Your story isn’t stuck.
It’s asking for your attention.
I help thoughtful fiction writers find clarity, strengthen the foundation of their novels, and move forward with confidence.
You’re carrying a story that matters deeply to you.
You may know something isn’t quite working, but you can’t name what it is.
You’ve read the craft books. You’ve taken notes. You’ve tried to push through on your own.
Still, the manuscript feels stuck.
You may find yourself wondering:
• What’s actually wrong with this story?
• What should I work on next?
• Am I missing something obvious?
You’re not stuck because you’re incapable.
You’re stuck because this story matters.
Meet Your Book Coach & Story Partner
I'm Karen Sommerville—author and book coach for thoughtful fiction writers who care deeply about the stories they're trying to tell.
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.
Today, I work with thoughtful fiction writers—many of them in midlife or beyond—who are ready to approach their writing with intention rather than urgency. My role is not to tell you what your story should be, but 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.
How We Can Work Together
Every writer arrives with a different manuscript, 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 writing—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 and for the story 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