Debrief Sessions

The main point I want to make here is that story development is my passion. Whenever I read a writer’s work with the intent of giving feedback, I become invested in the story and its improvement. The more I analyse the story, the more I’ll see its potential, and the more I want to see it reach that potential.

Let me be crystal clear: as your coach, I’m not here to judge you for the things you don’t know or the skills you don’t have. You’re taking my courses and seeking feedback, which tells me you’re a writer committed to learning your craft, and that makes me one of your biggest supporters.

All of this makes me an invested listener. I want you to succeed. I want to empower you to strengthen your story. And, selfishly, I want to experience the thrill of witnessing that story grow and improve, knowing that I put my skills to good use and played a small role in making that happen. And if what you need is to discuss your feedback and the best way forward, then I’ll absolutely get in front of a camera for you. 😂

When you schedule your debrief session, you’ll choose a time that suits you from the appointments available. You’ll then receive a confirmation email with details of how to connect to the call, plus a few reminder emails in the time leading up to the appointment.

While our chat will be fairly informal, to get the most out of a 60-minute debrief session, it is best to come prepared. Jot down any notes relevant to the feedback you received. Have your questions to hand, as well as answers to questions I noted in your feedback and possible solutions to problems uncovered in my analysis.

Now, I understand that while many writers consider the opportunity to speak about their work with an editing professional to be invaluable, for others, it’s their worst nightmare. Believe me, I know how daunting the idea of discussing your writing with a stranger can be. Particularly a professional who has critiqued your work. But I assure you, I’m a lot less scary than you might imagine me to be! 😂

The written word is my preferred method of communication — when it comes to verbalising my thoughts, I get tongue-tied easily and often fail to find the right word to express myself. (I’m a thinker, so I can get my point across much more clearly and succinctly when I have time to formulate a response, which is why I always offer written feedback first.) Now, with that embarrassing admission out in the open, I can also assure you that there’s a lot to be said for the benefits of discussing the feedback you receive, and so I make a point of offering my clients the chance to do just that.

However, if you really can’t stand to jump on a video call, don’t despair. I am more than happy to accommodate your needs by conducting our session via instant messenger or email instead. Just be aware that more can be discussed during the 60-minute session if it’s run via video call than if it takes place over another medium.

The cost of each individual debrief session is AUD $100 and you only purchase those you need — when you need an extra dose of guidance after receiving feedback on a submission. If you’re feeling confident in how to improve your story after receiving feedback, you can skip the debrief session for that particular submission.

There is also an option to purchase the whole coaching package.