What Is a Writing Coach?
Book coaching is designed to help elevate you to the next level in a specific area of focus. When it comes to writing, it can often feel isolating because it is done sitting alone on a computer. That’s why it’s important to remember that expanding into the storyteller we desire to become, requires support to keep developing as a writer.
A writing or book coach is someone who can assist along your author's journey, moving you closer to your goals. No matter if you dream of being a best-selling fiction writer or being consistent with publishing your blog, a writing coach can provide the guidance needed to overcome any obstacles that come up along the way.
Just as the personal training world has a range of coaches from weekly workout plans to bodybuilding, writing coaches can have a spectrum of disciplines. The format with which coaching comes to life can take many shapes. Some writing coaches may focus on the technical aspects of writing such as character development, plot, or sentence structure. Other writing coaches focus on the writer themselves helping them to overcome fears and objections while defining the WHY behind creating the writing piece as I do with Her Narrative.
Asking for help is hard, especially when you’re just getting started and playing around with words that you aren’t sure should ever see the day of light. But here’s the thing, the world needs your story. We all have a story to share and these stories can help other people by providing a much-needed laugh or guidance through a difficult time.
Now, more than ever, we’re in a period of time where we need more stories from women. The more that we can show up in our truth and share our perspective, the more we can help the world develop more empathy and understanding to prompt change.
By working with a writing coach, you can gain clarity around your voice, story’s direction, and tackle the inevitable resistance to the creative process.
What Does a Writing Coach Do?
There are many types of writing coaches including a nonfiction writing coach, a creative writing coach, a general book writing coach, or a personal writing coach, to name a few. Writing coaches might be genre specific or be more general. When it comes to writing, there are many formats in which a writer may need support. One distinction to make is that many writing coaches are not editors. That means that writing coaches may support the writer in overcoming any fears of owning the title of “Author” in addition to creating a sustainable writing process. Some writing coaches may assist with developmental editing which is coaching a client on outlining their story for plot logic.
When it comes to manuscript review for spelling, grammar, and sentence structure, some writing coaches may support this process but generally, that falls in the scope of an editor. Depending on what stage of the writing process you are in, working with an editor in addition to a writing coach can be very beneficial.
Sessions with a writing coach may vary in structure based on the coach’s style and often include conversation and writing exercises based on your needs. When deciding to work with a coach, it’s important to understand their style so that you can make sure their format is right for your needs as a writer.
In general, a writing coach will help:
Defining what your writing piece is about
Helping you to define the audience that your writing is for
Nurturing your mindset and assisting with any fears and resistance that come up during the creative process
How to Find a Book Coach.
Coaching is personal and finding the right coach for you is important. Each coach has their own perspective and it's important to find someone that makes you feel safe and secure in sharing where you are now and where you’d like to go. When reaching out to potential coaches, it can be helpful to have a list of questions you’d like them to answer. Here are some examples:
Why are you passionate about coaching writers?
What will the format of each of our sessions look like?
How available are you for ongoing sessions?
Based on my goals, how can you support me?
Listen to their answers, the words they use can help you determine which coach is a good match for you. For example, a coach who talks about diligence, pushing through, and hustle is going to be a very different coach from one that uses words such as empathy, intuition, and gut-check. There is a place and time for both but knowing what style works best for you is the key to determining the right coach for you.
When it comes to finding the right writing coach for you, start with a Google search and be sure to check out their social media to get a feel for their personality.
Another great way to find the best coach for you is to ask your network to see if they can recommend anyone. If you’re feeling too shy to ask your network as an aspiring writer who isn’t ready to tell everyone what you are working on, then social media might be a great way to find and connect with people who have worked with coaches to get their thoughts or read reviews. It is also worth checking out writing workshops from various organizations that also offer writing coaching to see if their instructors are a good fit for you such as Gotham Writers.
No matter your goals as a writer, know that you are not alone in the process. Gaining support and guidance can only help your progress flourish into the celebration of completing your next writing project!
If you’re looking for a writing program to help you develop your novel and writing practice, learn more about the PageTurner Workshop or book a complimentary call for 1:1 coaching.
