Author Coaching

Author coaching is a much more collaborative service than a manuscript-specific edit (where I am reading and providing written feedback on a completed MS).

In coaching, we meet regularly (normally every two weeks or so) for a two-hour call to discuss your writing, in whatever form is most pertinent to you. Elements often discussed in coaching calls include: the writing process, narrative theory and craft, progress and accountability, industry-specific information, writer’s block, querying, market trends, etc. as needed.

My aim for coaching is to provide my clients with the information they need to build their skills, confidence and knowledge base, not only for their current project, but for their ongoing writing career.

Not at all! Author coaching is suitable for any stage in the writing process, whether you have the kernel of an idea but don’t know how to move forward with it, you have stalled in drafting and can’t work out why, you are struggling to manage your writing alongside all the other demands of life and want regular accountability, or you have a finished draft and don’t know where to go next.

It happens all the time! Life doesn’t stop just because you have a coaching call, and I am more than happy for clients to rearrange when they need to. I ask clients to give me as much notice as they can, but it’s not a problem when things come up, or someone is ill, and they need to rearrange.

Wherever possible, I aim to be as flexible as I reasonably can.

Then you’re in good company! As someone with ADHD, I also struggle with these things. One of the benefits of author coaching is that we will discuss your individual needs and struggles in our first call, and then I will work to tailor the coaching to suit those needs.

Coaching’s flexibility also allows us to course correct or change focus midway through the coaching package, if something comes up or you decide you would like to focus on something specific.

Coaching clients also receive a recap sheet for each call that details what we discussed, as well as any ‘assignments’ for them to work on between calls. I also offer the option of recording the audio of a coaching call and uploading it so the client can return to a call if they forget some of the details, or simply want to revisit the discussion.

As a client approaches the end of a coaching package, I return to the client’s initial goals for their coaching, and we discuss the developments and achievements they have accomplished during their coaching, as well as how they are feeling about moving forward with their writing. At this point, many people are happy to continue working independently on whatever stage of the current project they have reached (plotting, drafting, revising, etc.) but some people are interested in continuing to work with me on their project, and there are various ways this can be done:

• Firstly, if a client initially booked for 12 weeks and then they decide they would like to extend it to 24 weeks, then this can simply be converted to a 24-week coaching package (provided there is availability in my diary).

• If a client is already booked onto a 24-week package, but would still like to extend this, then they have the option of either rebooking a 12- or 24-week coaching package.

• If a client would like to create a couple of additional touch points, rather than something as long-term as renewing a coaching package, then they also have the option of booking one or two editorial consultancy calls as future ‘check-ins’.

• Or, if a client has reached the point where they are happy with their draft/revision/completed manuscript, then they also have the option of booking a manuscript-specific editing service at a discount.

• Whatever an individual coaching client’s needs, I always do my utmost to ensure that they finish their coaching strong, and are excited, reinvigorated and confident about their next steps.