Benefits of Having a Coach on

Your Team

Save Time

A book coach can help prevent mistakes before a single word is written.  They can reduce time consuming rewrite.  The one complaint all writers share is the lack of time they can devote to writing.  Having a coach edit, and walk you through the corrections, frees time for you to do what you do best - write.

"The writer who masters both prose and structure has the power to release a level of creativity beyond their comprehension, and still write a marketable novel."

A Different Outlook on Problems

All writers have faults in their writing they cannot see.  None of us can write excellent script the first time.  Some times we can create the same mistakes, consistently, remaining blind.  A coach is not like an instructor.  A coach is not limited to looking at one section of writing and judging it on its own merit.  The coach learns to know their clients as people which makes them intimate with their writing strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, they are able do more than find mistakes.  They realize why clients do not find their mistakes, and can explain the solution in an enlightening, revealing way.

Coaching

A book coach is just that, a coach.  They will help you finish the project.  They are someone who keeps writers motivated and moving forward so they can reach deadlines. I have wore the hat of a freelance editor, in-house editor, instructor, and coach.  Each job entails a different focus.  The editor determines to turn a page into a clear, conscience, easy to read selection of prose. An instructor works to enable the student to retain as much knowledge as possible.  A coach balances the writer and the writing, with the writer's personal goals as the main focus.  The correctness of one page, or a grade, is not as important as the writer's ability to recreate the same level of success in every project.

Change of Attitude

Coaches are highly motivated, driven people, who are also compassionate enough to work with people instead of running them over.  They see themselves as professionals, and constantly help writers see themselves as professionals, encouraging them, and offering alternatives and opportunities the writer never knew existed.

This includes maintaining a professional attitude.  Too often writers quit a project, get into a slump, are depressed by the amount of information they need to learn, or feel dejected after receiving a rejection letter.  Writing is a profession, not a creative hobby.  The joy of writing comes from the knowledge that you are able to make a living doing something you love.  Expecting the written word to fulfill your needs is foolish.  Writing is fun.  An author writes ten percent of the time, and rewrites the other ninety.  Learning to self-edit well, and enjoy the challenge, will make the entire process more enjoyable.

I become frustrated with writers who do not see themselves as professionals.  Try to avoid claiming writing income on a tax form and it becomes apparent that the government considers you a professional.  On the same topic, it may be possible to deduct a book coach's fees as a tax deduction.  This varies from country to country, state to state, province to province, so speak to your accountant.

"The Craft of Writing produces a good book."

"The Art of Writing feeds the soul."

Confidence

The change of attitude comes from the way a writer sees themselves.  The confidence comes from the improvements the writer sees in their work. Many newbie writers run into problems when they seek advice from friends and relatives, or read out dated books.  Suzanne has the advantage of being a promotion and motivational coach, which halos into everything she does.

Clients are also given a written plan to refer to at any time they wish.

Affirmation

A book coach knows only too well that an author will never receive praise from the people in their life.  More often they receive negative feedback from people who are jealous, or do not understand the need to write.  A critique group is a good place for writers, but if all the members are unpublished, then it is a case of the blind leading the blind.  The only thing an unpublished author can tell you is how to remain unpublished.

A coach has a vested interest in seeing you succeed.  Their praise is genuine, and heart felt.  The coach knows how much work goes into a writing project.  They also understand that only one percent of all writers make it.  That is why they are willing to go the extra mile to help you achieve the same success they achieved.