5 Benefits of Hiring a Creative Writing Coach

Why should I have a creative writing coach?

Everyone can benefit from working with a coach. There’s a saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

Writing is a long and detailed process. You could do it alone. It is definitely possible. Or, you could do it together with a coach and you are more likely to be able to complete it and get your powerful words out there and still want to write more after you finish.

As a runner, I can attest to the benefits of running in the company of another who is more advanced than I am. I have grown as a runner in healthy confidence and endurance. Training for my second marathon, I worked with a coach and was in a running group. When I crossed the finish line, I had shaved a massive 45 minutes, 3 seconds off my first marathon’s time. I know that it was having the support and accountability and training available in the months leading up to race day that helped me the most to be prepared to go further and faster…helping me to achieve my marathon goals of finishing the race and not needing to go to the hospital. My running coach helped me do that.

As a writer, I can attest to the benefits of writing with others more experienced than I am, too. Whenever I have been in a writing class, in a writing group or worked one-on-one with someone who knows writing, my own writing has improved. 

Here are five ways a creative writing coach can help you on your writing journey:

• Working with a coach can take away the pain of loneliness. Writing is an individual pursuit, often done in isolation with sound cancelling headphones at odd or unsociable hours of the day. Meeting with a creative writing means that you can come out of your writing cave every so often and talk with someone who gets it.
  
• Working with a coach can provide motivation. Establishing daily creative writing habits can feel mundane, boring, draining, same-old-work-different-old-day kind of stuff. A coach can provide encouragement when you don’t want to write. A coach can remind you of why you are writing in the first place. A coach can celebrate your progress with you every seemingly miniscule step of the way.
  

• Working with a coach can help you overcome obstacles. Big projects take a lot of effort and you will get tired. When you get tired, or forget to eat, or get distracted by other important things, your coach can help you identify what is stopping you from making progress on your writing goals. They can listen to what you’re dealing with and provide resources to overcome what’s holding you back to help you get back on track.
  
• Working with a coach can help you develop structure. Many writers would describe themselves as being really creative. Not as many writers would describe themselves as being really organized. A coach can help you identify your big writing goals and provide support and resources so you can develop useful habits and routines to reach your goals and become a prolific, fruitful, effective writer.
  
• Working with a coach can help you access the expertise you need. Each coach has particular areas of expertise. Do your research when you look for a coach to make sure they can offer you the expertise you need. Most coaches will offer a free consultation or discovery call to assess whether they would be able to help you with your writing needs. Take advantage of this free call. It’s a dual-sided interview for the coach to see if they have the personality and expertise to help you achieve your goals, but it’s also for you to decide if you like the coach. This is usually going to be a long-term working relationship in which you’ll share a lot of your life and struggles as well as successes and celebrations. If you don’t feel like you can click with one coach, it’s commonly accepted that you reach out to a different one.

Whatever you choose to do in terms of hiring a writing coach, going the distance of a creative writing project is made easier when done in community. If going the distance with your words, hiring a coach could be your next right step. 

If you would like to schedule a free, no-strings-attached Discovery Call with me, click this link to set up a time to meet.