, which advises and advocates for authors, illustrators and young readers throughout the UK.

By the way, if you’re wondering what exactly ‘creative non-fiction’ is, here’s a quick definition. Creative non-fiction books have facts, information or true stories at their heart – but what you want to do with the book beyond that is up to you! They can be picture books with characters, rhyming (or non-rhyming) poems, personal memoirs, imagined conversations, activity books, graphic novels, write-in journals, or anything else you can think of. Writing creative non-fiction is a LOT of fun!

So, what do you think it would it feel like to have me in your corner? A fellow writer on your side, listening to you and supporting you and giving you friendly, expert advice?

I know that, as an author, I couldn’t do what I do without encouragement and experienced, constructive feedback. I could be there to offer that to you, to help you with whatever you need to give you and your book the best chance possible.

Alice is everything you could want in an author coach. She is warm, friendly and supportive, while offering honest and constructive advice and feedback. Working with Alice has really helped me to better understand the (sometimes bewildering) world of publishing and to take my writing to the next level. After every session with Alice I feel enlivened, motivated and tooled up with new, practical strategies to move my writing forward. Thank you Alice!

Anna, aspiring children’s non-fiction author

I can help you with:

• Getting your ideas out of your head and on to the page, where they belong
• Building a regular writing habit that feels enjoyable, sustainable and productive
• Developing the confidence and resilience you need to make it as an author (even if it doesn’t come naturally – I’m a sensitive soul, too!)
• Refining your writing, clarifying your ideas and working through any stumbling blocks
• Understanding the specific art and science of writing creative non-fiction for children – and why so many get it wrong, even if they are expert writers in other fields
• Putting together the kind of book proposal that agents and editors really want to see
• Demystifying how publishing and the children’s book market works today, and how you can give your book the best chance of success
• Encouraging you to keep writing, even when you feel like quitting (we all do, sometimes!), and connecting you to the ‘why’ that will keep you motivated and drive you to fulfil your writing dreams

I felt like I was working in a vacuum with no idea whether what I was doing made sense or was “good”.I knew I needed help desperately. Alice was so helpful! I feel like she really cared about my growth and success and went above and beyond to help me succeed.

I feel more confident with writing and … how the publishing industry works. I also feel less frustrated when I hit a block because I know I have someone to help me think through the options.

Coaching with Alice is immensely helpful and professional. She brings in possibilities and layers to your book that you may not have considered, and also helps to streamline loose edges. I’d say the final result is a more consistent, layered and rich book that is ready for submission.

1:1 author coaching client

Make your writing dreams a reality

Together, we can find a writing practice that works for your unique mind, life and writing style. There are four key areas in an author’s development, which I use to guide my own work and my coaching practice, but the exact balance and detail of what each author needs to work on is entirely individual.

So instead of cookie-cutter writing tips and tricks – which can be great for a few fun ideas, but won’t scratch the surface of what’s really making you feel stuck – our 1-to-1 time will give you and your writing the personal, focused attention it deserves. Whatever point you’re at with your writing, we’ll start there and move things forwards in a way that feels right for you. And it’s completely up to you what we focus our time on.

your investment

I offer three 1-to-1 author coaching packages, at varying price points. Payment plans are available for all packages, at no extra cost to you.

I LOVED working with Alice! If you’re thinking about it, do it! It will be one of the best ways you can invest in yourself and your author career. She’ll help you realise everything that you already have to offer, and you’ll learn how to put that to use in all of the different ways necessary to forge a successful writing career – whatever success looks like for you. You’ll also get to meet one of the most wonderful humans around, which is always a bonus!

Loll Kirby, book blogger and children’s author

Before working with Alice, I felt frustrated with writing. I didn’t have a direction and didn’t know which ideas to pursue. Alice’s coaching was so helpful! It gave me direction and got me excited about my writing.

Most importantly, Alice reminded me to get in touch with what I find exciting about a story. If you’re stuck and don’t know how to move forward, contact Alice!

1:1 author coaching client

Why I created these coaching packages

I always knew that I wanted to work with books, but – honestly – I dismissed the idea of being an author before I even gave it a try. It seemed too big, too scary, too vulnerable, too unlikely, and I wasn’t okay with the possibility of failing.

I became an editor, which is an amazing job – I still edit books, and love doing it. But the more I worked behind the scenes, helping other authors shape and refine their brilliant books, the more I wanted to write my own too.

I eventually got that chance, and it was just as exciting and fulfilling as I dreamed it would be. Writing a brand-new book into existence, seeing your name on its cover, having kids tell you excitedly how much they loved reading your words – I’m not going to lie, it’s all pretty magical.

But it can also be so, so tough to write children’s books. To get started, to keep going, to negotiate the constant ups and downs and unpredictabilities of both writing and publishing.

These coaching packages are a way for me to pass on what I’ve learned to new and aspiring children’s authors, to help you experience that same magic of holding your book in your hands and feeling truly proud. You deserve that! And I’m so happy that I can help guide and support you towards achieving your writing dreams.

If you’re ready to fulfil your potential as a writer, I would be honoured to work with you. Start by tapping the button below – I really look forward to meeting you.

Although I had written a middle-grade fiction book, I was new to creative non-fiction, had limited writing experience and lacked vision. Everything has changed through working with Alice. She has been incredibly kind, honest, supportive and professional throughout the time we have worked together. As a result, I have the confidence to call myself a writer, and I now have the proof!

Not only did I learn about how to develop ideas and how to write a creative non-fiction book, I also discovered my voice and niche as a writer. I would not have done that without Alice’s encouragement and support. Alice has opened my eyes to other writing and publishing options too, and working with her has kickstarted my career change to being a writer with possibilities for the future.

Alice made the creative process fun and provided kind, encouraging, thoughtful and constructive feedback throughout. As a result, I am now a writer, with a book ready to send to literary agents, along with more ideas in the mix and a Substack newsletter. This experience has been life changing.

Jenny Thorburn, Aspiring children’s non-fiction author

If you have any more questions that I haven’t answered above, or you just want to chat about anything here, please do get in touch using the linked form below. I can’t wait to hear from you!

If you have any more questions that I haven’t answered above, or you just want to chat about anything here, please do get in touch using the linked form below. I can’t wait to hear from you!