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The Complete Guide to Writing Coaching
Everything you need to know about writing coaching, all in one place.
This guide will help you learn all about writing coaching so you can decide if it’s right for you - and if it is, how to go about finding a coach that fits your needs.
Table of Contents
Benefits Writers Get from Working with a Writing Coach
Practical Ways Writing Coaching Can Work for You
Where Do You Find a Writing Coach?
Who is Writing Coaching For?
Writing coaching is a great option for people who want to:
Improve their overall communication
Start a new writing project
Get creatively unstuck or out of a writing rut
Finish a writing project
Feel more confident in what they say and how they say it
Who it’s not for people who:
Think they already know everything about writing and want confirmation of that
Believe you can’t improve at things by practicing
Aren’t willing to show up to sessions and try new exercises and tasks
As a coach, I tend to work with women who:
Like to help other people, maybe even as their career
Want to write a nonfiction book
Have an idea but don’t know where to start
Have some writing done but don’t know how to organize it
Want my help - of course I have specialties, but my biggest goal is to help everyday people tell their stories
What Does a Writing Coach Do?
Writing coaches are professionals who can help you improve your writing. Similar to a teacher, coaches can give you advice, action steps, and encouragement as you work through a writing project. Unlike a teacher, coaches take on a limited number of clients, which allows them to provide better feedback and more support to each person.
Writing coaching tends to happen in two primary ways: in a group or 1-on-1.
Group coaching consists of getting together with a coach and other individuals to work on a project over a period of time. Many coaches do group coaching for a set number of months with live sessions, Q & As, and periods of time where they’ll give feedback to each member of the group. Having peers to work with over time can be great for getting and receiving feedback, as well as having other like-minded writers to support you on your journey. It’s almost like coaching plus peers.
1-on-1 or private coaching means that it’s just you and your coach during coaching sessions. 1:1 coaching tends to be pricier than groups because of the dedicated time you get with your coach. Usually private coaching comes with customized tasks to work on between sessions, check-ins with your coach, and other ways they let you know that they’re there for you. For many people, this is what they think of as “coaching” more so than a group.
Writing coaches tend to focus on one of three areas: development, skills, and publishing.
Sometimes you’ll find a coach who does more than one if they’ve had extensive experience in more than one part of the writing process, but mostly, we pick one area that we like to work with writers on the most.
Developmental writing coaches, which is what I am, work with the ideas. We love helping you begin a project and figure out where it’s going and what it can be when it’s done. We work with you on organizing your thoughts and beginning to write.
We love hearing about all of your wild ideas and we can help you begin to put them on the page with some kind of coherence - because let’s be honest, our brain is great at thinking about things about a mile a minute and not always great when it comes to actually writing said ideas down.
Some of the major things I work with clients on are creating habits, writing schedules, and organizing their thoughts so the writing process works for them. I also love working with clients who have some writing but aren’t sure where to go next. Above all, I work on confidence - you can do anything you like after the writing is on the page, but you have to be able to get it there first!
Writing coaches who focus on skills are probably the most prevalent. These coaches can work with you to hone your message through the more technical aspects of writing.
They enjoy working with you on identifying plot holes, developing characters, and figuring out the language of the story (i.e. tone, voice, etc.). They can help you identify patterns to improve your writing, such as words or phrases you overuse or the difference between passive and active voice. For nonfiction, they can help identify areas that might be confusing or where readers might get stuck.
Sometimes these coaches offer editing services, which is great if you want to eventually share your writing with other people. This also means they can show you how to do an effective edit on your own writing.
Writing coaches who focus on publishing are also called book coaches. There seem to be a large number of book coaches, which is awesome, if a little intimidating. Book coaches help you get your manuscript and proposal ready to query with the hope of getting published by a traditional publishing house.
They can also help you get a book ready to self-publish if you’re interested in going that route. These coaches are talented in the marketing and networking aspects of publishing. They can help most when your ideas are all shined up and ready to get sent out into the world, as they don’t focus on writing skills or development.
Benefits Writers Get from Working with a Writing Coach
It’s one thing to understand what coaching is all about, but why do people want it? What’s the point?
The short answer? To write better. (Hah!)
The realistic answer: there are a number of things writing coaches can help you do, depending on your goals. Everyone has a different mindset when they come to coaching, whether it’s a project they’ve been thinking about for years (more common than you might guess) or they want to write a book to get more clients.
It all begins with the confidence to start somewhere, which you can get from working with a coach.
Some of the other awesome benefits of working with a writing coach:
Workshop your Writing
Any writing coach should be looking at your writing with you, no matter which stage you’re at. Actively working on your writing with a coach can help you navigate new ideas, ask questions in real time, and grow as a writer. Writing is a skill, not a talent, so practice really does make perfect, or rather, practice makes a pretty good finished project.
Writing Organization
One of the most difficult things about writing is organizing it so that it makes sense to others. That’s where a writing coach can be extremely helpful. It’s completely okay if you don’t write a project or book from beginning to end (I definitely don’t). That doesn’t mean you don’t need a system for filing your writing so you can find the pieces you’re weaving together. You’ll also eventually need to put it in beginning, middle, and end order, so it’s helpful to develop a way to store things for when you’re finalizing everything at the end of the project.
Writing Goals
Even if you don’t want to write a whole book right now, having writing goals keeps you moving. Writing coaches work with you on setting short- and long-term goals, whether that’s sharing your wisdom with your inner circle or becoming a NY Times bestseller. Your writing goals are unique to you, and your coach should meet you where you’re at, even if you want to write a few pages and see how it goes. Talking through it, setting achievable goals, and checking in on them can do a world of good for your writing.
Accountability
Here’s the thing - people procrastinate. For writers, “tomorrow” can easily become a year from now because they don’t feel their writing is as important as other things in their life. Or maybe because they’re scared. Or they simply don't have anyone to keep them accountable for what they want to get done. Coaches are the ideal people to keep you accountable because they’re there for you. Most coaches check in between sessions and create tasks for between sessions, particularly with 1:1. Having an accountability partner can really help confidence, too, because if you’re working on the tasks, you can stop feeling bad that you pushed your writing goals back again. (Not that I have experience with that at all….haha)
Practical Ways Writing Coaching Can Work for You
One of the best (and worst?) things about writing is that it’s incredibly expressive. This is awesome because we get a release of everything that builds up and all of our amazing ideas. It’s also the worst because it can make sharing our work scary as hell. No one really wants to get criticism on such a vulnerable and personal thing. Alas, it’s something we have to do if we want to grow as writers.
So imagine how nice it would be if an experienced writer read what you’ve written and gave you feedback in a way that doesn’t feel like you got chewed and spit back out. This is where a writing coach comes into play.
Here are some ways writing coaching can work for you:
You’ll have a dedicated person to look at your writing and give you feedback that won’t make you want to cry ugly tears the rest of the day. I can’t speak for other coaches, but I don’t do the “tough love” thing because I’ve never seen any evidence that it actually works. There will always be things to improve, but it doesn’t have to be a painful process to work on them.
You’ll have a mentor to guide you. Someone who knows a heck of a lot about writing is there to help you get to your goals in a way that’s doable for you. Coaching is one part of your life that’s all about you, and having a mentor can open up a lot of opportunities for growth learning.
You’ll be accountable for your writing. It’s easy for writing to get moved to the bottom of your priorities list because it doesn’t always feel important. Even if it does, who’s really going to be keeping tabs on your progress besides you? Having an accountability partner (like your coach), helps you prioritize your writing.
You’ll begin to actually get writing done. Having a writing coach is really great for getting writing done on a regular basis because in the back of your mind, you know someone’s waiting to hear what’s next. Someone is excited to help you move forward.
You won’t have to face the emotions of writing alone. Writing can be lonely, there’s no avoiding that. Sometimes you might feel stuck or overwhelmed. Sometimes you just don’t know what’s next or where to start. A coach can help you work through these emotions and give you a place to start.
You’ll have achievable tasks to work on between sessions. Whether you want to do one coaching session or get coaching on an ongoing basis, a good coach should help you figure out what to work on to keep moving forward. That might be specific tasks between sessions or a next steps list after a single session. You shouldn’t be walking away wondering what to do next.
You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Will something “work” in a book? How do you do XYZ without the reader getting confused? Having a sounding board is one of the best parts of coaching because it’s a way to distinguish the good ideas from the ones that aren’t really working. Plus, it’s hard to see what will work. Usually simple is best, but sometimes talking through it is just what you need to get to the next step.
You’ll get a built-in hype person. No one needs a “yes person” but we all need a “hype person” - someone who believes in you and keeps cheering you on whether or not you feel like what you’re doing is good enough. Your coach should believe in you and encourage you regularly, not just to make you feel good but because it’s actually true.
You’ll have support when you’re not feeling confident. I’ve been the writer who pretty much gave up because I thought I wasn’t good enough…for a LONG time. So when I say that I understand my client’s hesitations, I really do get it. A coach is there to build that confidence and make sure you feel good about your writing. Yes, there are other factors, too - skills, plots, etc. But it really all starts with being sure enough in your voice to put something on the page. Everything else comes with it.
Where Do You Find a Writing Coach?
Typically I would probably say doing a Google search, and that might still be a good idea. After all, you do want to know who’s out there and what they have to offer! Looking on LinkedIn can also be a good place to start your research.
With that being said, there are a lot of conflicting messages out there and it can be overwhelming. It can also be hard to tell if someone would actually be good to work with when you’re reading website copy designed to get you to buy.
So, what I recommend is, after you’ve looked around and seen what’s available, ask your friends if anyone knows anyone (usually someone knows someone, especially if they’ve been working on writing, too. Personally, I feel like a reference from a trusted friend is always more comforting than copy on a website or even other reviews.
If you don’t have a reference, or you found someone who’s really promising, reach out to them! A few emails back and forth or even a quick Zoom call for a question-and-answer session can go a long way in helping you feel comfortable.
One other thing to note - watch out for the term “best.” It’s subjective, and honestly, what’s best for you may not be what’s best for others. If there’s anything I’ve learned since I’ve been writing professionally and coaching it’s that there’s always someone who’s been working longer or has more extensive experience than you. There are always people who offer services at low prices and luxury prices - neither of which is necessarily bad if they’re providing you with what you need. Coaching isn’t about finding the best coach, but finding the right coach for you.
How to Choose the Right Coach in 4 Simple Steps
Before you look for a coach:
Decide your main goal/purpose for getting a coach
When you’ve identified a possible coach:
Step 1: Read some of their recent content to see if it resonates with you.
Step 2: Find them on social media and see what they’re saying. Look at what others are saying about them & how they interact with their audience. Watch videos if they have any to see what they’re passionate about and how they speak to people.
Step 3: On their website, look further into their personality, experience, and prices. What are they promising? How long will you work with them to see these results?
Step 4: If available, book a complimentary session with them to see how the conversation goes. If they don’t have a free call, reach out to them or apply to coaching. Only take this step when you’re ready to get started - you probably don’t want to get on a ton of calls with people if you already know they’re not a good fit.
Notes on Choosing the Right Coach
Choosing a coach doesn’t have to be that complicated, but make sure you do your due diligence to know as much as you can about who you’d be working with.
It’s okay to “pick” someone and wait to work with them. Get involved with their content & community! Use it as an opportunity to learn from them before you work with them.
If you get any vibes that something isn’t right, whether that’s from copy, content, video, etc., choose another coach.
If you’re not sure about your first impression, read more about them. Interact with their content, wherever that is (blog, podcast, etc.)
Budget is important (obviously), but it shouldn’t be your only consideration.
More experience doesn’t always mean “better.” You need to be comfortable with their experience, whether that means education, years of experience coaching, or a specific kind of knowledge that you don’t have yet. Figure out what you will be comfortable with and remember that as you’re learning about them.
What Happens During a Writing Coaching Session?
Writing coaching can vary based on what you want and/or need for each session. By and large, though, what we do is have conversations. These are the things that typically happen in my coaching sessions, and I would imagine them to be quite similar for other coaches.
Before we dive into strategy and working together on your writing, we first set goals. These goals are what help your coach create the best and most helpful sessions for YOU, because you’re what it’s all about.
Knowing that everything is centered around your personalized goals, there are several things we’ll talk about each time we meet. They vary in proportions depending on the day and what you need or ask to focus on.
We’ll talk about your project & your writing. I’ll ask how it’s going, what progress you’ve made, what questions you have - all the stuff that’s going on with you right now (even if you didn’t quite live up to your own high expectations - don’t worry, we’ve all been there). This sets a conversational tone for the session, which is how it works best so our time together stays relaxed and productive.
We’ll talk about if or where you’re stuck, what your blocks are, and how to get unstuck. We all get stuck sometimes. It’s a when, not an if. Part of what makes this frustrating is that many times the reason is different each time! It’s not always easy to figure out why you were feeling extra creative on Thursday and completely blocked on Friday.
So we’ll talk about it. Whatever it is, we’ll find it and figure it out. I’m here to help you bust through your blocks like a writing ninja. Well, I’m really more of a Bob Ross: paint your way out of your writing blocks with a happy little cloud (because let’s be honest, I’m definitely not a ninja).
We’ll talk about your goals & work on them. We’ll check in and see how your goals feel and your progress toward them. We don’t want goals that don’t feel good or don’t feel aligned with what you want to do. We’ll check in on your tasks between sessions and anything good, bad, or ugly that came up while you were working on them. And, we’ll choose a piece to work on during our time together.
If we need to adjust your overall goals, we will. If you’re still feeling good about them (woohoo!), we’ll talk about the next steps you can take to achieve them - always keeping things doable, of course. For my clients who like to do single sessions, we set up the next three steps they can take to keep moving forward.
I’ll give you tasks to work on between sessions. Some people call this “homework.” As a teacher, I can tell you from experience that giving homework to an adult, especially a professional, doesn’t always sit well. After all, coaching isn’t school. I’m not there to grade you on how thoroughly you completed an assignment. During coaching, I’ll guide & mentor you (hopefully inspiring you to keep going!), but it’s collaborative, not a teacher/student relationship.
Everything we do is designed to help you based on your goals and what you’ve shared with me. I do give tasks between sessions to remind you of what you’re working toward when we’re not together, and to help you make progress. If you decide not to do them, that’s your choice; but, I think you’ll be intrigued enough to try them out (and you’ll be amazed when the weird stuff works).
No matter what we do, or where the conversation leads, the 3 most important things that will happen in each session are that:
You’ll feel good about your project.
You’ll have action steps to take to move forward.
You’ll be more confident than when we started (even if it’s just a little).
Strategy does matter. Logistics and goals and all the things that you do to write your book are important. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: you can already do those things. Sure, they might be a little less targeted or take longer. But you don’t need me to write your book - your brilliant ideas and your words will do that for you.
What you do need is to feel confident about being able to write that book. You need to believe in yourself enough to start even when you’re hesitant and work through it when you’re stuck. You need the best you to write your book, and that’s what I’m here to help show you.
Yes, I give you strategies because there are plenty of things you learn as a professional writer & writing teacher that might not occur to you to try if you're working in a different industry. But the best thing I can do for you is encourage you and show you how awesome you are so you can continue on your way. That’s what coaching sessions are really all about.
Want to talk more about coaching? Reach out today - let’s have a chat.
There’s No “Easy Button” for Writing: 5 Lessons I’ve Learned the Hard Way
There’s no “easy button” and other writing lessons I’ve learned the hard way (you probably won’t see them coming!)
I was on a Teams call with a colleague the other day and we were working on copy for a new web page. It’s going to be a great resource (if you’re in the healthcare provider world, it might even be for you!).
As we were chatting about the brand style, I mentioned that it irritates me to no end that our brand at work doesn’t use the Oxford comma. Also called the serial comma, it’s the one that separates lists. For instance, it makes me sad, annoyed, and huffy when I have to take them out of all the writing I’m editing. It’s that comma before the and.
Anyway, so we were talking about it and laughing about how many nuances there are, but also he thought it was a funny writer’s rant. After all, no one really cares that much about commas besides writers, right? It is kind of a funny thing to get annoyed about. The funnier thing is that I have this conversation a lot. Like, every time I write for a new client or edit someone’s work. IT’S A CLARITY THING.
Later that evening I was thinking about the conversation because even though I’ve been writing most of my life, there are still things that get me. For instance, I almost always spell the word “professor” wrong the first time, and “restaurant.”
You probably have some of those, too, don’t you?
It’s kind of assumed that the more skilled you become and the more you practice writing, it’ll just somehow get easier. Sure, some things do. Your voice feels more natural, and you can start self-correcting small errors or noticing patterns you don’t like faster. But the truth of it is that writing is actually pretty damn hard, even for those of us who love it and practice it all the time.
Because it’s hard, a lot of people are intimidated by it. Like, who wants to have an intentionally difficult hobby or set themselves up for a career where they literally won’t ever know everything about it?
There’s quite a bit of nuance in writing, though. It’s creative, ambitious, and completely wide open. On the same day you can write about healthcare eligibility and benefits AND cool things the practice of writing has taught you. I mean, that’s pretty neat, right?
All of this is to say that, if you’re looking for an “easy button” for your writing, it doesn’t exist. Part of writing is the process of doing it (sometimes badly), learning, and improving. (And no, ChatGPT does NOT count as an easy button because it’s not you doing the writing.)
When you approach it that way, it becomes a lot more palatable because learning about something you like is fun. Doing something you love, even if you’re not the best at it, is enjoyable and freeing.
If you’re on the fence about whether you want to start writing, here are a few lessons I’ve learned that will help. From one writer to another (even if you haven’t quite named yourself that yet), you can do whatever you want with your writing! But please, for the sake of everyone involved, use the Oxford comma. ;)
Writing is Different for Everyone
There are many writing conventions available to help guide the technical aspects of your writing. I’m sure there are a million videos on YouTube about how to write this or that, too. I’d caution you to be careful with the ones that say you’re going to write a full book in a weekend that will be publishable - that’s likely to end in disappointment.
No matter how you want the writing to look once it’s done, everyone has a different process and habits that work best for them. Some considerations to keep in mind to help you find your groove:
Do you want to write by hand or type on a computer/laptop/tablet?
Do you want to be alone when you’re writing? Or does a communal place like a coffee shop inspire you to get creative?
What kind of mindset do you need to have to feel good about your work? Do you want to accomplish a certain task or write a certain part of the story?
How often do you want to work on your project(s)?
Will you be sharing your writing? Or do you want to keep it private and enjoy the feeling it gives you to express yourself on the page?
By the way, there’s not a right or wrong answer to these questions! All are valid. You get to decide how you approach your writing.
There’s More Than One Reason to Write
When we’re in school, it feels like all we do is write essays and research what other people tell us to. Even if we pick a topic, there’s still an element of worry because someone will be grading it. Having been on both sides of the classroom, I can tell you it’s a little nerve-wracking on both sides! Teachers have to figure out how to give kind, but useful feedback on the writing no matter what’s there.
Writing out in the big wide adult world doesn’t have to feel like this at all. People write for any number of reasons, and most of them aren’t tied to school at all! For instance, people write:
Memos and emails to their colleagues
Articles that other people will read
Social media posts (+ videos! There’s quite a bit of wordsmithing done in those, even if you can’t see it in the finished product)
Poems & Short stories
Books - for fun and for business
Journals
Love notes
Lists of all kinds
No matter what kind of writing you want to do, there’s a place for it. And you know what? Your nightstand or desk drawer is a perfectly fine place if you want to write just for you. It’s not all about other people.
There’s Not a Right Way to Write
This might be a little contentious, but writing doesn’t always have to be “right” by Western English standards. First of all, that doesn’t take into consideration any regional dialects or accents. But also, people don’t actually sound like that when they talk, so why would all of our writing need to follow those rules?
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some places where following the rules is necessary. But if you’re just starting out or writing for fun, they’re not really that big of a deal. If it comes up when you’re finished drafting, you can always edit it.
Some fun rules to play around with in writing:
Dialogue - how people talk and how you can show the way they really speak with words (Alice Walker does an awesome job with this in The Color Purple)
Capitalization and form (if you want to know how that might look, check out e.e. cummings and bell hooks)
Ending sentences however you feel like it (not ending a sentence in a preposition isn’t a real rule anyhow)
My advice is to figure out how you want to sound and what sounds like you, then worry about rules that might apply - or not.
Writing is Hard
The act of writing itself is hard. It’s difficult to build worlds and express feelings and explain the world. There aren’t a whole lot of other activities that require so much of us as writing. Plus, a lot of times it’s lonely because we’re working on our own project or story.
Putting words on the page that literally didn’t exist before you put them there
Finding the “right” words
Saying what you want to say and having others understand it (i.e. “It sounded good in my head but not on paper)
Our words are powerful, so we have to be aware of that if we choose to share it
Words can be shared faster than you can blink and say, “Wait, what?”
You can’t control how others might interpret what you’re saying
Creating with your emotions can be draining
I think creatives, and especially writers, don’t give themselves enough credit for the amazing things they do. Not everyone is willing to give so much of their time and talents to bring new things into the world. We sometimes take it for granted that we’re drawn to writing as a habit, a lifestyle, or a calling even. Words and stories are what connects us all as people - to be able to figure out what that means and looks like in your own life is incredible.
Writing is a Skill, Not a Talent
This is one of the first things I tell any class or workshop I’m leading. Writing is a learnable skill. You’re not born with it (we’re not Maybelline over here), even if you discover you like it as a young person.
The people who are really good at writing practice…and practice…and practice again. A few other things that can help you grow your writing skills:
Reading and looking up words you see that you don’t know
Listening to/watching interviews with authors you admire
Talking through your ideas out loud either on a recording or with a friend
Do word puzzles/play word games
Work on how you think about writing
You can learn to write. If you want to be a “good” writer, you totally can. Or, if you just want to enjoy it without having to go through the annoying “why should I even bother, I’m no good at this” thought process.
Just because there’s no “easy button” for writing doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and enjoy it. I’m constantly surprised and delighted by what I learn through words and I’ve been at it for almost 30 years! Take a deep breath and give yourself a chance - who knows what you’ll be able to create.
If you find you’re stuck, this book for anxious writers might help. :)
The Most Important Thing You Need to Know About Coaching Sessions
The other day I was nervously awaiting a meeting with a new client and I was trying to figure out why I was so nervous...I was nervous about what I didn’t know...I thought to myself that new coaching clients probably feel a lot like this, too...so if I demystified what a coaching session looks like, or at least what’s involved, it might allay some fears and get you excited instead of nervous...
The other day I was nervously awaiting a meeting with a new client and I was trying to figure out why I was so nervous. I mean, it wasn’t my meeting - I wasn’t going to be running it at least, and the whole purpose of my being there was to get information so I could work on a new project. Exciting!
After the meeting was over, I wasn’t nervous anymore. So, clearly, the nerves were about the meeting. I went on about my day, tooling around the house doing the dishes, working on some other writing projects - a pretty average day.
As I stood washing the pots and pans (one of the most common places for big realizations in my world), I managed to figure out what was going on. I was nervous about what I didn’t know. It wasn’t the work, or the scope of the project, or even meeting new people (although 8 people in a Zoom meeting with a new client is kind of a lot, even for me). It was the fact that I didn’t know what would happen or what was expected of me.
As I was standing there, I thought to myself that new coaching clients probably feel a lot like this, too. After all, you’re making an investment in yourself & your dreams, which is already kind of nerve-wracking, especially if it’s your first time.
I know I get nervous the first time talking to a new coach! Even when I love the work they do and they’re obviously a great fit for what I need. So I thought maybe if I demystified what a coaching session looks like, or at least what’s involved, it might allay some fears and get you excited instead of nervous - because the excited part of you is the one who should be making the decision, and the one who’s ready to get your book written!
The Gist
What we do in coaching is have conversations. Before we dive into strategy and working together on your writing, we first set goals. These goals are what help me create the best & most helpful sessions for YOU, because you’re what it’s all about.
Knowing that everything is centered around your personalized goals, there are several things we’ll talk about each time we meet. They vary in proportions depending on the day and what you need or ask to focus on.
We’ll talk about your project & your writing. I’ll ask how it’s going, what progress you’ve made, what questions you have - all the stuff that’s going on with you right now (even if you didn’t quite live up to your own high expectations - don’t worry, we’ve all been there). This sets a conversational tone for the session, which is how it works best so our time together stays relaxed and productive.
We’ll talk about where you’re stuck or what your blocks are. We all get stuck sometimes. It’s a when, not an if. Part of what makes this frustrating is that many times the reason is different each time! It’s not always easy to figure out why you were feeling extra creative on Thursday and completely blocked on Friday.
So we’ll talk about it - maybe it’s about what’s going on in your life or your business. Maybe it’s the part of the novel or book you’re working on. Maybe it’s that you’re kind of freaked out because you had a super powerful thought you’ve never had before (which is awesome, by the way). Whatever it is, we’ll find it.
We’ll talk about ways to get unstuck. I’m here to help you bust through your blocks like a writing ninja. Well, I’m really more like Bob Ross: paint your way out of your writing blocks with a happy little cloud (because let’s be honest, I’m definitely not a ninja).
Either way, once we figure out where you’re stuck, we’ll talk about ways to work through it. I’ll recommend some strategies for you to try between sessions - some of them (like having a conversation with the main character in your novel) might seem funky, but they work.
We’ll talk about your goals. Goal-setting and progress, no matter how small, is always top of mind. We’ll check in and see how your goals feel and your progress toward them. We don’t want goals that don’t feel good or don’t feel aligned with what you want to do.
If we need to adjust goals, we will. If you’re still feeling good about them (woohoo!), we’ll talk about the next steps you can take to achieve them - always keeping things doable, of course.
I’ll give you tasks to work on between sessions. Some people call this “homework.” As a teacher, I can tell you from experience that giving homework to an adult, especially a professional, doesn’t always sit well. After all, coaching isn’t school. I'm not your teacher, and I’m not there to grade you on how thoroughly you completed an assignment. During coaching, I’ll guide & mentor you (hopefully inspiring you to keep going!), but it’s collaborative, not a teacher/student relationship.
Everything we do is designed to help you based on your goals and what you’ve shared with me. I do give tasks between sessions to remind you of what you’re working toward when we’re not together, and to help you make progress. If you decide not to do them, that’s your choice; but, I think you’ll be intrigued enough to try them out (and you’ll be amazed when the weird stuff works).
The Most Important Thing
No matter what we do, or where the conversation leads, the 3 most important things that will happen in each session are that:
You’ll feel good about your project.
You’ll have action steps to take to move forward.
You’ll be more confident than when we started (even if it’s just a little).
Strategy does matter. Logistics and goals and all the things that you do to write your book - fiction or non - are important. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: you can already do those things. Sure, they might be a little less targeted or take longer. But you don’t need me to write your book - your brilliant ideas and your words will do that for you.
What you do need is to feel confident about being able to write that book. You need to believe in yourself enough to start even when you’re hesitant (or full out terrified) and work through it when you’re stuck. You need the best you to write your book, and that’s what I’m here to help show you.
Yes, I give you strategies because there are plenty of things you learn as a professional writer & writing teacher that might not occur to you to try if you're working in a different industry. But the best thing I can do for you is encourage you and show you how awesome you are so you can continue on your way. THAT’S what coaching sessions are really all about.
My challenge to you is book a session and see the amazing things we can do in just one hour.
Have you done a writing coaching session? How did it go? What would make you ecstatic to book a session TODAY? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.
Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.
How to Choose the Right Coach
Wondering how to choose the right coach when there are so many to choose from? It doesn’t have to be that complicated!
Wondering how to choose the right coach when there are so many to choose from?
It doesn’t have to be that complicated!
Notes on Choosing a Coach
Choosing a coach doesn’t have to be that complicated, but make sure you do your due diligence to know as much as you can about who you’d be working with.
It’s okay to “pick” someone and wait to work with them. Get involved with their content & community! Use it as an opportunity to learn from them before you work with them.
If you get any vibes that something isn’t right, whether that’s from copy, content, video, etc., choose another coach.
If you’re not sure about your first impression, read more about them. Interact with their content, wherever that is (blog, podcast, etc.)
Budget is important (obviously), but it shouldn’t be your only consideration.
More experience doesn’t always mean “better.” You need to be comfortable with their experience, whether than means education, years experience, or a specific kind of knowledge that you don’t have yet. Figure out what you will be comfortable with (whether they’re a few steps ahead of you or already doing your dream job) and remember that as you’re reading their copy.
4 Simple Steps to Choosing the Right Coach
Before you look for a coach:
Decide your main goal/purpose for getting a coach
When you’ve identified a possible coach:
Step 1: Read some of their recent content to see if it resonates with you.
Step 2: Find them on social media and see what they’re saying. Look at what others are saying about them & how they interact with their audience. Watch videos if they have any to see what they’re passionate about and how they speak to people.
Step 3: Look at their website and look further into their personality, experience, and prices. What are they promising? And how long will you work with the to see these results?
Step 4: If available, book a complimentary session with them to see how they converse with you. If they don’t have a free call, reach out to them or apply to coaching. NOTE: Only take this step when you’re ready to get started - you probably don’t want to get on a ton of calls with people if you already know they’re not a good fit.
Interested in Writing Coaching with Me?
Visit the coaching page to read more about how my coaching works (my promises & timeline from step 3).
Coaching that Works Like Magic and Feels Like a Coffee Date
Imagine how nice it would be if an experienced writer read your writing (pretty much your baby by the time you hand it over) and gave you feedback in a way that doesn’t feel like you got chewed and spit back out. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? Enter: Writing Coach
With an abundance of coaching out there, I often find myself wondering: how does it work? Especially when I see new kinds of coaches, or more open-ended kinds of coaching. For instance, life coaching.
How do you know you need a life coach? And how would life coaching help me, if I decided I needed one?
I was interviewing someone about mental health coaching the other day, and as she was explaining what she does, it made so much sense! But because I’d never heard of it before, I probably wouldn’t have reached out if I’d seen an ad or something. (By the way, If you’re curious, read all about what a mental health coach is here - very cool!)
As I was reflecting, it occurred to me that the benefits of what I do as a writing coach may not be super obvious. After all, I hadn’t heard anything about writing coaches until I got into the online business world. And even then, there’s a TON of mixed messaging.
If you’re still a little fuzzy about what writing coaching is, read this. It’s all about what I do, and what other kinds of writing coaches there are..
Anyway, today I wanted to share why writing coaching can help you - what you get out of the bargain! After all, it’s your work and creativity that you’re contemplating, right? It’s gotta make sense for YOU!
9 Ways Writing Coaching Can Work for You
One of the best (and worst?) things about writing is that it’s amazingly expressive. We can pour our hearts and souls onto the page and maybe someday someone will read it and totally get us and what we’re all about.
This is awesome because we get a release of everything that builds up and all of our amazing ideas. It’s also the worst because it can make sharing our work SCARY AS HELL. Seriously. I mean, no one really wants to get criticism on the thing that’s a little piece of them, right? It’s just something we have to do if we want to grow as writers.
So imagine how nice it would be if an experienced writer read your writing (pretty much your baby by the time you hand it over) and gave you feedback in a way that doesn’t feel like you got chewed and spit back out. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right?
Enter: Writing Coach.
One of the best things about getting coaching is having a dedicated person to look at your writing and give you feedback that won’t make you want to cry ugly tears the rest of the day. I don’t know about other coaches, but I don’t believe in the “tough love” thing. It makes me cringe even just thinking about it because let’s be real - a lot of what people say during “tough love” talks are mean, which is unnecessary. I’m so not about that.
If you’ve just handed off your writing to someone and you’re already nervous about it to begin with, the answer is NOT for me to come back with “yeah, this pretty much bites, let’s fix it.” Nuh uh.
Also, I don’t feel like that’s good mentorship anyway. Don’t get me wrong, there will always be things to improve in your writing. I write and coach writers for a living and my stuff still isn’t perfect! (And it doesn’t need to be either.)
But, when you have a writing coach acting as a mentor, it means you have someone actively paying attention to what you’re doing with your writing. It also means you have someone who knows a heck of a lot about writing doing their very best to help you get your writing and skills where you want to be. Coaching is one of the times in life that really is all about you.
When I work with you during writing coaching, I love starting where you’re at today! Setting goals, seeing you work at them, and improve is pretty much the best. Plus, working together means you have accountability for your writing. It’s not just you anymore, which makes it easier to keep going.
I don't know about you, but sometimes when I say “Oh I’m going to write a new section of my novel this week” it gets kicked to the end of the priorities list. Not because I don’t want to write, or because I don’t care, but because I’m not really accountable to anyone else. It’s just me hanging out with my super cool half a book.
Having an accountability partner has really helped me make a lot of progress, and that’s a great benefit of writing coaching: you get a built in accountability partner. (If you want to read more about why accountability partners are super helpful for writers, read this.)
Once you’re on the hook with a writing coach, and therefore being accountable, you’ll notice that you begin to get a lot more writing done. You’ll write regularly because in the back of your mind, you know someone’s waiting to hear what’s next in your novel or all the sage advice going into your non-fiction book. It’s a win-win.
Writing coaches also help you write. When you get stuck, have writer’s block, feel overwhelmed with the amount of work still to do on your project, or just plain don’t know where to start, your coach can guide you through. I like to give tasks in between coaching sessions. Activities that, based on our conversation, I know will get you writing when you’re working on your own.
Nothing I tell clients is rocket science, and it’s not usually very complicated, because I find that the simple things usually work the best. I also know it’s hard to see what’ll work when you’ve gotten so deep into your project - so I help you! You don’t have to figure it out on your own, or work on it by yourself wondering “Is this really worth it?”
Most of all, and hands down my favorite thing about writing coaching, is encouraging writers. We’re not all confident in ourselves and our writing. And we’re not always sure if what we’re doing “works” or if we’re even “good enough” to consider calling ourselves a writer. I mean, I’ll be the first to tell you there are days I sit down to write an article or a section of my novel and I finish and I’m like WOOF that is AWFUL.
One “bad” piece of writing doesn’t make me a bad writer, though, and it doesn’t make you a bad writer, either! But I bet not very many people have stopped to tell you that, have they? The most important part of my role as a writing coach is to support writers when they’re not confident.
I’ve been the writer who pretty much gave up because I thought I wasn’t good enough. For a LONG time. I kept making excuses about why I couldn’t write and telling myself I didn’t really want to write that much (have you done this, too?). I was really just scared and it took a long time to build my confidence to a level where I could even consider writing creatively, let alone sharing that with someone else!
So when I coach, confidence and making sure you feel good - and I mean, solidly good, not just “eh, maybe” good - about your writing is my #1 job. Everything else comes with it.
My challenge to you is to book a free call with me to talk about how writing coaching can help you.
Have you worked with a writing coach before? Want to know something else about writing coaching I didn’t talk about? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.
Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.
What is a Writing Coach?
I read a rather upsetting article the other day...As a writing coach, it’s hard to read about what I do in such a negative light. Hell, in a human way, it’s hard to read that people do that to other people!...But after I got over all of these emotions tumbling out of my mind around me, it occurred to me that maybe people don’t really know what writing coaches do. So here goes: an explanation...
I read a rather upsetting article the other day. It was called “8 Ways to Defend Yourself Against Writing Coach Scams” and even as I clicked, I was slinking down in my seat.
It was bad.
The article itself was fine, if a little bland, but it was published in a reputable publication.
Have you ever had one of those moments where you go from thrilled to the bone to do something to questioning all of your decisions? Spoiler alert: it SUCKS.
My face when I have a moment of insecurity because someone else thinks my business is a scam.
As a writing coach, it’s hard to read about what I do in such a negative light. Hell, in a human way, it’s hard to read that people do that to other people! I mean, come on. Who builds their life around scamming people who are just trying to do what they love? Or make a better life for themselves?
Gross. Seriously.
But after I got over all of these emotions tumbling out of my mind around me, it occurred to me that maybe people don’t really know what writing coaches do. I mean, I didn’t really know until I got more involved in the online business world. And there are SO many types of coaches, even just within my little world of writing!
So here goes: an explanation of what a writing coach can actually do for you, what I focus on specifically (it’s not scamming you - ain’t nobody got time for that!), and what it can help you accomplish as a writer. After all, you are a writer, right? Or you want to be - even if you haven’t quite called yourself one yet. (Which, by the way, completely okay! It’s a whole thing.)
What Does a Writing Coach Do?
Writing coaches tend to focus in one of two areas: development and publishing. Sometimes you’ll find a coach who does both, if they’ve had extensive experiences in more than one part of the writing process, but mostly, we pick one area that we like to work with writers on the most.
Developmental writing coaches, which is what I am, work with the ideas. We work with you on your thoughts to organize them and start writing. It’s mostly big picture stuff like creating a system of organization, habits, and writing schedule.
We love hearing about all of your wild ideas and we can help you begin to put them on the page with some kind of coherence - because let’s be honest, our brain is great at thinking about things about a mile a minute and not always great when it comes to actually writing said ideas down.
Writing coaches who focus on publishing are also called book coaches. There are a CRAZY number of book coaches, which is awesome, if a little intimidating. Book coaches help you get your manuscript ready to query with the hope of getting published by a traditional publishing house.
They can also help you get a book ready to self-publish, if you’re interested in going that route. These guys and gals are talented in the marketing and networking aspects of publishing. They can help most when you’re ideas and all shined up and ready to get sent out into the world.
Personally, I love the development - ideas - stage of writing. It’s a super passion for me because confidence is a big deal in the beginning of a new writing project, or a writing career. It’s easy to miss the connection between confidence and writing because, since writing is a skill, it is possible to communicate clearly without being confident. However, just because you can email your boss with ease (maybe) doesn’t mean you would feel good about sitting down to write a novel.
That takes GUTS.
So when I work with writers during coaching, a lot of what I do is build up confidence and make you feel good about where you’re at right now. It’s hard to improve when you don’t really feel good about where you’re starting.
Plus, I get it. I have one of those stories that people are like “Why did you stop writing for so long?” (7 years, to be exact), and it’s literally because I didn’t know how to take criticism and feedback. My confidence was super fragile and having your parents say you’re good at something doesn’t really make you feel great when a professional tells you you’re not.
How Can a Writing Coach Help You Be a Better Writer?
So what the heck do people use a writing coach for?
Short answer? To write better.
Hah!
Better answer: there are a number of things that writing coaches can help you do, depending on your goals.
Some of the things that I work with writers on include:
Writing a Novel
Going from idea (or hazy midnight thought to an actual, working idea) through the writing itself. We plan, write, and look at your writing together, similar to a writing workshop.
Writing a Non-Fiction Book
Planning and setting goals for a non-fiction book, like an e-book or something for business, and helping you get through the writing. Similar to a novel, we plan, write, and workshop your writing - with the added consideration of your specific audience. Who exactly is it for and what do you want them to do with the info once they get it from your awesome book?
Writing Organization
Helping you get your thoughts and writing project into some kind of recognizable book-shaped thing. It’s okay if you don’t write the book from beginning to end - I sure as hell don’t! That doesn’t mean you don’t need a system to put everything into so you can actually find the pieces you’re weaving together. Also, eventually it will need to have a beginning, middle, and end, so it’s helpful to develop a way to process things and keep them for later when you're finalizing everything.
Writing Goals
Even if you don’t want to write a whole book right now, having writing goals keeps you moving. We work together on setting both short- and long-term goals so you can take baby steps toward your writing dreams. Even if you want to be a NY Times bestseller. Even if you just want to write a few pages and see how it goes. No matter what it is, we’ll talk about it together, set goals, and check-in on them frequently.
Accountability
Here’s the thing - people procrastinate, right? For writers, “tomorrow” can easily become a year from now because they don’t feel like their writing is as important as other things in their life. Or maybe because they’re scared. Or even because they simply just don't have anyone to keep them accountable to what they want to get done. So, as a coach, I do check-ins and create specific tasks for you so you can start doing what you want (and stop feeling bad that you pushed your writing dream back again.)
Where Do You Find a Writing Coach?
I’d like to point out the power of Google...EXCEPT that’s probably not the best thing to do in this instance. I mean, definitely do your research, but Google is a super mixed bag with articles that are informative and articles that supposedly tell “definitively” whether you need a writing coach (or not). Oh, and about the scams. RE: Scared the hell out of me the other day (and I AM a writing coach who WILL hire a book coach when I’m ready. Yikes!)
So, what I recommend is asking around your writer friend circle if anyone knows a writing coach they love (surely someone knows someone). Personally, I feel like a reference from a trusted friend is always more comforting than great copy on a website or other reviews I might find.
I would also love to work with you! If you’re interested in what’s included in my coaching packages, you can check that out here. And, if you have any questions, we’ll hop on a call and chat.
There will never be a point where I tell you that I’m the only person who does what I do. Or the best in the world. I mean, I’d like to think I’m pretty great (lol) but in all reality, you’re the only person who can decide whether I’m the right fit for you. If there’s anything I’ve learned about working with writers and marketers and brilliant people in all kinds of industries, it’s that “best” is subjective. There’s almost always someone with more credentials or experience or XYZ than you. It’s just a fact with so many people here on Earth.
BUT
I love what I do, and I’m a damn good writer. I do it for a living! And I’ve loved it all my life. So, I definitely could be the best writing coach for you, which is way more important than “best writing coach ever” or whatever other boxes people tell you to “make sure” they have when you work with them.
My challenge to you is to think about your writing dream and book a call about writing coaching.
Have you read anything different about writing coaching? Had different experiences with coaches? Have questions I didn’t answer? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.
Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.