CRITIQUES & COACHING
As a writer and Global Certified Coach Practitioner, I've coached hundreds of senior leaders and professionals around the world to pursue ambitious goals with clarity and confidence. Today, I share my coaching expertise with writers at all stages in their journey and can help you navigate uncertainty, overcome roadblocks, and bring your strengths and authentic self to your work.
1-HR MINI COACHING Session
Unlock your writing potential with custom coaching for wherever you're at on your writing journey. Maybe you need identifying and remove roadblocks, navigate mindset traps, overcome feelings of stuckness in your manuscript, or a bad critique. This session is just for you - the hour is yours! My supportive approach guides you toward your writing goals with confidence and encouragement.
Picture Book Written Critique
More than just a critique, my written feedback is a combo critique and coaching with questions that help you dig deeper into your story. You can request specific feedback on structure, perspective, character, voice, or wherever you'd like me to focus my attention. Each critique includes an editorial letter and line-level suggestions that make your work stand out. Add a 30-min. Zoom call for a small fee.
1-Page PITCH/Sales SHEET
Prepare to pitch your story with confidence through a custom one-page pitch sheet designed to pitch to agents and editors. Together, we’ll uncover the heart of your manuscript and shape it into a clear, compelling snapshot of your book. The 1-page will include your elevator pitch, highlight themes, comp titles, capture the tone and “vibe” of your story, and clarify its commercial potential in today’s market. The result is a professionally branded pitch sheet you can use at conferences, pitch events, and meetings—helping you present your story with clarity, confidence, and agent-ready polish.
What authors are saying
KEVIN KUNKEL
PICTURE BOOK HUMOR
Laura helped make my writing pop! She knows how to pair language with a visual medium. She understands how to activate language to make it sing and has helped me 'unclunk' the portions of my work that I struggle with. Laura also understands the promise of the premise with a book and has a great market sensibility,;as a result her critiques help idenitfy the strengths of my work that I need to emphrasize with decision makers. I always feel better about a manuscript after Laura looks at it.
Margaret Robison
Picture Book Manuscripts
Laura is kind, smart, and knowledgeable. She provided comments on the developmental level: theme, pacing, character development, etc. She was equally adept at semantic level critiquing: showing not telling, ideas for rephrasing, wordiness (which is my nemesis!). Laura asked thoughtful questions to help me stay focused on the story's theme, suggested places in the text that didn’t really advance the plot. Laura helped me see the relationship between text and pictures. I certainly recommend Laura for your critiquing needs!
ANDY C
Picture BOok
Humor & Narrative
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I have spent a lot of time working with Laura on my picture book manuscripts. Her feedback is insightful and gets straight to the heart of the story. She helps tighten narrative and uncover a deeper meaning, whether that is building out character purpose or unlocking the theme. Laura often spots things that are hard to see when you are too close to your own work, and her notes have genuinely helped me progress with more clarity and confidence. She is also really encouraging in her approach, which makes the whole process feel constructive and not overwhelming.
Diane Mittler
Author of Ready to Ride (Beaming Books, 2026)
Laura’s critiques are thorough and thoughtful. She offers feedback through guiding questions and actionable next steps. Her positive nature is both supportive and encouraging while always focused on making a manuscript the best it can be. Highly recommended!
Luann Atkin Koester
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Middle Grade
Novel in Verse
Working with Laura on my manuscript was incredibly valuable. Her critique was thoughtful, specific, and deeply attuned to both craft and heart. She didn’t simply point out what wasn’t working—she helped me see why, and more importantly, how to strengthen it. What stood out most was her feedback focused on the lyrical quality of my manuscript, while encouraging the deeper development I was striving for. Our exchange truly helped me move the work forward in a meaningful way. I’m grateful for Laura’s insight and generosity as a reader.
JEN Kraar
Picture books
Middle Grade
I have benefited greatly from having Laura's eyes on my work. She has critiqued much of my writing, including picture books, a middle-grade novel in verse, synopses, and essays. Her thought-provoking comments, questions, and fresh perspectives have challenged me to elevate my work. She has a strong sense of structure, character arcs, pacing, and a lyrical sensibility. Equally valuable is Laura's gentle manner. She is an excellent listener who is always sensitive to provide just the kind of feedback that I am looking for. I highly recommend Laura.