Improving Craft
Writer Leslie Cartwright recently finished a draft of her book, and we invited her to sit down for a little interview to talk about her experience.
Q: OK, Leslie, can we have the basics about your project and your book coach?
Leslie: My book, Autism with a Grain of Salt is a memoir that I’ve worked on for 6 months with Author Accelerator coaches Sarahlyn Bruck and Susan Foster.
Q: How does it feel to have finished?
Leslie: Surprisingly, it felt calming. Completing my first draft did wonders for my anxiety. It was a serene and satisfying peace that I felt. It is now a tangible, hold in my hand goal, rather than a dream. The light at the end of the tunnel is bright and within reach.
Q: What did you do to celebrate?
Leslie: I celebrated with my family. We had a lovely dinner, wine and chocolate. It’s funny, I didn’t need a big party or an article in the newspaper to commemorate or feel validation for my accomplishment. It was enough on it’s own. It was a deeply personal victory.
Q: What are your next steps?
Leslie: I intend to soak up some sun for the next month or so, paint, enjoy fine wine and chocolate before getting back to editing and revising my book. I know, first hand, the value of working with a book coach now and I will return to Author Accelerator this fall to continue towards my goal of publishing my memoir.
Q: Why would you recommend coaching to get to a finished draft?
Leslie: Having a book coach has cut out a lot of unnecessary and time consuming trials and errors. It helped me to develop my writing voice and style. I can see so much growth between my first chapters and my last. It’s also very motivating and encouraging to have your own personal cheering section.
