discover the writing coach you want
Do you have a great idea for a book but not sure what to do with it? Have you ever started writing a book and never finished or finished it but didn't know what to do next?
If so, you might be frustrated. You could also benefit greatly from hiring a typing coach.
But what is a writing or book coach? Do you have to hire someone to finish a book or can you do it yourself for free?
Whether you want to self-publish a book or follow the traditional publishing path, a writing coach will make you a better writer at every step of your writing process.
Learn why a writing coach can benefit your first or hundredth book, and how to find the writing coach you want.
I knew I wanted a writing coach for my writing
In high school, I was part of a great football team. We won most of our games and routinely went to the state championship. But it wasn't just the players who made the team great – it was also the coaches.
Writing coaches can have an equally big impact on our writing.
They can write well and help you do it great, maybe even make you become a bestselling author!
But what kind of writing coaching actually helps writers?
An incredible trainer doesn't just tell you what to do and how to do it. They'll help you learn, answer questions, and show you how to improve your performance.
Great writing coaches know how to get you out of your writer's block, and they will help you overcome the emotional barriers holding you back. These hurdles will come and when they do you may need a personal trainer to help you get out of the way.
The first thing I did when I started writing was looking for coaches who could help me.
Finding the right typing coach can make all the difference in our work.
While I was working on my first book, I started emailing authors and publishers who I thought would be great writing coaches. And their answers weren't always what I'd hoped.
Regardless, I learned a lot about the publishing industry by reaching out to them.
Through this painful trial and error, I learned a few things about the process of writing the hard way.
Realities that without my writing coach could have forever prevented me from finishing my writing project.
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Great writing coaches know how to get you out of your writer's block, and they will help you overcome the emotional barriers holding you back.
What is a typing trainer (and what are they not)?
A writing coach works with writers in a number of ways, from helping the writer understand what's preventing them from completing their first draft, to procrastinating.
When it comes down to it, a writing coach works with writers to achieve one goal: to help the writer write the best book possible.
A typist is not an editor. They are not responsible for proofreading your book and, unlike a ghostwriter, they will not write a book for you.
This means you shouldn't expect a typist to make the sentences on every page sound like a bestseller off the New York Times bestseller list.
And while a writing coach may not give you tips on how to improve your writing skills, they will show you how to set and achieve your writing goals.
Some specific ways a book coach can help you are:
- Identify your writing fears and develop skills to overcome them
- Recognizing and understanding your emotional barriers
- Classroom strategies that will help you make the most of your writing time
- Point out when to dig deep as you write your rough drafts
- Discuss any emotional barriers that prevent you from getting the most out of your action
Your typist will be in touch with taking your story from your first page to agent polling or publication. They will show you how to understand and recognize the quirks, inconveniences, and strengths of your writing process.
And while they don't edit your story, they will walk you through the rough spots that may be keeping you from finishing it.
That's why you have to respect the trainer.
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Typing coaches aren't editors, but they will guide you through any hurdles that may be holding you back.
Respect the coach
Before turning to someone, first study what they have already brought into the world.
Good coaches are already training. You have likely written articles, blogs, or books about writing. You were probably into podcasts. Courses may even be available online.
They usually have testimonials that speak about their coaching style and strengths.
They may have already answered your first few questions before you contact them.
One of the most embarrassing moments I had as a writer was when I emailed a writer I respected without doing any research. I asked a question I was struggling with and thought this coach had the perfect answer.
The coach responded with a link to a book he had written. No other words. No explanation. Just the link. I read the book and the trainer was right, it was perfect.
Unfortunately, I got on the wrong foot with this trainer because I didn't do my homework before making contact. I had wasted the most important thing the coach could give me, his time.
Before contacting a writing coach, make sure that the coach has not yet answered your question elsewhere.
This shows the trainer that you respect and value them whenever you give them.
And it could be a reason why you will make a good couple in the long run.
Look for Responsive Coaches
People are busy, especially in the writing community, and especially when the person you're reaching is already a great coach.
If a coach doesn't have time to invest in you personally, it doesn't mean they don't like you.
That doesn't mean you're not a good writer either. That doesn't mean they personally disapprove of you.
It just means they are busy.
At the same time, the best coaches pay personal attention to their players. One way to tell if a trainer is a good fit for you is to see how quickly they react when you approach them.
My first writing coach was Joe Bunting from The Write Practice. After reading a large amount of the many, many articles he wrote about publishing, I emailed him a few questions.
Unlike other coaches I've contacted, Joe emailed me back.
It seems easy doesn't it? A book trainer I wanted to work with resorted to? It was one of the ways I knew he would be a great coach for me.
After a bit of back and forth, I signed up for one of his courses and started my journey into publishing.
You need more than a trainer
In high school soccer, I played the defensive end. For this position, I had a defensive line trainer who worked on the skills for my particular position, a conditioning trainer who helped me stay in shape, and a defensive coordinator who taught me how my position was part of the larger defensive strategy.
Different trainers can teach you different skills.
As a writer, you also need more than one writing coach.
You may need a coach to teach you the basics of planning a novel. You may need a coach who can focus on helping you understand the specific genre you are writing. You may need a coach to help you understand indie publishing or find an agent.
Different trainers will train you in different skills. So look for more than one.
Writers require different editors at different stages in their writing process, and the same goes for writing coaches at different stages in their writing and publishing process.
You should push and support all of these typing coaches – with more than one phone call.
You want a writing coach who will meet you face-to-face.
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Authors need different editors at different stages of their writing process. The same goes for writing coaches.
How I found a trainer who challenged me
Recently I was looking for a coach to help me promote and sell my books better.
I knew I wanted someone who had been in the industry for a long time and who knew how to work on a budget. I'd heard Mark Leslie Lefebvre on podcasts before, but when I heard him speak on Creative Penn's podcast, the coaching he gave matched the questions I had.
After listening to the podcast, I grabbed Mark's two most recent books: The 7 Ps of Publishing Success and Killing It on Kobo. Both books were simple and exciting and full of wisdom.
Mark has been publishing since 1992. He has published (traditionally and as an indie) more than twelve books and countless short stories. He was the driving force behind the creation of Kobo Writing Life and is currently working with the design in the digital age.
That experience and steady hand oozed from the pages of his books.
I listened to the podcasts that Mark had produced. I looked at his work online. There were things he did that made me pause.
For example, Mark didn't seem stressed about getting reviews.
Since I was struggling to get reviews, this raised questions for me. I also noticed on his website that Mark sells a lot at conferences, a strategy I had never tried and was curious about.
After looking through all of Mark's work, I had a few more questions for him, questions about how I could improve my practice.
I went to his website to see if he would be open to talking to me and found that he had a mode for booking time with him.
I made an appointment and Mark got in touch with me straight away.
The coaching interview with him confirmed my suspicions: Mark is a great writing coach. I spent forty-five minutes with him and learned enough about how to hone my work to keep me busy for the next three months.
Mark worked for me.
Still, writers need different coaches with different styles.
For this reason, it is important that writers do their research and experience firsthand what a requested coach offers before they are hired.
Ask these questions when looking for writing coaches
Before hiring a writing coach, I encourage you to seek a call for advice to discuss their style and coaching process. I encourage you to ask them about their preferences, styles, and strategies with at least these five questions:
1. What kind of writers do you like to coach?
Different coaching strategies and styles work better for certain types of writers.
Is this your first book or even your first draft? Perhaps you'd be better off with a writing coach who specializes in new writers.
Are you someone with particularly thick skin? Would you like a trainer who will give it to you directly and know when to put pressure on you at the right time?
You should talk to writing coaches about their style of coaching before hiring them. You don't want to hire a writing coach and then learn that your personalities and styles are harmful rather than empowering them.
And while you might become friends, consider your coaching and writing relationship like a business. This mindset could change your mindset as you write and receive the mentoring and guidance you need along the way.
2. What kind of books do you like to coach?
Editors like certain genres. Literary agents have manuscript wish lists. And writing coaches also have favorite book types.
Although writing coaches won't edit your books, finding a writing coach who really likes the type of book you are writing is probably a good idea.
For example, if you work with a writing coach who specializes in creative writing but are a nonfiction writer, there may be a better match for you.
Not necessarily, since I would argue that a common style of coaching is more important than a common taste in stories, it doesn't hurt to have a writing coach who loves the kind of stories you make, too.
Shared passions make for stronger relationships. It's also likely that a writing coach who loves your genre will be better able to coach you in completing your manuscript.
3. How will we meet for our meetings?
Especially after the pandemic, more and more writers understand the value of personal conversations with their peers, editors, teachers and book trainers.
It makes a difference to look someone in the eye while you share your writing fights and worries.
It just does it.
Maybe video calling isn't important to you, but for many people, a best book comes from face-to-face conversations that helped them write.
Zoomed video calls can take you much further than just audio – and especially, more than just emails shared conversations.
4. Do you offer development work and coaching or just coaching?
Not all authors are development editors, but there are many development editors who are also trained in book coaching. They tend to bring these combined skills to their sessions!
If you are a writer looking for an editor who is also a book coach, it is best to look for a development editor to coach and edit, as development editors help writers with their macro or big storylines rather than micro-details like copy edits and line edits.
Big ideas come from bigger conversations. So if it is important to you that your coach also makes changes, ask him this question.
Most importantly, make sure you ask them how they apply and differentiate their coaching and development editors in their conversations with you.
5. What are some of your worst and best experiences as a coaching writer?
It never hurts to hear about a writing coach's best and worst. Not only does this question give you some insight into how a typing trainer works, but it also helps you imagine what it would be like to work with them.
Your writing is important. Your book will one day be shared with the world.
When hiring a writing coach to help you achieve your writing goals, make sure you are both on the same page.
Now go safely to your blank (and crowded) pages.
We all need coaches
The best athletes do not jump completely out of Zeus' head. They have amazing trainers along the way helping them hone their practice.
As a writer, you also need great writing coaches, and you write at the perfect time. Never before have you had so much access to great coaches.
If you're reading this blog and haven't read it yet, I would recommend starting with Joe Bunting as your trainer. Register for one of his courses.
Have you found a writing coach? In the comments, tell us about trainers whose work you have followed.
WORK OUT
Today, write a scene in which a character encounters a mentor who can help them achieve their goal.
What is the character's goal? What skills or wisdom do you need to achieve this? Who will mentor them and how will the mentor react to them?
Write about your character and their mentor for fifteen minutes. When you're done, share your writing in the comments and leave feedback for your co-writers!
Jeff Elkins
