Editor, Coach, and Mentor

Before going any further, you may want to check out this interview: What a Book Coach Really Does & Do You Need One?

You are welcome to bring Renate any writing project, from your school paper to your doctoral thesis, from an anniversary poem to a screenplay, from the first word on the page to the proposal letter for your finished novel or non-fiction book. For over thirty years, Renate has helped writers successfully take the hurdles all the way to the published book. The preparation for publishing can be the most crucial step for many writers, as professionals tend to give your proposal one reading only. Renate’s guidance includes brainstorming, structural analysis, technical advice as well as patient and ardent reading, listening, and editing. Most importantly though, Renate encourages a writing practice that allows you to stay in touch with the sense of play–-the joy of writing.

Some Reflections from Renate about her writing and editing experience:

At Play in the Field of Words

As a young aspiring writer, the advice I got from most teachers and writing manuals was to create a disciplined writing practice. The notion of discipline held an aura of serious professionalism that put my un-orderly writing moods to shame. I tried hard to be disciplined . . . only to procrastinate as if in tacit rebellion against myself. I tried all the tricks, from automatic writing to “morning pages,” from loads of coffee and cigarettes to sitting- and walking-meditations. Fleeing the lonely demands of my desk for the warm hubbub of a café, I sometimes got going—and then couldn’t stop. A day-and-night obsession would sweep everything else in my life into oblivion, but finally exhaustion and anxiety about the neglected rest of my life would drop me back to square one. Was I a fool to think I could be a writer when I had such difficulty writing?

Discipline

I have come to believe that for some writers discipline is a panacea, and that other writers have to enter a state of playfulness to succeed. Often what it takes to get writing to happen is to distract the inner judge–to trick her and sneak around her unnoticed. But being able to begin may be as crucial to a writing practice as being able to stop. Playfulness is a good way to accomplish both, unless we confound play with random playing around, lacking purpose. Playfulness brings back our childhood gift of seeing everything you do, every word or sentence you write, as full of potential, no matter how foolish or outlandish it may seem to your eye-rolling inner critic.

Fool's Freedom

After thirty years of practice I have a bagful of tricks to share with you that can outwit the perfectionist critic who keeps looking over your shoulder with scowls or smirks at your writing and even just your longing to write. I will help you find to a place in your writing where discipline AND playfulness are tools in your toolbox and where anything is possible because you are not afraid to make a fool of yourself.

Write to me and tell me what you might need and what you can afford.

Fee: I mostly charge by the hour on a sliding scale.

Remember: wherever you are on this planet, I also do phone and online work as well as online sessions via Skype!

TESTIMONIALS:

“Working with Renate is a treat. It’s the best way to tackle learning how to write with a pro by your side. Polishing a manuscript is hard work. Renate knows the hows and whys that make all the difference! Her efforts to go above and beyond the usual edit job are greatly appreciated.” –Gere Russell, public defender, forthcoming novel, On the Way to a Killing

“A most heartfelt and enormous thank you to … Renate Stendhal, my editor, for her wisdom and gentle “tweakings,” for giving courage and encouragement to my voice, for protecting me from myself. For becoming a good friend.” –Joan Brady, painter, Between Brushstrokes

“There are many occasions when an author becomes bogged down. On one such occasion, I was lucky enough to meet Renate Stendhal. As both a psychotherapist and a professional editor, she had the unique capability to help me transform this book from a quasi-academic tome to a book with appeal to the general public. For that I am deeply grateful.” –Claire Cooper Marcus, House as Mirror of Self

“I deeply appreciate Renate Stendhal, a skillful editor who helped me craft my words to that they would mirror, as truly as possible, the lives of the women and men I had the privilege to meet and interview.”–Dana Elizabeth Whitaker, Transforming Lives $40 at a Time: Women + Microfinance: Upending the Status Quo

“Renate, my mentor and editor, whose insightful guidance has brought me the gift of a new form, voice, and genre.” —Jess Wells, AfterShocks

“Renate Stendhal, the best writing midwife a very ‘pregnant’ author could ever want… I’ve come to see Renate as my midwife, there for me each step of the way. When I thought I’d have to do it all alone, she kept showing up. When I thought I was just carrying one creative child, she heard many heartbeats.”–Rosy Aronson, Ph.D., A Tale of Serendipity: The Adventure Begins

“Renate Stendhal has been my writing coach for a number of years. She is an expert. Renate has a quick, unerring eye and a gentle but direct way of pointing out what doesn’t work. She has been an encouraging guide on my path as a writer. With her invaluable help I have published poetry in numerous literary journals and have two books pending publication. Kudos to Renate!” —Claire Scott, Waiting to Be Called

“I am grateful to Renate Stendhal, without whose belief, guidance and mentoring I would never have been able to complete this long and arduous project. An author, writing consultant, and friend, Renate urged me to go far deeper into the darkness than I thought I could. With the aid of her remarkable insight and honesty, I was willing to grapple with the demons of my nightmare, to take hold of the tormenting shame and guilt which had kept me silent for so long, and to step out from behind the shadows of Jonestown and stand tall in the light once more.” –Deborah Layton, Seductive Poison

“Renate Stendhal is a beautifully supportive and encouraging writing coach. She is generous with her praise and delicate with her critiques. As any excellent counselor, Renate listens, paying deep attention to her client’s needs. She listens to understand her client’s aspirations and then helps by to moving the project in the right direction. A particularly lovely aspect of working with Renate is her broad aesthetic – her passions run from the classic novel, to memoir, creative non-fiction and non-fiction and poetry. All that she asks is that the piece be well-constructed and compelling. And, she will help you get there if you get stuck!” —Joan Gelfand, The Long Blue Room (poetry), Extreme