Should You Hire A Writing Coach? What You Need To Know
You want to become an author, or maybe you’re well on your way. But should you hire a writing coach? Years ago, I remember looking through my collection of rejection letters, noting the trends, and wondering what to do.
Many publishers had positive feedback that centered on the same topics. They loved my plot, my premise, and the concept of my story. Other publishers had feedback as well. They didn’t feel the story was right for them because of x, y, or z. I was unsure how to move forward. I felt I needed outside guidance. Maybe you resonate with this.
Or, perhaps you feel like I did when I first started writing. I had no idea writing rules existed. I didn’t know how to format my story, let alone write in a way that aligned with industry-standards. If this above sounds like you, too, it may be time to consider working with a writing coach.
Should You Hire A Writing Coach? What you learn:
Are writing coaches worth it?
Writing coaches are worth it if you have a writing need they are equipped to help you work through. Coaches can be extremely beneficial, but it’s important to articulate why you want to work with one before jumping in. The better you understand your own needs, the more they than can help you work toward the specific goals you want to meet.
However, before getting into these various needs, it’s important to speak to the possibility that you may not need a writing coach. Should you hire a writing coach? There are several reasons not to.
You don’t need a guide
First, you should not hire a writing coach if you know exactly where you are in the writing process, where you want to be, and how to effectively move from point A to point B. If you can achieve the same results with or without a writing coach, you may be able to get by on your own.
You don’t have the time to invest
Second, should you hire a writing coach if you dream of becoming an author but don’t possess the bandwidth to work toward achieving your dream? The short answer is, no, you should not.
Working with a writing coach is a time investment as much as it is a financial one. I recommend choosing to work with a coach only when you have at least a few hours every week to invest in your author journey.
You can’t accept constructive criticism
Finally, don’t hire a coach if you can’t see the benefits of constructive criticism. While it’s important to find a coach you connect with, their job is to offer feedback. If you aren’t yet at the place to accept constructive feedback, you will waste your investment. With these factors out of the way, why hire a writing coach?
Why hire a writing coach?
You should hire a writing coach if you have a need and can’t fix it on your own. What exactly do I mean? Technically, almost anyone can choose to write a book and begin doing so.
However, the excellence of the manuscript varies greatly based on the input they receive throughout the process.
Take my first manuscript as an example. When I wrote my first book I was a teenager who didn’t understand the writing process. I broke every rule in the book, way over-shot my word count, and gave in to writer’s block for an entire month.
For my second manuscript I worked with a writing coach and my process looked much different. My mentor taught me what I needed to do to succeed, as well as concrete steps to success. I drafted my second manuscript in nine months, did not give in to writer’s block, and all while being a full-time student, working.
What was the differentiating factor? I had a seasoned writer to guide me from the inception of my idea all the way through to my polished draft.
To help you determine if you should hire a writing coach, slowly work through the following list. If you relate to one or more points, you should start looking for a writing coach.
1. You feel unable to complete your first draft
According to The New York Times, 81% of people believe they have a book in them. They have a story they want to tell. The difficult part is learning how to tell their story and how to ensure they finish what they start.
Writing coaches have a tremendous ability to see plot holes and inconsistencies that the author can’t see. Because coaches are an outside perspective and well-versed in the creative writing space, their feedback is vital.
When I worked with one of my writing coaches, I ended up changing a large plot point. I thought this plot point was crucial to my storyline. However, by significantly changing it, another, more important part of my story took on a much higher level of emotional weight. This singular change yielded tremendous impact for the rest of my novel.
Overcoming a plot barrier can be the difference between staying an aspiring author and becoming an author. Hiring a writing coach plays a large part in this process.
2. You successfully drafted your book but don’t know how to make the best edits
There are many different types of editing services a coach can provide. I typically recommend a developmental edit. This type of edit helps you develop your story (hence the name), and ensures when you pitch an agent or publisher, it’s your writing you pitch, not that of a professional editor.
Additionally, working with a writing coach helps prepare you for working with an editor once you do land a traditional publishing contract.
3. Entering the world of publishing feels overwhelming and you need guidance
The phrase publishing industry can be overwhelming in and of itself. In fact, I don’t know if there’s anything quite as overwhelming as walking into a writing conference for the first time. You come across agents, editors, aspiring authors, successful authors, and the keynote speaker.
You see tables piled high with books and a plethora of workshops all targeting different aspects of the writing journey. And this is just a fraction of the publishing world.
So, if at this point you have:
drafted your manuscript
edited it to the best of your ability
prepared to query agents or shop it to publishers
…but don’t know where to start, it may be time to hire a coach. Writing coaches are in their profession because they know the world of publishing inside and out. In fact, many writing coaches may be able to recommend a specific agent or even a publisher you should query.
Coaches can guide you through the process of writing your book proposal, your query, and finding the right professionals to send your work. Personal, one-on-one guidance will speed up the process and can help you reach the right agents for your specific project in a more timely manner.
4. You don’t know how to improve your book with the feedback you were given
I briefly mentioned this previously, but after my agent shopped my manuscript, I had a small pile of helpful rejections. While the publishers’ feedback helped me develop mental toughness and a thick skin, I was unsure how to make appropriate edits.
Some of the feedback conflicted, some was extremely positive, and some showed areas for growth. Whether or not you have written feedback from a publisher, knowing how to edit your manuscript is a must for becoming an author.
Working with a writing coach showed me the nuance in editing and how every word and phrase should point to the greater story.
After collecting feedback from various publishers, I compiled each email into one document. I then highlighted the feedback: one color for areas of growth and one color for positive feedback. When I sent some of my findings to my writing coach, she immediately saw what was missing and helped me tighten my writing.
5. You want to write a book that sells but don’t know how
If you want to learn how to write a book that sells, it’s time to work with a writing coach. They point out industry trends, direct you to books that did well, and show you how yours may fit in the marketplace.
There is no guarantee a particular book will do well. Some books that are projected to sell extremely well flop, while those that anticipate a smaller launch day go off the charts.
Writing coaches can teach you, practically, how to follow your dreams. They are invested in the publishing world, have an ear to the ground for what’s selling and why, and the background of experience to help you.
If you’re ready to take an action step toward achieving your dream, it’s time to look for a writing coach.
What is the difference between a book coach and a writing coach?
A book coach focuses on helping you through your writing process with a specific manuscript, while a writing coach focuses singularly on writing. You may feel that the difference between a book coach and a writing coach is just semantics.
However, consider the following two examples.
You just landed your third publishing contract and have one year to write your next novel. You feel overwhelmed, as this is the first time you are writing on deadline for a publisher. A little extra coaching from a seasoned professional would help. What do you do? You hire a book coach.
You are working toward your first publishing contract and want to make your manuscript shine. Since you want to publish traditionally, you know it’s crucial to submit your own writing, not the edits of a professional editor. However, you feel you need some guidance and could benefit from help further developing your plot and characters. What do you do? You hire a writing coach.
While a book coach can help with writing, their specific focus is on one particular book. A writing coach’s focus is on the writing craft, no matter what manuscript you are currently working on. (For more information on what does a writing coach do, read my previous blog!)
How much do writing mentors charge?
Your financial investment will vary from coach to coach, but you can expect to anywhere from $50-$300 per hour. It is important to take the following into account before settling on a specific coach.
They offer the level of help you need: If you are well-versed in the writing world and fairly competent as a writer, it’s important you work with a coach who is a step or two ahead of you.
I certainly have a long way to go in my own writing journey, but because I trained with a New York Times bestselling author for so many years, when it came time to choose a writing coach, I chose one who:
Wrote in a genre I loved
Had bestselling titles to her name
Find a coach who offers exactly what you need for where you are in your journey.
They understand your writing goals: It’s crucial to be upfront about why you are inquiring about a writing coach’s services. For example, when I worked with one of my writing mentors, it was because I needed help sifting through the advice publishers had given. I wanted to make the correct changes and needed help knowing which ones to make. Later, I worked with a different mentor and focused on different goals.
They enjoy your genre: Agents and editors have wish lists for a reason. My writing coach specialized in thriller, a genre that is a cousin to what I was writing at the time, dystopia. It helps to work with a writing coach who personally understands your genre. This allows them to provide more nuanced, personalized feedback. Each of these factors play a role in the financial investment you make.
Keep in mind that you can apply the lessons you learn in one set of coaching sessions to the rest of your writing career.
Should You Hire A Writing Coach? Take your next step
At the beginning of this blog we discussed three reasons you should not hire a writing coach. Let’s take one last look at those reasons, but from the opposite angle.
You should hire a writing coach if you:
Are unsure of the writing process and how to effectively move toward your author dreams
Dream of becoming an author and can commit time to the process
See the benefits of constructive criticism
Coaching can improve your writing process, advance your career, and speed up your journey to your dream. If you have reached the point where it’s time to work with one, move forward with confidence. New levels of your writing journey are just around the corner.
To help you in your creative process, download your free Writer’s Toolkit and take the next step in your writing journey today!
