For fiction writers

Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach in Fiction

Welcome to The Story Salon.

Where Sound Structure + Smart Revision = Stronger Stories.

I help writers bring their stories onto the page with authenticity, momentum, and a real plan so they can finally finish writing that book.

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Here is where your writing life gets clarity, confidence, and momentum.

The Story Salon is a place for honest guidance, whether your idea is still flitting around in your head or you already have pages on the desk. Here, structure is not a cage. It is the thing that helps the story breathe, hold, and move.

I am constantly deepening my understanding of craft, with particular emphasis on characterization and plot structure that holds from the grab-their-attention opening to a deeply satisfying The End.

Who you are

Your story is still simmering inside you.

Maybe you love stories. Maybe you have an idea in your head or your heart and you are ready to write pages. Or maybe you have already written pages, revised, and polished the opening a gazillion times, but you cannot get past a certain point.

Is it that pesky murky middle? Are you starting in the right place? Does the plot make sense? Maybe you worry you have wasted time on a story that is not going anywhere. But writing is a skill anyone can learn, including you.

Something big made you start writing. Let's get back to your passion.

The special sauce

When a gorgeous sentence sings, when a plot hole suddenly becomes a twist, when the voices in your head become characters with agency: that is what writers live for.

Testimonials

Writers come here when the story needs to finally move.

Story Salon coaching is practical, specific, and built for the moment when encouragement alone is not enough.

Query package + manuscript evaluation

"It worked. After a few months of querying, I landed a dream agent who rarely takes on new clients."

Robin Wilkey Gregory

Read Robin's full note

I worked with Tanya Brooking as my book coach in 2025-2026 as I edited and prepared to pitch my novel. Her guidance was absolutely integral to its success.

What I received back was nothing short of gold. With a full markup of both the synopsis and query, as well as an incredibly detailed editorial letter, Tanya forced me to look at the story and how I was pitching it in a new light.

Tanya's feedback was clear and actionable, and my mind was blistering with new ideas after reading it. Writing can be such nebulous and personal work, but Tanya strikes a perfect balance between providing clear and direct feedback while also being your most ardent cheerleader.

Her edits to my query letter and synopsis made them tighter, stronger, and thankfully shorter. Finally, she provided a personalized list of target agents, outlining why they were a fit for me and this story specifically.

"Damn! You're really good at this book coaching thing. I can't thank you enough for all of your help and guidance."

Shelley L.

"Tanya's approach is eons ahead in evolution. She knows what makes a good story a good story and keeps that knowledge forefront."

Anna T.

"Tanya is a dream to work with. She makes my writing come alive and is keenly attuned to character motivation and arcs."

Angie M.

Who I am

I help writers tell the story only they can tell.

My passion is helping writers build a strong foundation for their stories so they can construct an unputdownable book. I believe every writer can write with the right tools and guidance.

I work with writers who long to tell a story but have stalled somewhere along the way: before words make it onto the page, halfway through a novel, or after finishing a manuscript that still does not feel ready for the world.

I am not a robot. I do not use AI to evaluate your work. You get human reading, craft judgment, specificity, and a coach who cares about the book becoming stronger.

Working Together

Start with a pop quiz. No wrong answers.

Your responses help clarify where you are in the process, what kind of support would move the story forward, and which Story Salon path fits right now.

Book Coaching Options

Choose the path that matches the manuscript in front of you.

For finding the book

BluePrinting

Designed to give you clarity, drive, and an outline that serves the story's purpose. Yes, even for pantsers.

30-minute kickoff coaching call
13-Step BluePrint Worksheet
In-line comments on the BluePrint and Inside/Outline
Overview feedback letter
Two-week turnaround

For momentum

Butt-in-Chair Coaching

Not "just write." This is structure, accountability, analysis, and momentum: 25 pages every two weeks with feedback and a coaching call.

Two sessions per month
25-page submissions every two weeks
Full analysis with actionable next steps
25-minute coaching calls
Four-month commitment with extension option

For a complete draft

Manuscript Evaluation

A full read for a completed manuscript when you suspect something still needs work, but you cannot see what or how to fix it.

60-minute goals and concerns call
8-10 page written assessment
Specific action steps for revision
Second 60-minute recorded follow-up call
Four-week turnaround

For sentence-level polish

Wordsmithing

Fine-tuning for voice, word choice, appropriate similes, and line-level writing that needs to sing before querying, hybrid publishing, or self-publishing.

30-minute recorded coaching call
In-line comments on every chapter
Calls out typos and grammar issues that need attention
Email questions during the work
Three-week turnaround

Reservation deposits and card-processing details are confirmed before booking larger coaching or evaluation projects.

Process

A clear path into the work.

Discovery Call

We talk about your manuscript, your goals, and where the story feels stuck.

Writer Snapshot

If it feels like the right fit, you complete a short intake to deepen the work.

Follow-Up Call

We review the material together and decide on the strongest next step.

FAQs

The practical stuff to know before we start.

What, exactly, is book coaching?

Book coaching gives you insight, direction, and a plan. I help you see where the structure is holding, where the emotional arc is thinning, where the pacing is dragging, and what to prioritize next.

What is a manuscript evaluation?

A manuscript evaluation is a big-picture assessment of your novel's strengths and weaknesses: genre conventions, plot, structure, character, pacing, and revision priorities. It includes an editorial letter and a follow-up coaching call.

Do you offer proofreading or copyediting?

No. I focus on story-level and line-level coaching. I will point out observed errors when I see them, and I can provide a referral if you need copyediting.

How do I get my manuscript ready for agents and editors?

Most manuscripts need at least two rounds of revision: one focused on the big-picture story and another focused on details and prose. If you know something is wrong but cannot figure out what, a manuscript evaluation is often the right next move.

How does monthly coaching work?

You submit up to 25 pages on bi-weekly deadlines. I send feedback, then we meet for a coaching call. The work may include assignments, craft exercises, recommended reading, brainstorming, and revision strategy.

Do you work with nonfiction?

I can work with memoir on a case-by-case basis because it shares core mechanisms with fiction: structure, character arc, and story movement. I do not work with prescriptive nonfiction, but I am happy to refer you to someone trusted.

Can you help with query letters?

Yes. I offer querying prep for writers who have already worked with me in some capacity on the book they want to pitch.

Start here

You do not have to figure this out alone.

If you want clarity on your manuscript, where the story is stuck, or what kind of feedback would actually help, start with a Discovery Call.

Book a Discovery Call Email Tanya

Substack

Craft notes, revision thinking, and the giant robot in the room.

Tanya writes about craft, revision, and the realities writers cannot ignore, including how AI is changing the room without replacing the human work.

Read the Substack