A writing coach supports you
“Writer coaching empowers you with the tools and knowledge to write your book and evolve as a writer.”
If you want to write a book but…
- you just can’t get started, or
- you’ve almost finished writing the book but you’ve come up against dreaded writer’s block, or
- you’ve finished writing the book but it doesn’t seem ready for the next step – editing
…then writer coaching and mentoring to develop your writing might be just what you need.
The aim of coaching is to empower you with the tools and knowledge to help you write your book and evolve as a writer.
Writer coaching and mentoring help you grow and develop as a writer, improving your writing skills and your craft. You receive feedback on your writing, with focus on both the strengths and the issues. With one-on-one coaching and mentoring, you can thoroughly pick the writing coach’s brains!
Can I write a book?
I often hear from people who’ve never written a book before and who think they don’t have the skills. They ask about ghostwriting. That is one solution. But for most people, ghostwriting is significantly out of budget.
People are often surprised when I suggest they can learn the skills to write a book themselves – with the right guidance. Sure, you can wait until you’ve written the book and then have it professionally edited. That is another way to go about it, especially if you’re confident about your writing skills. If however you’re a new writer and you haven’t had the benefit of guidance through the writing process, it’s likely the book’s going to need a very heavy edit. That translates into a significant editing fee.
While coaching will improve your writing immensely, it is not intended as a substitute for editing. It is strongly recommended your manuscript be professionally edited after the final draft is complete. However, because your manuscript will probably go through several improvement passes during the coaching/mentoring period, the subsequent edit should take less time and therefore cost less.
Making a start
You’ve decided you have a book in you. But each time you try to make a start, you walk away from a blank piece of paper or an empty computer screen after half an hour of frustration.
Writer frustration
A good writing coach can help you get started. One way they can do this is by working out a structure first. Another is by helping you come up with a strong opening scene. Different writers have different creative processes, and your writing coach can help you in the way that works best for you.
I’m close to the finish
Have you written a lot of the book but have now reached a roadblock?
You might be unhappy with the sentence structure, the beginning, the ending… You might think there are plot holes. You might lack confidence in writing dialogue, or have issues with spelling and grammar. Perhaps you’re unsure how to resolve the problem that your hero faces.
A writing coach will discuss your issues with you and offer objective input and suggestions so that together, you’ll come up with solutions and you can continue writing with confidence.
The book is finished, but it doesn’t feel right
Have you written the book, but feel that it is not yet ready for editing?
When you have been very close to your book for a long time, it is difficult to be objective and see the issues.
Read your manuscript aloud
A great way to stand back and look at your writing objectively is to read it aloud – to yourself preferably, when no one else is around, otherwise you will probably feel self-conscious.
A writing coach will be able to see the issues that you can’t. Writers tend to make the same kinds of errors. You might overuse ‘as’ constructions, or ‘tell’ in your writing rather than ‘show’. Your writing might be narrative-heavy so that it would benefit from more dialogue. The sentence structure might be awkward in parts and when the coach points this out to you, you’ll understand how to restructure the sentences for better flow. You might want to work on point of view in writing, or learn how to correctly format your manuscript for submission to publishers.
When you work with a writing coach, you can decide: to methodically work through your manuscript together; or focus on specific writing techniques such as those mentioned above.
To discuss writer coaching and mentoring with editors4you, or just to find out more about it, feel free to contact us.