If you visit my website and see that I offer editing services besides coaching writers, you may wonder why I decided to offer coaching along with manuscript evaluations, copyediting, and proofreading. It’s okay to wonder and I’m happy to fill in the blanks.
I’ve been a book editor for seventeen years and decided to expand my services to editing children’s books about six years ago. When I began working with independent children’s authors, I offered copyediting and proofreading, but I also included coaching writers.
I didn’t charge for the coaching, but I answered questions, provided suggestions, and information. I didn’t charge because it didn’t occur to me to do so.
You might think that odd, but I was naive enough to think coaching was just part of copyediting and proofreading. It isn’t. I learned that I was providing services above and beyond what was required or what the author expected.
I thought about the circumstances and my services. I reevaluated what I liked best about editing and working with individual authors.
I realized that I really like answering questions, making suggestions, and providing information that educates as well as helps my clients. It was then that I decided to look into coaching writers.
I wanted to be a writing coach earlier in my career but was afraid to take that leap.
I did some research about what a writing coach offers and what they do. I discovered that I fit the mold. To make sure, I took a class on coaching writers.
I loved the class. It helped me decide it was time to add writing coach to my list of services.
Writing coaches aren’t one size fits all. As a writing coach for authors of children’s books, I:
- Talk writing with authors
- Act as a cheerleader
- Give authors tasks to complete
- Provide information
- Answer questions
- Set a timeline
Not every author needs these things. I modify my services to meet each author’s particular needs.
Those might be:
- Discussing purpose
- Discussing character development
- Discussing plot
- Discussing setting
- Discussing message
If the author has written a nonfiction manuscript, I help them with:
- Development
- Organization
- Method
- Points they want to make
- Evidence/details they are going to use
- The conclusion
And if the author has written a cookbook or craft book, we discuss:
- Their love of the craft
- Purpose
- Process
- Style
- Presentation
- Recipes or patterns
- Ingredients or materials
As a writing coach I always discuss marketing with the author. We discuss:
- What marketing is
- When it should begin
- When and how to use social media
- Marketing comps
You may be wondering what I get out of coaching writers. I learn as much from them as they do from me.
Coaching writers allows me to return to my days in the classroom when I was teaching college English. It allows me to interact one-on-one with my clients. It allows me to celebrate their successes and help them work through their problems.
Coaching writers is my happy place. I’m glad I took the leap. Let’s talk about how I can help you.