Writing coaches help individuals improve their writing skills and achieve their writing goals by providing guidance, feedback, and accountability throughout the writing process. I recently hired a writing coach to help me with a chapter book I am writing. Her knowledge and expertise was extremely helpful and my story is so much stronger thanks to her guidance.
Why I decided to hire a writing coach?
As a picture book writer, I decided to do some genre exploration and try writing a chapter book. I took a few courses online and started writing. The entire story all 10 chapters were written, but I felt something was missing. I needed help and I had lots of questions.
Some writers want more guidance early in the process and they seek help with the story premise, the characters, the plot, and the first draft. On the other hand, sometimes writers, like me, have a completed draft are too close to the story to see it clearly and a book coach can offer guidance. A good coach will make suggestions, rather than trying to change your story.
When to hire a writing coach?
You’ll get the most benefit from working with a book coach when:
You want to give your story the best shot at being published, and are determined to do what’s necessary.
Your critique group has already read several versions of your work and they no longer have fresh eyes.
You know your story needs help/work, but you are not sure what to change or how to change it.
What to look for in a writing coach?
The first thing I looked for was their specialty. I wanted a coach whose specialty was chapter books. Much like literary agents and book editors, book coaches tend to specialize in terms of age group and genre.
Next, her level of experience, credentials and reviews from those who have worked with here were other considerations.
I checked out her website, downloaded some of her free materials and was impressed with her free coaching call. This call helped me to decide that we were a match.
My experience
My writing coach was wonderful. I could not have had a better experience. Her in-depth editing included helpful written and audio feedback that provided clarity on all of my questions. Her suggestions were motivating and inspiring she respected the line between editor and writer. My chapter book, while not yet completely edited, is a much stronger story and one that I am very proud of thanks to my writing coach. If you ask me if it was worth the expense, my answer is a resounding yes!
If you would like to know who my writing coach was, you can contact me and I would be happy to share her name and contact with you.
With gratitude …
I am so glad you’re here. Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I am grateful that I can share my writing journey with you. It is an endless journey of learning and growing. A journey that I am enjoying.
I am now booking author visits for the fall, 2025 school year. If you are a classroom teacher, teacher assistant, Parent Teacher Association President, or After school Director I can work with you to create a visit that will meet the needs of your students. Please contact me to book your visit.
My website has been updates and it is now interactive. There are surprises everywhere. Click on the balloons and see where they take you. Can you find two writing videos? Freebies? A chocolate chip recipe? There’s even a special freebie to anyone who subscribes to my newsletter. Check out the resources for children, parents and teachers, librarians and homeschooling families.
Please consider purchasing a copy of Two Wins for Wiley or Gertie Saves the Day for gifts. There’s always a reason to give a book, especially as the school year is coming to an end. Books make great gifts. Books can be read over and over again. It is my wish to get as many books as I can into the hands of children. Children need to hear all kinds of stories. A book is the best gift for both children and adults!
Call to Action …
You can really help this author by leaving a book review on Amazon or Goodreads. You can leave a review for Gertie Saves the Day here or here. Two Wins for Wiley here or here. Reviews can be as easy as 2-3 sentences. It should take about 30 seconds to leave and would make a huge difference for this author.
