Nina Munteanu, Salk Institute, California

“Nina  was warm and encouraging as a consultant.  I felt free to share my fears and ask questions.  She was extremely knowledgeable and gracious and honest…   I felt as though she really wanted me to succeed as a writer, and was a mentor sent to provide guidance and inspiration.”— Zoe M. Hicks, author of The Women’s Estate Planning Guide and Dream Catcher, the Power of Faith

I’ve provided my coaching services and manuscript consultations to novice and established writers for over 10 years. Teaching comes naturally to me; I taught college and university courses for over 25 years. I’ve published several novels, short stories and articles. My text book “The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!” is currently used by schools and universities throughout North America in their creative writing programs. For any service you buy of over $500, I will give you this popular guidebook (retailing for $27.95) on how to write fiction.

While I can’t promise that you’ll get published (only you can do that), I do guarantee that your writing will greatly improve and your chances of publication will dramatically increase.

My Services include the following: 1) Manuscript Evaluation; 2) Manuscript Copy & Structural Editing; Personal Coaching toward Publication; and 4) Agent/Editor Submission Package. Depending on where you are in the writing/publishing process, I can offer you the best service package suited to your unique needs. Here are four questions you need to answer:

1.       Have you finished or almost finished a novel, short story or memoir and need professional help on making it publishable in today’s market? What you need is:

Manuscript Evaluation: $3.00/page for novel or novella; $100 flat fee for short story [go here for examples of what you get in a manuscript evaluation]

My manuscript evaluations include a full manuscript read with line-by-line comments on the manuscript. If your writing contains ongoing grammatical issues, I will point these out in the line-by-line commentary.

Evaluation also includes a typed letter detailing the following:

• Comments and suggestions on content, characterization, dialogue, setting, plot, POV, believability, and research, etc.
• Comments and suggestions on overall writing technique, pace and flow, tension, “voice” & “color”, show & tell, use of metaphor & imagery, etc.
• Recommended steps to develop the manuscript
• My guidebook The Fiction Writer if you pay for over $500 worth of my services

2.       Are you a beginning or established author wishing to polish your completed work for publication? What you need is:

Manuscript Copy & Structural Editing: $3.00/page for novel or novella; $100 flat fee for short story

My copy-edits consist of thorough line by line edits on grammatical issues like punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, etc. I include commentary on issues like story flow, effective language, achieving tension and increasing pace, great dialogue, show & tell, use of metaphor, simile, allegory and other language devices to achieve a compelling read.

Sometimes a work may require some re-arranging; some structural elements are missing or misplaced. My structural edits include commentary and recommendations on plot alignment, sub-plot weaving and story arc, character inclusion/exclusion; chapter re-writes and re-arranging; beginnings and endings; scenes & sequels.

3.       Are you just starting your first novel with issues on plot, characters, pace and tension; or you simply don’t know how to begin or end it? Or do you have a manuscript that’s been evaluated and need help with subsequent drafts? What you need is:

Personal Coaching Toward Publication: $50/hour

I provide individual coaching on any aspect of your writing including storyboarding, molding idea to premise, plotting successfully, developing memorable characters, creating compelling hooks and beginnings, writing vivid and meaningful settings.

I also work closely with authors on a chapter by chapter basis on their subsequent drafts. It helps if I’ve initially done a manuscript evaluation and they have been following my initial recommendations. For any payment over $500, I include a copy of my guidebook The Fiction Writer.

4.       Do you have your work all ready to go to a publisher but need to have it just right for submission?

Agent/Editor Submission: $500 flat fee (for novels only)

This last step in the “writing to publishing process” is the most critical aspect; yet, it is often not given the weight it deserves by the writer. Consider this your introduction to the editor. It’s like a job interview or a first date. You want to look totally professional but you also want to get and keep that busy editor’s interest with something unique (an idea, twist in plot or theme, and above all else, your “voice”). I can help you polish your query or cover letter, synopsis or outline and first 30 pages of your book into a “kick-ass” package for submission (what you actually submit will vary according to the publisher’s wishes). I can also help you decide which agents and editors/publishing houses you should submit to.

You also get my booklet on Book Contracts, “What Writers Need to Know About Book Contracts” (either PDF or Print format)

I can accommodate any combination that you might need (i.e., only a query or cover letter as for a short story submission). Prices would reflect this. For instance, I charge $100 for a query/cover letter, $250 for a synopsis or outline, and $250 for first 50 pages of a novel or novella or an entire short story. I am also open to negotiating a fixed fee or retainer fee for ongoing coaching over longer periods of time.

I look at any genre (though my specialties include speculative, science fiction, fantasy and historical). I do not generally advize on works of horror and do not accept works that promote pornography, racism, greed or violence.

How to Submit your Manuscript:

Your submission should be typewritten or computer-generated in a double-spaced, twelve-point size, easy to read font with one-inch margins on white paper (if sending via mail) and accompanied with payment. Fees are based on this industry-standard format. Preferred payment is by Paypal; you can send a money order along with manuscript if mailing.

Please DO NOT send in a manuscript without contacting me first via email.

Mailing address (no unsolicited submissions, please!):

14-3650 Hammonds Plains Road, Suite 353
Upper Tantallon
Nova Scotia B3Z 4R3
Canada. 

How to Contact Me:

You can make queries and book my services at nina.sfgirl@gmail.com (use the message title: Nina the Writing Coach). 

Coaching/Workshop Testimonials

“Rarely have I encountered someone of Nina’s considerable talent and intellect tied to such an extraordinary work ethic…A gifted and inventive writer, Nina is also an excellent speaker who is able to communicate complicated ideas in simple terms and generate creative thought in others. Her accessible, positive approach and delightful sense of humor set people at ease almost immediately.”–Heather Dugan, Columbus, OH

“What you’ve done for me, Nina, is you’ve just opened up a whole new world. You’ve shown me how to put soul into my books.”–Hectorine Roy, Bridgewater, NS

Go to the Testimonial Page for more testimonials.

See The Passionate Writer for lots of writing tips and suggestions on manuscript submission and information on book contracts.