Coach & Editor April Gardner
I remember what it felt like being an aspiring author with a story on my heart and no idea how to begin.
The call was clear. The process? Not so much.
I’m April Gardner, a fiction coach and editor who helps Christian women turn their story ideas into structured, publishable novels—without the overwhelm or second-guessing.
I’ve walked this road myself—through small press contracts, agent missteps, and limiting beliefs that told me I wasn’t smart enough to be a “real writer.” For years, I worked uphill against learning disabilities and self-doubt. But with determination and a desire to honor God through story, I embraced the process, made every obstacle an opportunity, and discovered tools that helped me grow. That journey is what shaped me into the coach and editor I am today.
At Write Start Fiction Studio, I bring that same growth-first mindset into every client relationship. My editing and coaching are designed not just to improve a manuscript, but to teach the “why” behind every change—so writers gain clarity, confidence, and control of their craft.
Through my coaching program, I guide aspiring authors from scattered ideas to confident structure. Whether you’re stuck in the messy middle or afraid to begin, I’m here to help you move forward with wisdom, accountability, and peace.
What I Offer:
-Story coaching & project mapping
-Developmental and line editing
-First Fifty Focus, a comprehensive assessment designed to uncover the potential in your novel's first pages
🖊️ In the publishing world, I write under the name April W Gardner—an award-winning author of 20+ titles across five genres. But in this space, I’m here to walk alongside you.
🎒 Beekeeper. Polyglot. Editor. Encourager. National park wanderluster.
💌 Email me if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start writing.
Professional Bio
APRIL W GARDNER is an award-winning author whose great passion is writing stories set in little-known eras. She is an editor and book coach and the founder of Write Start Fiction Studio. After a five-year career as a traditionally published author, she went indie and has since published twenty books across five genres under the names April Gardner, April W Gardner, and Eden Rivers. Once an editor with Astraea Press, she now works freelance. One of her favorite aspects of editing is coaching new writers along the way. April lives in South Texas with her husband and two German shepherds. She's a beekeeper, a polyglot, and an avid traveler who dreams of visiting all the national parks.
April is certified through UCSD's editing program and holds a BA in English/Creative Writing from UTSA.
