Best Writing Advice and Coaching

What a good writing coaching package includes

Check that the offer clearly states:

• Format: calls, written notes or both.
• Length and frequency.
• Pages reviewed per session.
• Focus areas.
• Exercises or assignments.
• Genre experience.
• Pricing and schedule.

Ask for a sample of written feedback. Good feedback points to specific passages, explains what works and why, and suggests what to try next.

Agree on goals for the coaching period, such as finishing three chapters or improving dialogue.

Ask the coach about writers they have helped and what those writers achieved, such as finishing a draft, improving reviews or publishing. Specific outcomes show the coaching leads to progress, not only pleasant conversations.

Agree on how often you will share new pages. Regular, manageable submissions, such as a chapter every two weeks, keep you writing and give the coach enough material to see patterns in your work.

How to brief a writing coach

1. Your project and genre.
2. Goals.
3. Writing sample.
4. Struggles you face.
5. Time you can write each week.
6. Feedback style you prefer.
7. Schedule.

Share what you find hardest, such as starting chapters, staying motivated or cutting long sentences. Honest struggles lead to useful coaching.

Ask for exercises between sessions. Practice is where improvement happens.

Choose a coach who knows your genre. Advice for thrillers, memoirs and business books differs a lot.

Consider asking for feedback in layers: big-picture structure first, then scenes and paragraphs, then sentences. Fixing structure before polishing lines saves effort and keeps revisions focused.

Think about what success looks like at the end of the coaching period. It might be a finished draft, a query letter ready to send or a weekly blog habit. A clear finish line keeps sessions focused and helps you decide whether to continue.

What drives the price

• session length and frequency
• pages reviewed
• written reports
• genre expertise
• publishing advice
• package length

A single feedback session costs much less than months of coaching with regular reviews and accountability.

Red flags

• Vague praise or criticism.
• Rewrites your work instead of teaching.
• Ignores your goals.
• No genre experience.
• Promises of publishing deals.

Keep a notebook of lessons from each session. Reviewing it before writing helps habits stick.

Tips for a smoother project

Be clear about how you like to receive criticism. Some writers prefer direct notes, others need encouragement alongside. A good coach adapts their style while staying honest.

Track your writing time and word counts between sessions. Simple records help you and the coach understand your habits and plan realistic goals.

Ask for recommended books or examples in your genre. Reading strong examples with the coach's guidance often teaches as much as feedback on your own pages.

For editing, see our book editing guide. For readers, read our beta reading guide and creative writing guide.

Quick pre-order checklist

• I shared a writing sample.
• Goals are agreed.
• Feedback will be specific.
• I will get exercises.
• The coach knows my genre.