Your novel isn't broken. But something isn't working.

Kerry Savage profile picture - A smiling woman with long white hair, wearing a black top with lace-like patterns, against a black background.

You know what you want your novel to be. You just can't see why it isn't working yet. I can — and I'll show you how to get it there.

Book a Free Consult
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You've always known this was the work you were supposed to do.

So why does this draft feel impossible?

Most writers who come to me aren't beginners. They're experienced, serious, and genuinely skilled — and something still isn't clicking. The structure is quietly collapsing, or they've stopped trusting their own instincts. Usually it's both.

I get it more than most people in this work do. I've wanted to be a novelist my whole life — I even have two writing degrees to prove it. What took me longer was betting on it. I'm also neurodivergent, which meant I had to learn to get there sideways — building systems, rebuilding confidence, learning to trust my instincts when standard advice didn't fit my brain. Now, turning 50 and finally doing the work I always knew I was supposed to do, I help other serious novelists see clearly what isn’t working in theirs —and why.

The Diagnostic Suite

Every manuscript is a different organism, but the method is consistent: find out exactly what’s not working, and why, before you spend months revising the wrong things.

Mirror Read

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A diagnostic read on your first 10 pages. Best if you want a fast, honest answer on whether your opening is doing its job. $225

Learn more about the Mirror Read

Manuscript Diagnostic

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A full-manuscript diagnostic report. Best if you know something big isn’t working and need to know exactly what— and why. $2500

Learn more about the Manuscript Diagnostic

Revision Roadmap

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Four weeks, 1:1. Weekly diagnostic review of your outline plus working sessions, built for writers who have an outline representing their existing manuscript (or will build one) and want structural clarity before their next revision pass. A limited number of spots, three times a year. $2000

Learn more about Revision Roadmap

Not sure where to start? Pick what fits—or book a free consult and together we’ll figure out the right option.

Book a Free Consult

What Writers Say

  • Kerry can help shape your novel, providing a bird's eye view of the story, as well as detailed advice on certain specific aspects of your writing. She offered concrete steps to address issues like pacing and character development. Rather than tell us what to do specifically, she gave several clear options that we then discussed together.

    —K.B. Brodsky (Debut novel forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in Sept.)

  • I got benefit both from the written feedback and the discussion afterwards where we talked about what changes needed to happen to make the story better. My book is stronger now for having worked with you. It has a better defined spine, the MDQ is no longer confusing, and no loose ends.

    —Nancy C.

  • Kerry gave me crucial insights about how to shape the first draft of the story into a much improved second draft. She’s awesome and I learned a lot from her. The rewrite based on her feedback is much better from many perspectives. Truly invaluable.

    —from the Acknowledgements of The Avatar Murders by Jim Rowson

  • I worked with writing coach par excellence Kerry Savage, who not only taught me how to deepen my portrayal of Sara and to find "the golden thread" but believed in this book with her heart and soul.

    —from the Acknowledgements of The Ashtrays are Full and the Glasses are Empty by Kirsten Mickelwait

  • Plot holes? Had 'em. Stuck? Yup. Kerry saw through my mess and helped me untangle what felt impossible. She showed up to our meetings ready to work, set deadlines that actually kept me moving, and made accountability feel supportive instead of scary. If you're not sure about getting help, do it. Future you will thank you.

    —Natalie I.

  • Kerry is deeply knowledgeable about story craft and writing, so she can absolutely help you draw out the best of your story and your ability. The most important thing she pushed me to do was to move past my own hang-ups and hesitations to write more authentically and truthfully. Letting raw emotion onto the page without self-censoring really helped me to produce better work! Her approach is adaptable, so she'll provide coaching and feedback in a way that's best suited to you. And she's just plain fun to work with!

    —Heather Campbell

  • Kerry is a fantastic book coach. She's great at asking questions that get to the heart of the issue--be that a missing component of the story or the mental roadblocks preventing the story from progressing. Kerry will help you unlock your story and keep it moving. Can't recommend enough!

    —Sabrina Thatcher, sabrinathatcherauthor.com

  • My main need for a book coach was accountability. I told Kerry when we started nearly a year ago, "I need someone who can wield a whip over me." I expected to hear the big black leather crack behind me but what I got was so much more. Yes, Kerry does wave a tiny whip, but she has the humanity to tell you when you're on the right track and points out all the progress you are making. She's a great resource when inevitably, I get stuck. Accountability + untangling + encouragement. Highly recommended!

    —Cynthia Hartwig

  • Kerry was able to illustrate concrete examples of where I could improve, and directed me to a book that discusses this topic excessively to use as a resource. Both the suggestions and her book recommendation aided my revision process. I would highly recommend her to anyone else in the future. Her attention to detail and flexibility are both huge pluses in my mind.

    —Lee deLacey

  • Kerry offered unflagging support throughout the entire process, challenging my work to meet her strict deadlines with clean, polished prose. In her responses, her comments ranged from incisive sentence-level suggestions to insightful conversation on the scope of the project, encouraging a dialogue in which we both enthusiastically discussed possibilities and revisions. And as a writer herself Kerry knows the feedback writers want to hear, but – more helpfully – gives the feedback we need to hear.

    —Andrew Burlile

Kerry Savage profile picture - Portrait of a woman with platinum blonde hair, smiling, wearing a black top with lace details.
Author Accelerator Fiction Certification Badge: a shield design showing the text 'author accelerator CERTIFIED BOOK COACH FICTION'.

Why Me?

You don’t need a million opinions—you need the right one.

A diagnosis doesn’t leave you guessing. My job is to tell you exactly what's not working and why, so you can go fix it — not to keep you coming back indefinitely.

With me, you get a clear-eyed read on your manuscript — not encouragement, not a generic checklist, but an actual diagnosis of what's structurally holding your story back.

Let's get you:

  • Clarity on exactly what's not working, and why

  • A named, prioritized list of what your revision actually needs to solve

  • A path forward you can execute — on your own, or with more support

Not sure where to start?

If none of these quite fit — but you still think we should work together — tell me where you're at and what you're working on. Let's figure out together whether there's a way I can help.

Let's Talk