The Fantasy First-Chapter Blueprint
Your first chapter is your one shot to hook an agent or a reader. Don't let the 7 deadliest mistakes land your manuscript in the rejection pile. This free 7-day email course gives you the step-by-step blueprint to avoid them and craft an irresistible opening.
Your Novel Matters ...
Looking for the right book coach for your fantasy novel?
Are you a fantasy writer …
… struggling to convert the vivid scenes of your fantasy novel from your imagination to the page?
… stuck in a loop where you constantly rewrite your opening pages?
… worried your story won’t resonate with your readers?
What if I could show you the exact steps week to week that would take you from brainstorming and drafting to revising and publication?
I specialize in developmental editing and book coaching for writers of fantasy novels—writers who value the craft of storytelling and wish to create stories that resonate.
My Services
Develop Your Ideas
Fantasy Footsteps: Road to Publication
I’ll let you in on a secret. All you need to succeed as a writer are three things:
A Roadmap: Illuminate your path with a step-by-step guide, ensuring you achieve your writing goals every week. From outlining to publishing, every stage of your journey is mapped out for success.
Mindset Mastery: Learn how your thoughts control your outcomes in your writing. Overcome self-doubt and unearth the confidence that will bring your unique ideas to life on the page.
Personalized Support: Prepare for comprehensive assistance, real-time accountability, and feedback tailored to your needs. From brainstorming sessions to final publication, you'll have a dedicated ally guiding you every step of the way.
With these three pillars, you'll unlock the potential to:
Craft a captivating story that enthralls readers from the first page to the last.
Develop complex characters and immersive worlds that resonate deeply with your audience.
Navigate the complexities of plot twists and pacing, keeping readers hooked until the final chapter.
Receive specific guidance on refining your scenes so that readers root for your protagonist.
Overcome writer's block and stay motivated throughout your writing journey, ensuring consistent progress.
Transform your rough draft into a polished, professional manuscript ready for publication.
Are you ready to turn your fantasy novel from a mere vision into a masterpiece that captures hearts and minds?
Join Fantasy Footsteps: Road to Publication and begin your author journey with everything you need to write a story that works.
Don't let your story remain trapped in your mind—bring it to life with me!
If you’re thinking, “Yes, please! Tell me what to do!” , I’d like to invite you to work one-to-one with me to finish your novel and write a story that works. Join my book coaching program designed specifically for fantasy writers—Fantasy Footsteps: Road to Publication.
Discover Helpful Tools
Resources For Writers
Here you will find some of my favorite resources for writers.
Add these books, podcasts, websites, and other resources to your writing toolbox to augment your writing at any stage.
Join My Free, Private Facebook Group
Finish My Fantasy Novel: Write & Revise My Best Book in 6 Months
In the group, I go live weekly with writing tips. The group is also a platform for writers to support each other and share their wins and progress.
Live training schedule:
1st Tuesday of the month: Free critique for someone in the group!
2nd Tuesday of the month: Writing sprint with fellow writers
3rd Tuesday of the month: Live training on a specific topic
4th Tuesday of the month: Interview with an author or marketing/business expert
Improve Your Craft
Writing Advice Blog
As a developmental editor and book coach, everything I post is designed to help you build your creativity, strengthen your prose, and explore new avenues in your writing. The opinions in each post are my own, but many are inspired by ideas from established authors and editors who excel in their fields.
Rely on my blog for clear and specific writing advice, motivational tips and grammatical aid, and interviews with experts!
Hi! I'm Nicole.
I’m a Developmental
Editor & Book Coach for Fantasy Writers.
Like you, I'm a writer. I understand the mental and emotional ups and downs of storytelling. Don't let resistance win! Recognize the value of good advice plus hard work.
My approach to novel writing is multifaceted. For a deeper understanding of my process and style, take a look at some of my favorite craft-of-writing books in my Resources section.
What can I say about myself? I read, I write, I read about writing, and I write about reading. It never gets old to me.
See what writers like you are saying . . .
Nadir Shirazi
“I’ve been stalling on my Islam-inspired sci-fantasy series for 10 years. But within 10 minutes of starting Nicole’s program, I started writing again."
Amanda Emerick
“I can’t recommend Fantasy Footsteps enough to writers who are legitimately looking to polish their craft, write, and eventually publish their novel."
Trinity Cunningham
“I loved discussing my story with Nicole. She provided me with invaluable insights I never would have considered on my own."
Latest on the Blog
You will find no pictures of kittens here. No images of favorite dessert recipes, snapshots of my recent vacations, videos of puppies playing the piano (although I do love dogs), or YouTube clips of monkeys stealing people’s sunglasses.
I’m genuinely sorry if that disappoints you.
Instead, you can rely on my blog for clear and specific writing advice, motivational tips, grammatical aid, and author/editor interviews.
As a developmental editor & book coach, everything I post is designed to help you build your creativity, strengthen your prose, and explore new avenues in your writing. The opinions in each post are my own, but many are inspired by ideas from established authors and editors who excel in their fields.
Some of these tips might be just what you need to hear. Others might not work for you personally, and that’s okay.
Apply the tips that fit your personality and writing habits, and feel free to adapt or ignore the others. For further questions and comments, you can email me or reach me through my Contact page.
Marketing Your Book from Idea to Launch
Discover in this post …
advice on how to start marketing your book before you write the first word so readers are ready when you launch.
practical ways to blend writing and marketing throughout every phase of your book.
tools and strategies to build momentum, grow your audience, and keep readers engaged long after your book is out in the world.
Your Book Deserves Readers from Day 1
Today, I'm handing my blog over to someone with incredible talent: marketing expert and owner of Black Fox Marketing, Lacy Lieffers.
Lacy specializes in helping writers market their books so they can connect with as many readers as possible. I interviewed her in my Facebook group a few months ago and found her advice straightforward and helpful, so I thought I'd share her insights with you.
If you've ever wondered how to find eager readers, you're going to find value in this post! Here's what Lacy wants to share with you today:
One of the biggest mistakes an author can make is waiting until their manuscript is finished (or worse, published) before they even think about marketing.
I see it happen all the time—authors who pour months (sometimes years) into their draft, only to hit “The End” and realize they have no one waiting to read it.
That’s where the panic sets in.
Because marketing as an “afterthought" is the fastest way to kill momentum and sales.
Marketing is something you need to weave in from the very first spark of an idea … not something you tack on after the writing is all done.
And when you treat marketing as a partner to your writing (throughout each phase), you give your book the best chance of success—without that frantic last-minute scramble.
Here’s a snapshot of what this looks like in practice:
How to Blend Writing + Marketing
Phase 1: Idea & Planning
Research your audience and genre before you write a single word so you know exactly who you’re writing for (so you know how to begin promoting your book).
Look at the market to find where your book best fits (to help with targeting).
Set up a simple home base: a website and one social platform (yes, even this early).
Phase 2: Outlining & Structure
Create a clear outline or structure so your writing stays focused and makes it easier to give marketing updates to your audience.
Map the themes or messages you’ll carry through your book and your marketing.
Gather “teaser moments” (quotes, hooks, or scenes) you can later share with readers.
Phase 3: Drafting & Writing
Stick to a writing routine so you actually finish and build trust with your readers along the way.
Share snippets, behind-the-scenes updates, or even struggles to draw people into your process.
Start connecting with peers and potential collaborators in your genre.
Phase 4: Self-Editing
Highlight the sections or lines that really shine—those often double as blurbs, teasers, or quotes.
Build a list of early readers or reviewers you want to approach later.
Phase 5: Beta Readers & Feedback
Invite readers who actually enjoy your genre so feedback is relevant.
Use structured questions to get useful insights you can repurpose for marketing.
Start light pre-marketing—quotes or snippets to build buzz (not sure what to post? Download my free list of 111 Social Content Ideas for Authors).
Phase 6: Editing & Final Touches
Work with professionals on editing, cover design, formatting, and layout so your book is polished (be sure to share updates to help drive launch excitement).
Increase marketing—teasers, cover reveals, or snippets to build on momentum.
Make sure your branding (bio, messaging, visuals) is aligned across platforms.
Phase 7: Pre-Launch
Build your email list with a freebie or resource tied to your book so readers are ready before launch.
Set up pre-sales, gather ARC reviews, and share countdown teasers.
Line up collaborations, interviews, or cross-promotions to expand your reach.
Need extra support leading up to your launch? Download my free Book Launch Checklist to get a step-by-step list of everything that needs to get done.
Phase 8: Book Launch
Rally your launch team to help spread the word when your book goes live.
Announce boldly across email and social—if you don’t celebrate your book, no one else will know to.
Run promotions, events, or ads to maximize visibility during launch week.
Phase 9: Post-Launch / Ongoing Marketing
Keep momentum going with podcasts, guest blogs, or speaking opportunities.
Share bonus content like deleted scenes, short stories, or tips to keep readers engaged.
Stay visible and keep nurturing relationships with your audience long after launch day.
Leverage your book into bigger opportunities like courses, consulting, or speaking.
No matter what phase you’re in right now—idea, draft, launch, or beyond—marketing your book starts today. Every step you take now builds momentum toward a stronger launch and a more sustainable author career.
Happy writing (and marketing),
Lacy
Here are those freebies again:
Book Launch Checklist
It’s the same resource I use with my clients to keep marketing and writing moving in sync—so you never wonder what to do next.
111 Content Ideas for Authors
When it comes to social, half the battle is coming up with content ideas. So make it easy and use this list as your ultimate idea generator.
I hope today’s post helps you break down the steps to market your book in a simple and digestible way! If this post sparks plenty of creative marketing ideas on your end, I’d love to hear about them. Feel free to email me at [email protected] and share your thoughts! - Nicole
Do you want to learn how to write a story that makes your target readers stand up and cheer? If you’d like support from A to Z (from brainstorming to drafting to revising to publication), book a Discovery Call with me to see if you’re a good fit to join my book coaching program, Fantasy Footsteps: Road to Publication. And if you haven’t done so already, grab your Free Guide on how to hook readers from your story’s start!
Capture Your Readers from Your First Scene
Get my exclusive blueprint—7 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Fantasy Novel’s Opening. Start your fantasy novel right!
Are you worried you've failed to establish a bond between readers and characters in your first chapter? Do you wonder if you've bogged readers down with your worldbuilding? Do you sometimes overlook essential conflicts? Many readers will put your book down if it doesn't grab their attention right away, so it's vital to evoke powerful emotions from readers as early as possible.
Don't let these common mistakes rob your story of its magic and momentum. Save your precious time and energy by ensuring you hook readers from the start. Grab your guide now and check your opening against these common missteps!
(You will also receive monthly writing advice, updates about my free live trainings, and direct access to replays. Unsubscribe anytime.)
