Have you dreamed of writing a novel but don’t know where to start? Not sure if you’re ready to query an agent? Think you’re ready, but wonder how to craft that important letter?
I offer classes and services for writers who want to begin or advance their writing journey toward publication.
“Award-winning author Nikki Arana has a special insight into the structure of the novel. I have co-taught workshops with her on this subject and reviewed her comments on manuscripts—and I am confident she can increase the salability of any novel she undertakes to work on. She understands the learning curve for writing fiction and the steps it takes to move from beginner to published author. I strongly recommend that writers who are committed to selling their work seek her advice.”
–Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary AgencyIf you are an emerging writer, you need to start with a strong foundation. First, you need to learn the story structure of commercial fiction. This will include things like crafting the internal and external stories, identifying your premise, and developing your external plot.
If you have completed a book, you will want to evaluate your manuscript for conflict and opposition to goals, setups and payoffs, and fully developed plot threads.
Perhaps you have been submitting and receiving rejections. You will want professional guidance to evaluate and improve your manuscript.
“Your worksheet has been a great tool to make me rethink my book completely. Nikki, everything you said was so on point and I know you are the mirror of honesty I needed reflection from. As I look at my material through different eyes I can see all of the flaws more clearly. I am really looking forward to your feedback when I send in my completed exercise.”
–Katherine Hayes
I can help you craft a novel, query letter, or proposal. I can teach you how to build a resume for your book while you are working on it. I can help you get an agent. If you already have an agent, I can work with your agent to help you bring your manuscript to the level required. Whether you’ve substantially exceeded word count or are not meeting the guidelines, I can give you strategies to meet the publisher’s requirement.
“I had the wonderful privilege of studying fiction writing with Nikki Arana. She is a perceptive teacher who knows how to draw the best out of her students. Her deep understanding of the process of creating a novel, coupled with her spiritual sensitivity, made her the perfect teacher for me at a time in my life when I needed a solid start. I highly recommend her services.”
— MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D., Novelist, Poet & Artist
My rate is $60.00 an hour, billed monthly. There are no contracts and you can pay with PayPal. You are billed monthly for the time used. Most clients find that one hour of my time each week keeps them busy and allows them to make steady progress toward publication.
If you would like to explore the possibility of using these services, please contact me