Your story isn’t stuck.
It’s asking for your attention.
I help women find the words for the stories they've been meaning to tell.
You’re carrying a story that matters deeply to you.
You may not be sure yet whether it's a novel, a memoir, or simply the truth you've been meaning to write down. You may have been circling it for years — adding to it quietly, setting it aside, coming back to it when life allowed.
Something in you knows it matters. That it deserves more than the back of a drawer.
Whether you're a fiction writer looking for clarity and structure, or a woman who is finally ready to tell her own story — this is where you come to find the words.
It's still there. It's been waiting.
Meet Karen Sommerville
I'm Karen Sommerville — author, book coach, and writer of The Reclamation Letters, essays on coming back to yourself in the second half of life.
I work with women who have stories that matter deeply to them — whether that's a novel they've been shaping for years, a memoir they're finally ready to tell, or simply a voice they're in the process of reclaiming.
Before I began coaching, I spent years inside my own long-form projects, learning firsthand how easily a story can stall — not because it lacks promise, but because it matters. Over time, I came to understand that most writers don't need more pressure or prescription. They need space to think, a clearer sense of structure, and permission to move at a pace that honours both the work and the life around it.
My role is not to tell you what your story should be. It's to help you listen more closely to what it's already asking for — and to support you as you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Gentle structure for fierce creativity™
How We Can Work Together
Every writer arrives with a different story, a different pace, and a different set of questions. These three ways of working together offer thoughtful support at key moments in the writing process.
The Story Clarity Session
A focused 90-minute conversation to help you see your story clearly and understand what it needs next
6-Month Novel Foundation Coaching
A deeper coaching partnership for writers ready to strengthen the foundation of their novel and move forward with clarity.
You can read more about each of these options on the Work with me page.
Not Sure What Comes Next? Let’s Start with a Conversation.
This initial conversation is a chance to slow things down and get clear about where you are in your story—and what would be most helpful right now. Whether you’re just beginning, stuck partway through a draft, or unsure how to move forward, we’ll take the time to listen carefully to what’s actually happening in the work.
This is not a sales call. It’s a thoughtful, exploratory conversation to help you understand your options and decide what kind of support—if any—makes sense at this stage. If we do decide to work together, it will be because it feels like a good fit for both of us for both of us and for the story — or the life — you're trying to tell.
CLIENT PRAISE
After writing an overly complicated first draft of a novel, Karen Sommerville helped me to develop a strong, actionable outline so I could find my way into the next draft.
Karen’s coaching style was consistently kind, enthusiastic, and professional. She brought a supportive and encouraging energy to each session, while gracefully pointing out structural issues that required my attention.
Throughout our time working together, I found her to be organized, attentive, and full of practical insight. She demonstrated the utmost dedication to my novel-in-progress and to this writer.
—Lynne P.
After writing an overly complicated first draft of a novel, Karen Sommerville helped me to develop a strong, actionable outline so I could find my way into the next draft.
Karen’s coaching style was consistently kind, enthusiastic, and professional. She brought a supportive and encouraging energy to each session, while gracefully pointing out structural issues that required my attention.
Throughout our time working together, I found her to be organized, attentive, and full of practical insight. She demonstrated the utmost dedication to my novel-in-progress and to this writer.
—Charlotte Morganti
After writing an overly complicated first draft of a novel, Karen Sommerville helped me to develop a strong, actionable outline so I could find my way into the next draft.
Karen’s coaching style was consistently kind, enthusiastic, and professional. She brought a supportive and encouraging energy to each session, while gracefully pointing out structural issues that required my attention.
Throughout our time working together, I found her to be organized, attentive, and full of practical insight. She demonstrated the utmost dedication to my novel-in-progress and to this writer.
—Pamela Donison