Book Coaching
Helping writers translate their vision into novels with emotional depth and meaning
For writers of women’s fiction & romance
"Delise's feedback forced me to buckle down to make sure my protagonist's conflict and story arc were captured in my writing."
Candice Bowley
First 30 Pages Review
You're in the Right Place If:
- You have an idea for a story but don’t know how to shape it into a novel.
- You want a clear, meaningful outline before drafting to avoid endless rewrites.
- You’ve received feedback but don’t know how to implement it.
- You’ve done multiple rounds of revisions but still feel something is off and you don’t know how to pinpoint it.
- You’ve queried and/or submitted to editors without success and aren’t sure why.
- You want to publish your work (either traditionally or independently) and ensure it can compete in today’s market.
What I Can Help You With:
- Clarifying the point of your story and ensuring it translates to the page.
- Creating a clear character arc for your protagonist.
- Building a cause-and-effect trajectory that drives meaningful change and growth.
- Showing you how the point, character arc, and plot fit together to create the underlying structure for your novel.
- Ensuring your opening pages set up the story effectively and hook readers from the start.
- Diagnosing big-picture manuscript issues (from unclear character motivations to a lagging plot) and giving you practical tools to fix them.
What You Can Expect:
- A knowledgeable, supportive partner for your project. As a traditionally published author and Author Accelerator-certified book coach, I understand what it takes to bring a book to market.
- Honest, objective feedback that challenges your work while respecting your vision and voice.
- A fresh perspective. I approach story like a puzzle, identifying what fits, what doesn’t, and why.
- Greater clarity and confidence as you move forward with purpose.
- A deeper understanding of the major elements of story: character, plot, and stakes.
My Book Coaching Packages
Story foundation & outline
Develop your story idea into a clear foundation before drafting
Best for: Writers with a story idea who want clarity, structure, and a solid plan before writing the first draft.
The goal of this package is to help you clarify and structure your story idea so that you can draft with confidence and avoid major rewrites later.
Using Author Accelerator’s Blueprint for a Book, we’ll dig deep into the fundamentals of your story: your reason for writing it, your ideal reader, the message you are trying to convey, and your protagonist. With the help of the Inside Outline, you’ll develop a cause-and-effect trajectory with scenes that tie in to the point you’re trying to make.
By the end of this package, you’ll have a clearer theme, stronger story direction, and an outline that supports your vision.
This package includes:
- A pdf download of Blueprint for a Book by Jennie Nash + Answer Sheet.
- Two rounds of feedback on your completed answer sheet.
- An in-depth editorial letter with actionable next steps.
- A 1-hour coaching call to discuss feedback and answer questions.
Investment: $600
Additional deadlines: $250
First 30 Pages Review
Polish your first 30 pages to hook readers
Best for: Writers preparing to query, submit to editors or contests, or who want to strengthen their opening before drafting further.
The goal of this package is to polish your first 30 pages so that you can hook your reader’s attention from the start and set their expectations for the rest of the story.
I’ll evaluate if your opening pages include the major elements of story: who is your protagonist, what do they want, why do they want it, and what’s standing in their way. I’ll also assess use of point of view, show vs. tell, narrative drive, and whether the opening sets up your story’s theme.
By the end of this package, you’ll understand exactly what’s working, what’s weakening your opening, and how to revise with clarity and purpose.
This package includes:
- Author Accelerator’s Mini Blueprint worksheet.
- An in-depth editorial letter with actionable next steps.
- A 1-hour coaching call to discuss feedback and answer questions.
Investment: $200
Manuscript Evaluation & Revision Roadmap
Big-picture feedback on theme, character arc, plot, and stakes
Best for: Writers with a completed manuscript who need clear direction on what to revise and how to elevate the story.
The goal of this package is to ensure that your manuscript shows a clear and consistent journey for your protagonist, using an effective cause-and-effect trajectory leading to the inevitable climax and a satisfying conclusion.
I’ll evaluate your full manuscript for big-picture elements of story like character arc, plot structure, and stakes. I’ll look closely at whether the point you’re trying to make is coming through and whether it remains clear and consistent throughout the story.
By the end of this package, you’ll have a stronger understanding of what’s working, what’s holding the manuscript back, and a practical plan to revise with purpose.
This package includes:
- Author Accelerator’s Mini Blueprint worksheet.
- An in-depth editorial letter with actionable next steps.
- A 1-hour coaching call to discuss feedback and answer questions.
Investment: $400 (up to 80K words)
+ $5 extra for every additional 1K words
How It Works
Choose the package that best fits your needs and schedule a free 30-minute discovery call to make sure we’re a good match.
Once you decide to move forward, you’ll complete payment and we’ll communicate mostly through email. I’ll send any required materials (such as worksheets), or you’ll submit your pages or full manuscript.
We’ll agree on a submission date and a deadline for when you’ll receive my feedback.
You’ll receive an editorial letter, let the feedback sit in, and a few days later we’ll hold a 1-hour coaching call to discuss everything, answer any questions, and clarify next steps.
You move forward with clarity and confidence, guided by a concrete plan that fits your vision and the story you want to tell.
Testimonials
"The direction I received from Delise was priceless! She helped me rethink and improve the strength of my manuscript. Delise's enthusiasm for my story and her advice elevated my writing. Thanks to her, I'm confident my story could sit on the same shelf as other bestsellers."
Tiffany Griffith
WFWA Mentee
“My manuscript suffered from various diseases—genre identity, unclear theme, and a weak character arc, just being the tip of the iceberg. Delise not only pointed me in the right direction but also provided me with the tools and a concrete course of action."
Joanna Jelen
WFWA Mentee
"Delise helped me by giving me direction on how to revise my early pages and providing a big-picture overview using the Mini Blueprint. Her feedback complemented what I've heard from my critique partners, but forced me to buckle down to make sure my protagonist's conflict and story arc are captured in my writing. I now know how to improve my book as I work towards completing it."
Candice Bowley
Client, First 30 Pages Review
Meet Your Book Coach
Hi, I’m Delise Torres!
I’m a Puerto Rican author and certified book coach through Author Accelerator, helping writers translate their vision into novels with emotional depth and meaning. I’m also an active member of the Women Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), where I’ve participated in their mentorship program and judged the Rising Star Award.
Since I started writing in 2015, I’ve helped multiple writers strengthen their stories as a beta reader, critique partner, mentor, and coach. These writers ranged from newbies to published authors, some with messy early drafts, others with polished manuscripts that still needed clarity and focus.
I know first hand how hard it is to write a novel that works. When I first started writing, I had no idea what I was doing, which led me to write a manuscript that I had to ultimately set aside. My knowledge and experience have shaped the way I coach: with honesty, compassion, and a deep respect for the writing process.
My mission is for my clients to achieve a finished product that can stand out in the marketplace and reflects their vision and their message.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a book coach?
A book coach supports a writer at different stages of the writing process, from developing an idea to polishing a first draft to help with pitching to literary agents. They offer guidance and support, training you to become a better writer and gain confidence in the craft.
Do you offer line editing or proofreading?
Coaching focuses on big-picture story development (structure, character arc, plot, theme, and stakes). I do not offer proofreading or line edits. My written feedback consists of an editorial letter focused on the major issues I may find.
Do you only coach women's fiction & romance?
I specialize in commercial, contemporary women’s fiction and romance, but I can also coach upmarket and historical fiction. I’m not a good fit for fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, or erotica. If your project falls into any other genres, reach out and I’ll let you know if I’m the right fit.
Will coaching guarantee I get published?
No. Coaching strengthens your manuscript, but publication depends on many factors outside any coach’s control.
Do you offer payment plans?
No. I believe my packages are fairly-priced and I expect full payment upfront before I invest my time and effort.
what if I'm not ready yet?
No worries. I’ll be here if and when you’re ready. In the meantime, check out my tips and recommended resources for writers or subscribe to my monthly newsletter for writers, The Emotional Draft.
Ready to Strengthen Your Story?
Whether you’re starting with an idea, shaping your opening pages, or revising a full manuscript, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call so we can talk about your project and your needs.