As an indie author, I’ve been guilty of thinking I couldn’t afford a writing coach. I learned if I didn’t hire a writing coach, my writing career might end.
I’m a cheapskate conscientious spender. I learned the hard way that eating ramen noodles every day doesn’t satisfy.
Do you want to be a published author? Are you consistently writing your book?
No matter how much money you aren’t making, if you need a writing coach, find a way to hire one. Working with a coach is a game changer.
Writers Struggle
Writing a book is a gargantuan undertaking. Once your brain lands on a stellar idea, there’s still a mountain of work ahead. To outline or not. What is story structure? Are my characters interesting, relatable, and likable?
Answering those questions only gets you through the first draft. For many writers (like me), that’s when the real work begins:
- Rewriting the story so it flows and creates an emotional response
- Revising each scene for depth and clarity
- Getting reader feedback
No one truly understands our compulsion to lock ourselves in a room with imaginary friends for hours, days, weeks, and months, so we struggle in isolation.
One day we love our story. The next day, it takes every ounce of willpower not to toss the laptop across the room and burn every page we’ve written.
We’re brilliant. We’re an idiot. Our prose is poetic. Our pages suck. No one will ever read this. I hope no one ever reads this.
When can we get off this roller coaster?
Welcome to the digital age. Now we don’t have to struggle alone. We can find supportive communities of like-minded writers online. And we can connect with writing coaches and mentors who live across the country.
Information Overwhelm
When I wrote this post, I Googled “how to write a book” and got 6,300,000,000 PAGES of results. I’m not sure how long it would take to surf through six billion pages, but I can assure you I wouldn’t be writing my book while on the scroll.
Information overwhelm is a major stumbling block for a new writer. Even an experienced writer stuck in a plot hole or the muddy middle of a novel can get bogged down by the sheer magnitude of advice and resources offered on the internet.
Good information exists online. Compared to how I researched my first attempt at a novel in 1989, this information highway is an express lane to finding facts.
But easy access can become a barrier to writing the story. A writer falls down the research rabbit hole and emerges weeks later with pages of factoids in Evernote and a heady buzz of new ideas swarming her brain.
But pages written in her story? Exactly none.
The same detour can come when a writer attempts to improve her writing craft. No one ever masters writing. And we should keep striving to improve at the craft.
How does a writer know what is weak about their work? Who tells them what to improve first?
An insightful editor can be a great help here. At other times, navigating through all the information requires a regular guide. That’s where a writing coach can help.
Investment = Commitment
Well, of course you think I should hire a writing coach, Sharon. That’s what you do.
I understand the skepticism. I’ve yearned to have a mentor but couldn’t spend $100 for one hour of coaching. Who can afford that? Not me.
If you’re committed to becoming a published author, making a financial investment spurs you forward. Once I spent money to attend writing conferences and retreats, I knew I needed to produce a publishable story to “prove” that time and money was well-spent.
I told you I was a tightwad penny pincher.
Once we invest money into something, we give it priority on our schedule.
Investing in the dream renews commitment to finishing the book. With an expert to talk to, it’s possible to sift through information and determine what might work for your writing process. When motivation lags, knowing your coach will ask about your writing keeps your rear in the chair.
Finding the Perfect Coach
It might surprise you how many writers offer coaching services. Is there a writer whose books you love? Check her website to find out if she might be one who coaches writers.
Writing membership sites might help you locate a coach. As a certified hope*writers coach, writers can learn about me on the hope*writers’ site.
Coaching costs vary. The Editorial Freelancers Association lists coaching at $70 per hour but I have met few writing coaches who charge that little. The rate often depends on the coach’s experience, but it’s even more important to know if they can help you with your specific struggles.
Many coaches offer a free discovery session. This is a great way to determine whether their style fits your personality and needs.
Some coaches specialize in specific aspects of the writing process or with a certain genre. I love talking story with other writers so story coaching is one of my favorite things to do. However, a story coach is different than a book coach who reads pages and offers insights on them. (I offer manuscript critique as a separate service.) That’s why it’s important for you to know what you want from a coach before hiring one.
If you’re ready to take your writing to the next level, check out my YouTube channel, free coaching group or even schedule a discovery call where we can talk specifically about your challenges.
Investing in a writing coach is money well-spent toward reaching your publishing dreams.
