Do I Need a Writing Coach? (and How to Find One!)
When I started as a faculty member almost ten years ago, I hadn’t heard much about writing coaches, certainly not for academics. But this service is becoming more available and many scholars are finding it useful.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with coaching, you can find writing coaches to assist in many aspects of your academic work. Coaches meet with clients regularly to help them achieve their writing goals and become happier, more confident writers. This may involve helping them work through writer’s block and developing strategies for getting writing done. It could also include helping them think through their manuscripts, including talking through argument, structure, and so on. Coaches may also advise on academic life in general, helping clients achieve better work-life balances, feel more confident on the job market, and navigate the tenure process. Note that coaches aren’t generally trained therapists so if you are experiencing extensive anxiety or depression related to your academic work, they will likely recommend that you also seek therapy.
So let’s talk some logistics! If you think coaching might be right for you, here are some things to keep in mind as you look for a coach.
Do you need one? Signs that you might benefit from a writing coach include: feeling stuck in your writing; having a hard time articulating your manuscript’s argument or determining its structure; finding it difficult to write; feeling like having someone to talk about writing challenges would be helpful; feeling anxious about writing; feeling lonely in your academic journey; and having intense pressure, including the tenure clock or job market, to navigate. Coaching can basically help with any aspect of writing or writing production that feels challenging.
Will I like coaching? This is a difficult question to answer since it varies from person to person. In trying to answer it, think through if you like talking to others about writing and find talking through aspects of your work (or how to get writing done) helpful. If not, but you still want feedback on your work, perhaps developmental editing would be more useful for you. But if you find conversation productive, especially if you feel like it sparks new ideas and gives you energy, consider giving coaching a try.
How often does coaching happen? The frequency of coaching varies and most coaches offer a range of possibilities. While I have some coaching clients who like to meet weekly, most meet with me every other week or once a month. Your coach will work with you to determine your needs and goals and how often meetings should occur to achieve them. Similarly, the longevity of a coaching relationship will vary. While some authors may work with coaches for years, others may hire a coach for a short time to help with a particularly stressful period, perhaps the months that an author is working on revisions to a manuscript or the time leading up to turning in their tenure file.
What kind of coach do I want/need? Writing coaches offer lots of different services. It’s a good idea to spend some time on various coaches’ websites to get a sense of what they offer. For example, as a developmental coach (which may be a term I invented so I’m not sure if you’ll see too many others of these 😀 ), I primarily help clients deal with bigger-picture issues in their manuscripts, including thinking through argument, organization, and use of evidence, though I also advise on publishing matters, faculty life, writing strategies, and how to navigate the job market. Other coaches might primarily focus on writing strategies and helping assist with getting writing done. There are also coaches who specialize in more specific aspects of academia, including how to transition out of it or how to navigate it as a person of color. Finally, some coaches who work with academics may be willing to read your work in advance of meetings so that you can discuss it together. So you’ll also want to think through if that is a service you would benefit from.
So start by working to identify your needs and then try to find a coach who matches them. Think through the major challenges you are facing now, as well as what kind of assistance you imagine might most help you meet your goals. Having a sense of where your own challenges lie will help you figure out what services you need from a coach.
How do I find one? A great way to find a coach is by asking colleagues for recommendations. Even if they haven’t used coaches themselves, they might have recommendations for people who have. You might ask them what they like about the coach, what their sessions focus on, and how they have helped them in their writing. The Editorial Freelancers Association also has a large directory of people who offer coaching services. Look for people who specialize in working with academics.
Can you afford one? Probably. I know that academics occupy very different positions in the academy and have different access to research funds. But even if your funds are limited, you should be able to afford some coaching. Coaches often offer different meeting lengths and frequencies so, for example, having one or two thirty-minute sessions a month should not be too expensive, but could yield significant benefits. But as you investigate coaches, do ask them about their rates. If you don’t have access to research funding, you might ask if they have a sliding scale available, which many do (though they may not necessarily publicize it on their website). If you are at an institution, you might also look into whether it has small grants available to fund support like this. Sometimes professional development grants will cover coaching services.
How do I hire a coach? Once you have identified a coach who you would like to work with, it’s likely that person will have a system in place for getting hired. This will probably include you signing a contract or a letter of understanding that lays out the services the coach will provide and other details (cost, frequency of meetings etc.). If a coach doesn’t use contracts, it’s still a good idea to record the basics of your agreement in an email. Be sure you are clear on the focus of the coaching, cost, frequency of meetings, services the coach will provide (will they be reading to prep for meetings? If so, what is the cost of this service?), and how you can end the coaching relationship. Clearly laying out what the relationship entails helps ensure that you and your coach are on the same page and that your work together runs smoothly.
Are there other things that I should pay attention to? As you look for a coach, pay attention to how they structure their sessions and payment plans. Some coaches sell coaching packages, requiring you to pay for a particular number of sessions up front (that might have to be used within a set schedule, say two meetings per month, or over a particular period of time). This can be good motivation to dive into coaching and it’s useful for coaches because it makes their income more predictable. But be sure you like the coach and think working with them would be useful before you commit to a package.
Also pay attention to where they are located. A lot of coaching occurs via video these days (Zoom, etc.), which is great because it means you can work with lots of people. But do be sure that you find a coach whose time zone is compatible with yours. If you are several time zones apart, be sure that they have appointments available at times that are convenient for you. You might also confirm what days they work since some coaches do not work Monday through Friday.
How do you know if a coach is right for you? Be sure that you like and trust your coach. Many coaches will offer a free consultation or let you try out a session to see if it feels like a good fit. So pay attention to whether you like the person. Do you feel comfortable with them? Does it feel like you could work well together? Do they seem like a good listener? Are they knowledgeable about academia? In your initial conversation, you might ask them about their coaching experience, what they value as a coach, their approaches to supporting authors, and so on. Trust yourself if you feel like this person isn’t offering what you need and look elsewhere. Also, once you begin working with a coach, feel free to provide them with feedback on how the sessions are going for you. Most would be happy to make adjustments to better meet your needs.
I hope this post has been useful in providing some guidance on issues to take into consideration as you look for a writing coach. And please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have other general questions about coaching. I’ll try to answer them and might also respond to them in a future blog post!
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