COACHING SERVICES - THE QUERY DOULA

Choose from five available packages: ***Please note: As of summer 2024, I am currently at capacity and not accepting new clients except for those I am arranging to meet during the San Miguel Writers’ Conference in February of 2025. I will remove this message when I’m open to new clients again. Thank you, and thank you for your interest. I wish you the best with your writing projects.***

• Query letter review: Courtney will review your current query letter (all genres accepted) and leave light edits two days prior to a one-hour call during which you’ll work on strengthening the letter together and discussing querying and publishing strategies for the larger project. This service is also available for artist statements. $375

• Query package deluxe: Courtney will review your 5 opening pages and query letter, and leave light edits on both prior to a one-hour phone call devoted to elevating your material to “agent-ready” status. Other questions and material can be reviewed live via Google docs during the phone call. $450

• “Forest for the trees” developmental editing: Though Courtney is not available for full manuscript consultations at this time, she specializes in helping writers revise their way out of problem areas in their manuscripts: opening chapters, dragging middles, pivotal sex scenes, book titling strategies, prologues, dialog-heavy scenes and anything else that has got you stumped. Customized pricing / No open slots available at this time

• One-on-one problem-solving sessions: In a one-hour phone call, Courtney will help you identify actionable, empowering strategies to get you through (or over) whatever writing or publishing issue that is eating away at you. Your book proposal isn’t landing? A literary agent’s ghosting you? Curious as to whether you should spring for a freelance publicist or not? Wondering how to share news of your memoir with the people who are in it? Regardless of what brings you to a strategy session, confidentiality is assured. Courtney will review up to 3 pages of material (12 font size) in preparation for the phonecall— beyond that, material can be reviewed “live” on Google docs during the call. $275

• Brand audit (author platform): Prior to a one hour phone call, Courtney will review your online presence and current brand assets to help you build an actionable plan for a more cohesive, resonant and discoverable presence online and in the world. This could entail Courtney looking at your website, social media, newsletter, plans you have for a newsletter, blog(s), logos, published books, published essays, podcasts, and other ways that you present yourself online. Pricing is based on 90 minutes of research, emails back and forth leading up to the phone consult, and the one hour phone consultation itself. If you require more research than this, or specific deliverables, pricing will be tailored to your needs and objectives. $599

• Publication preparation: If you have a book coming out on the horizon and you are feeling both elated and a tiny bit insane, let me be the person to hold your hand and keep you grounded through this process. From working through professional tangles (your editor loves your cover, your agent is so-so, you hate it) to de-coding developmental edits and helping you determine whether something is worth getting upset about or not, I’ll be the person you can speak honestly to about everything you’re feeling in the lead up to your book launch. We can also work on crafting off-the-book pieces and any other pre-publication milestones you need help with. Customized pricing

When you contact thequerydoula@gmail.com, please either enclose your query letter or one paragraph project summary along with the first 2 pages of the manuscript in the body of an email so Courtney can make sure she is well matched to your project.

*Please note: If you are out of the United States of America and can only use PayPal instead of Venmo, Wise, or check, there will be an 8-10% additional fee applied to cover what PayPal charges for foreign transactions.

Sliding scale pricing upon request. Phone calls are usually audio so that we can talk about difficult truths and subjects freely and with candor. Courtney reserves the right not to work with anyone whose material is offensive or whose attitude is not respectful.

Can any of these Query Doula packages guarantee you a book deal? No—but they will give you an entirely new perspective on the value of your work and teach you how to be your own best editor so you won’t have to hire coaches like Courtney each time you want to write! Courtney is especially adept at helping writers who don’t have a platform realize that they do, in fact, have one. She works with already published authors as well as people outside of the literary world who have never published anything, but dream of getting their stories out into the world.

The Query Doula is also available for select book coaching engagements, pitches, artist statements, project summaries and other headache-inducing distillations of your creative work. With twenty years experience in communications, brand strategy, and public relations and five book deals to her name, Courtney knows what she’s doing. Email thequerydoula at gmail dot com to discuss.

QUERY DOULA AND BOOK COACHING TESTIMONIALS:

“The joy I felt working with Courtney Maum gave me the same energy surge I get when I score some really good vintage cocktail glasses for our General Store, just YES YES YES. Courtney's directness is matched with kindness, her expertise is vast, yet she never talked down to me, and her commitment to follow through was remarkable...it feels rare to find someone who's both an artist and so completely efficient. She's whip-smart, and within the one hour consult we had on my nonfiction overview, Courtney saw right through to the truth of what I had known but was afraid to admit about my project. I was hooked, and signed on with Courtney for a thorough scouring of my pages. By the end of our brief but delightful and productive time together, I had a title I (and my agent) LOVED, and the feeling that I had enough in the tank to not only get this proposal over the finish line, but to let down all the windows and enjoy the wind on my face while getting there. Courtney is the best investment I've ever made in my writing, and I can't wait to work with her again.” - Joeli Yaguda, whose nonfiction proposal for her platonic rom-com business book is out on submission.

“Completely stuck in the middle of writing my first book, I had a 50 plus page chapter of who knows what that I sent to Courtney. The reason I sent those pages to Courtney went beyond the point that she's an outstanding talent across multiple genres, as well as the fact that her finely-honed writing and editing skills are superb. The reason was very simple; I trust her. Courtney met me in a moment of insecurity and walked me through those pages holding both hands so that I could refocus, reorganize, and write. She did this with extraordinary efficiency and I can recommend her unconditionally. Courtney Maum is a cult favorite for a reason (for many reasons actually), and she's not going to stay that way for much longer. Hire her now while you still can.” - Writer and therapist Katherine Schafler, author of THE PERFECTIONIST’S GUIDE TO LOSING CONTROL

“In the space of a single phone call, Courtney helped me find clarity on a situation I had struggled with for months. Well-meaning friends and family had already tried to help me, but they didn't know enough about the workings of the publishing world to have much useful advice (I didn't know enough either, which is why I ended up in my predicament in the first place!). Enter Courtney, who listened like a friend, but gave feedback like a person who really knows what the hell she's talking about. With warmth and honesty, she helped me better understand my situation and guided me through my options, clarifying a lot of my misconceptions along the way. At the end of our hour conversation, I had a clear sense of next steps; more importantly, I felt empowered and hopeful again. This side of the writing business can be so confusing and mysterious to someone starting out; what a relief to have found such a solid ally to call on for help.” - Writer Abby Horowitz, who is shopping her first novel

“Our one-hour phonecall was literally more helpful than an entire MFA in how to construct a book.” - Jennifer Pollock who is readying her novel Leave of Absence to go out to agents.

Courtney was instrumental in helping me transform my book proposal from mid-stage draft to a fleshed-out proposal and accompanying query letter. Throughout the process, Courtney helped me hone various components of the proposal. She helped me transform my chapter summaries from mere summary to plot-centric narratives that highlighted the core themes, pushed me to think of imaginative ways to synthesize research and personal narrative, and encouraged me to craft a thoughtful promotion section that spoke to gatekeepers' needs. Throughout the process, she was lively, solutions-oriented, and just plain fun to partner with. - Elizabeth Owuor, Author of A Brawling Woman in a Wide House (Bloomsbury and Canongate, 2025)

“I want to thank Courtney Maum for the consult we had shortly after I parted ways with my agent. I was feeling low and about to throw in the writer towel. Courtney was great and helped me to refocus and recalibrate, affirming that I had something special and it was worth it to keep going. Merci beaucoup!” - Erin Zhurkin, whose novel PLUS SIZE IN PARIS is out now

“My 1-on-1 consult was everything I had hoped for and much more! We covered a ridiculous amount of ground in an hour, and Courtney’s advice was both illuminating and thought-provoking. Seriously, I’d spent the prior week in a very productive mini-crisis debating my way forward, including exiting the crazy publishing industry altogether. Ultimately, our chat and my internal re-evaluation have left me fortified as I re-commit to my writing path. I look forward to connecting and engaging with Courtney in the future!” - Writer and former gymnast Kristine Campbell of Type (Y)A Writer

“When I came to Courtney with my query letter and manuscript, crafting language around my writing and its message felt so hard to navigate. My story was very personal and somewhat of a delicate challenge. On our first call, I knew she got it right away. Courtney listens genuinely, intelligently, and compassionately. She had an understanding of my work I had yet to encounter. She challenged me, inspired me, gave me confidence and left me with the language I needed to succeed. So grateful for her great talents.” - Writer and activist, Karin Jervert who is preparing her memoir for submission.

"Courtney and I worked together on the positioning of my multifaceted memoir. Having her expert eye on my proposal helped me take a step back to experience it from an editor's perspective. In her courses and consultations, Courtney is generous with her time and expertise. When communicating her impressions and recommendations, everything comes from a place of utmost respect for each author's unique mission and experience. She created a safe space for our discussions. Courtney is great at distilling the essence that needs to be communicated to make an impact. She shares insights about the industry and resources to help anchor your work within the literary community. She is realistic and honest in her feedback, but warm and supportive, so you leave with a clear idea of what needs to change and the motivation to get it done!" -Kristina Kasparian, author of the memoir-manifesto Unremarkable

"Working with Courtney felt like finding a life coach--for my writing life! She gave kind, clear-eyed, and honest feedback about the work at hand, helped me to see what I could not see myself, and as a bonus, sent me relevant and helpful reading recommendations throughout the entire process. I'd love to continue working with her as a literary personal trainer, adviser, and consultant from now on. In addition, I completed an MFA in creative writing many years ago, and I have not received this level of attention to and consideration for my work since then. For writers who might be considering an MFA program, but for whom the logistics of upending one's life to move across the country for a graduate program might not make sense, Courtney can provide the care and wisdom of a creative writing professor--no grad school loans required!" -Daisy Dodge, who is working on a collection of personal essays called Distill, Angel

“I reached out to Courtney after I realized that my query and first pages weren't getting requests from agents. I thought I had a strong query, so I suspected that my first pages were the issue. Courtney not only confirmed my suspicions but offered a thorough and considered evaluation of my first pages.  She diagnosed problems that went beyond the opening chapter of my novel and helped me think about characterization, tone, and POV issues in a new light. Her feedback not only helped me rewrite my opening, but also showed me a new lens through which I was able to make another round of revisions on my manuscript.  Before Courtney read my submission packet, I had workshopped both my query and opening pages with fellow writers countless times, but Courtney's smart and incisive critique helped me think about my book in a new, necessary way. Her feedback was well worth the investment. To be honest, it was kind of a bargain. I couldn't recommend her highly enough.” -Katy H-S, who is preparing to send her debut novel out to agents

“Working with Courtney was like making a dress and then later having someone reveal to you your own seams—a fascinating process. She's insightful, capable, and a total delight. I'd recommend her to anyone.” - writer, actor and director Bodine Boling in Brooklyn, whose second feature film, BEHAVE, is getting ready to meet the world.

“Courtney is a consummate professional . She is a beautiful writer who wants to help other writers find and expand their stories. She knows how to hone in on a story and expand it into a tale people want to read, bringing out the best, most sellable story for memoirists. That was my experience in working with her. I had a proposal that I thought was ready for pitching agents (it wasn’t), and not only did she help me identify what needed work and why, she also found that I was skipping over the biggest part of my story, watering down what should have been the defining moment in the “plot.” Her advice on the business of publishing is so helpful for those of us who have not published yet. And if you haven’t read her book, Before and After the Book Deal — you should!” - Mary Joan Cunningham, who is heading out on submission soon with her nonfiction book proposal

"Courtney was more useful than the actual doula we used to help me deliver twins!" - writer Rebecca Moon Ruark whose historical novel, LOW HEAVEN, is on agent submission now.

“When I reached out to Courtney, I was completely stuck with the messy first draft of my memoir manuscript. She listened to my goals, offered actionable, razor-sharp feedback and helped me find a clear direction — all with a generous spirit and impeccable communication skills. If this were an 80's sports movie, Courtney would be the coach who sees the potential in a rag-tag bunch of underdogs and sets them on the path to a championship. Now I just have to put in the work.” - Jim Moen, who is currently revising his novel, SCAMMED before sending it out on submission. 

“Working with Courtney Maum was such a great investment. Her knowledge of the publishing industry and ability to pinpoint ways to make my novel stand out gave me confidence, practical tools and invaluable insight for my current project and all future ones. She's the real deal!” - MFA graduate, Sarah Haufrect, who is currently completing her debut novel

“Self-promotion, even for talented writers, is one of the hardest jobs an author faces. For my debut novel, Ever So Silent, I wrote an insipid and lackluster pitch. I knew it when I read it, and, after multiple rewrites, I couldn't seem to make it better. That's when I turned to Courtney. With a fresh eye, she transformed my pitch into something truly special. Now, it entices. Now it has all the seductiveness a novel's pitch needs. Courtney has a special gift for marketing any author would be making a mistake not to use. How's this for her closer? "A bustling thriller with a whip-smart female protagonist, Little’s debut offers moxie and menace on every page." —Christopher Little, writer and photographer, whose first novel is heading to the printer.

“Working with Courtney was absolutely fantastic. She was quick to respond and had my article pitches back to me sooner than I had expected. Her feedback was constructive and helped me greatly in crafting my pitch. She gave me confidence in the article pitch process and I hope to work with her again.”  —LaCresha Kolba who is currently pitching magazine editors about ice hockey photographers

"Courtney Maum possesses deep, hard-earned knowledge of how to navigate the publishing industry. She shared this wisdom with our students in a friendly, honest, and insightful manner, offering detailed, personal advice that was also useful to every writer in the room. If you've got a pitch in need of polish, there's no question that Courtney can offer the constructive feedback you're seeking." - Susannah Felts, director of THE PORCH writing center in Nashville, Tennessee

“If you've completed a manuscript, but become paralyzed by the unwieldy next steps, Courtney will catapult you through your haze. Courtney listened to me carefully and earnestly. She analyzed all of my input (and jabbering), foiled against her extensive knowledge of the complex publishing industry. Courtney took my thousands of words and distilled them into a coherent, cohesive, relevant one-page pitch. But, more than that, she helped me make sense of my work, my message and my mission. She gave me concise exercises and next steps, and the confidence I needed to take them. Working with her gave me relief from ambiguity. Dollars spent were worth at least 10 times the amount in peace of mind. Do not hesitate to invest in your work and yourself by hiring Courtney.” -Bree Cox in Kansas, whose young adult sci-fi novel HYBRID is getting dressed up to meet agents for the first time.

"I was grateful to have Courtney's eye on my manuscript in the early stages. She treated the pages not as a set of successes and "problems" to be fixed, but instead as an living, unfinished project filled with opportunities to tell a more meaningful story. It's rare that such a gifted writer is also so skilled as an editor and reader." -Evan McGarvey, a poet making the transition to novelist.

“Courtney's class provided a truly massive amount of actionable strategies and real-world insights, shared via a frank-yet-kind approach that pulls no punches. The dread I felt about my novel had reached sword-of-Damocles proportions over the last few years, but now it's gone.” - Emma Alvarez Gibson, whose first novel is in progress

"I reached out to Courtney after hearing her speak at Story Studio's PubCrawl and reading her wonderful book 'Before and After the Book Deal.' I had submitted my novel to agents and heard nothing, not even a polite rejection. Courtney tackled my work with candor, warmth, and incredible expertise. And my query was a mess:) But through her advice I was able to completely reimagine the letter in a way that is starting to pay real dividends. There are lots of great writing resources that can help you learn to write a really good book. There are precious few resources when it comes to turning that book into a work that will grab an agent's attention. Courtney is that precious resource for writers looking to make the jump from writer to author!" - Ronald Morgan who is querying his first novel

FAQS:

Does the Query Doula do full-length manuscript consultations?

No, not at this time.

Can I use Courtney Maum as an endorser of my project when I contact agents?

No.

How many drafts of the query letter are included in the starter package?

One.

Will the Query Doula work with international writers?

Yes. Courtney is fluent in French and speaks beginner Spanish, if that helps.

I need a draft of an agent query letter to start working with Courtney?

Yes. Even if you feel like it’s riddled with flaws, it’s important for Courtney to see how you pitch your own work so that she can identify whether you’ve missed opportunities to share what makes you—and your writing—unique. Writing that first draft and seeing how it can be rendered more “saleable” will teach you how to do the same thing—on your own—for your future pitches.

CORPORATE BRANDING + NAMING SERVICES

In addition to her creative writing, Courtney Maum has 20 years of experience working as a brand strategist, namer and copywriter for a vast array of clients. 

Courtney started off in trend forecasting in Paris, France at the heralded “Nelly Rodi” and “Alchimie” agencies, where she proved to have a sixth sense for the needs of her fashion and beauty clients. Accordingly, Courtney struck out on her own to collaborate with fashion, fragrance and cosmetic clients such as Thom Browne, Victoria’s Secret, L’Oréal, Dior, Proctor and Gamble, Lancôme, Sephora, Shu Uemura, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, MAC Cosmetics, and many others. Although she specializes in beauty, Courtney is equally versed in the pharmaceutical, insurance, banking, tech and automotive industries, where her clients include Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Aflac, Target, American Express and Bloomberg. For the past ten years, Courtney has consulted regularly for top naming agencies across the country, including Interbrand, Landor, CBX, Bloomberg, Futurebrand, the design agency M+ and Lippincott. A native English speaker, her fluency in French and beginner-level Italian and Spanish make her particularly adept at naming products and companies that will be released worldwide, and she knows how to navigate the legal hurdles clients face as they enter the trademark phase in their respective industries.

Selected naming hits include: "Mystikol" eye liner for Jane Iredale cosmetics; "Little Shelf" children's reading program for the Book of the Month Club; “Trellis” fertility services; the social media program "Heed" for IMG; the news outlet "Vocativ"; the personal and home fragrance house “Maison d’Etto,” and "Riley Rose", the new cosmetics brand from Forever 21. 

Specialties: Naming, Naming systems, Taglining, Concepting, Pitches, Brainstorms, Positioning statements and manifestos, Voice guidelines, Copywriting, Press Releases, Speeches, Artist statements, Manuscript consultations, Project synopses, Loglines, Agent query letters, French to English translation, Trend forecasting, curation and direction of creative leadership retreats.

Languages: English (native), French (bilingual), Spanish (beginner), Italian (notions)

Because of the confidential nature of the work that Courtney takes on, she does not maintain a portfolio. Work samples can be provided upon request, and selected testimonials are below. You can reach Courtney about a potential naming or copywriting opportunity at cbmaum at gmail dot com.

Testimonials

I have absolutely adored working with Courtney. The consummate professional, she consistently delivers thoughtful, highly creative, fresh, innovative content under extremely tight deadlines with expert results. One of my most reliable writers, she is always up for a challenge, tackling a diverse array of tones and subject matter and spinning out evocative product and shade names time and time again. Her work has a real punch, and I am always thrilled with the high energy and positivity she brings to the table. An extraordinarily hard worker, it's a rare gift to be able to hand off a project to a writer confident I'll receive something brilliant back. I can't recommend Courtney, or the quality of her work, highly enough.  -Amanda Aldinger, former editorial director at MAC Cosmetics

Courtney Maum is an unrivaled partner to anyone who needs a smart, creative solution to a business problem. There is no one I trust more highly to manage a naming project and create delightful and surprising names; write beautiful copy that is still, somehow, strategically sound; and handle the twists and turns of brand projects with total grace. I have worked with Courtney for close to seven years, and she is always the first person who comes to mind when I need a creative writer or namer. – Caitlin Barrett, former director at Interbrand, founder of DoubleBit Narrative

Courtney is one of those very rare writers who understands the ins of culture and who can also communicate it with absolute clarity to a larger audience. She’s a contributor for Interview Magazine, most recently interviewing a conceptual artist for us, and delivered the piece with wit and depth. I wish she’d write for us constantly; she’s professional, lightning-quick, and brilliant.—Christopher Bollen, Editor at Large at Interview Magazine

Courtney and I have collaborated on several projects involving international clients whose brand story needed to be "translated" to an American audience. As someone who is bi-cultural herself, Courtney really brings a lot of sensitivity and experience to what different cultures appreciate, in addition to her brilliant editorial talent and creativity. She would be a real asset to projects of any scope. – Franca Zanovello, founder of Zanovello Consultants

Courtney stands in a category of her own - her ability to capture the essence of the voice and positioning behind a brand, and articulate in words that perfectly reflect that - and in record time. To call it just copywriting would be an insult. She gets it from a holistic standpoint and is a valuable asset to the process. -Liz Friedland, founder of Liz Friedland Consulting