When I started writing fiction at the age of seven, I followed an instinct. I didn’t know that I was a writer, nor did I get the magic behind storytelling, but writing felt good and I enjoyed doing it.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

Maya Angelou

If you’ve ever felt the burning urge to tell a story, then you know what I’m talking about. Writing fiction is hard work, though. It takes a lot of patience and the ability to show up for work whether you’re inspired or not. It takes courage to make mistakes and be vulnerable, but also grit to endure with no guarantee about results.

If you want to write your truth, you need to be honest, but also able to take feedback without allowing it to scar you.

No wonder that only 3% of writers finish their novels. Among common obstacles are false expectations about the outcome and lack of skills, knowledge and support to see the project through.

“Art is fire plus algebra.”

Luis Borges

That’s because art is fire plus algebra. It’s fire that drives us to tell stories, but it’s algebra that makes them work.
If you’ve got the fire, I can help with the algebra.

My name is Karmen H. Spiljak and I’m a multiple award-winning indie author, developmental editor and Author Accelerator-certified book coach for fiction. I created Story Allegiance to help emerging writers to serve their stories and hone their skills. To learn more about my fiction work, visit karmenspiljak.com.

The difference between where you are and where you want to be as a writer can feel like a void. What is worse, we keep comparing ourselves to those who are ahead of us. I became a book coach to help transform that void into a bridge, to equip you with the knowledge and tools to cross it and cheer you on along the way.

Apart from being an experienced writer, I’m a trained book coach and a developmental editor. My coaching superpowers are the big picture, character development and putting emotion on the page.

I primarily work with writers of suspense, crime fiction, horror, speculative fiction and dystopias and short stories or novels that explore the darker side of human nature.

Whether it is turning your idea into an outline for a novel, bringing clarity to your project or revising your manuscript, I help you move on with actionable advice and concrete next steps.

What this means in practice is that I won’t leave you with things like ‘show, don’t tell’ without clarifying what this means and providing an example for your story. As an exophonic writer, I love helping authors who write in their second or third language level up their game.

Do you need a book coach to write a novel?

The short answer is no. There’s plenty of knowledge out there, from novels to courses, workshops, blog posts and other resources.
However, a book coach can save you a lot of time and frustration by pointing you in the right direction, asking questions that bring clarity and giving you the tools you need to tackle the challenges ahead.

How does book coaching work?

A big part of book coaching is asking questions to get a clear idea of your vision of the story, your intentions and motivation, characters and many other details.

After getting a clear understanding, I work with the words on the page to help fulfil your vision while keeping in mind the entire project, your goals as a writer, the genre, the current market and much more. We’ll discuss your writing, as well as your intentions, fears, dreams and mistakes. We’ll address your challenges and decide on the best way to handle them. I might provide additional resources or give you exercises and tools that will help you move forward.

You keep complete control over your story, while I bring my expertise to help you tell your story in the best possible way you can.

Are we a good fit?

Your writing matters to you and you want it to matter to others. You want to write a great story with an emotional impact. You’re looking for a book coach who is honest, thoughtful and kind when giving feedback. You’d like your book coach to support you but also encourage you to get out of your comfort zone.

You believe our world would be better off without racism, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, homophobia and transphobia.
If you found yourself nodding to some of these sentences, then we might be a good fit. If however, you write erotica, slasher horror or your story has an explicit religious angle, then another book coach would serve you better.

The next steps

To give each client and project the attention and time it deserves, I work with a small number of clients. I’m currently taking on new clients, so let me know more about your work and I’ll get back to you.

Feel free to check out my classes or explore the blog for writing tips and tricks.