Author Accelerated
Writer Isidra Mencos recently finished the first draft of her book, and we invited her to sit down for a little interview to talk about her experience.
Q: OK, Isidra, can we have the basics about your project and your book coach?
Isidra: My book, The Conquest of Pleasure is a memoir I’ve been working on for 3 years. I worked with book coach Sheila Athens.
Q: How does it feel to have finished?
Isidra: To explain the timeframe: It took me 2.5 years to finish Part 1, and then I wrote Part 2 (equal length) in 4.5 months through the Manuscript Accelerator program. I had been blocked for months before I started working with Sheila Athens, terrified of writing part 2. I feel enormous relief to have finished, and also pride. Although I’m also aware there is a lot of revision work to do.
Q: What did you do to celebrate?
Isidra: Start revising! I just finished a couple of days ago, so no time for celebrations yet.
Q: What are your next steps?
Isidra: I pitched the memoir to a literary agent during a Writers Conference two weeks ago, and she loved the pitch. She asked for a formal query and two chapters, so I’m revising to turn those materials in before end of September.
Q: Why would you recommend coaching to get to a finished draft?
Isidra: Having the weekly deadline, and considering the expense, forced me to put my fears aside and get to writing. Also, getting weekly feedback and encouragement was very helpful.
