I’ve worked remotely as a writing coach online—and on the phone—since I fell into the work in 2004. When literary agent, Linda Mead, needed help drafting her book proposal and sample chapter about Pantone, she asked me to help. After she got the book contract, she needed my assistance even more. When her colleague complained about a super talented client not delivering her memoir about growing up in Lebanon, Linda recommended me. That client was part of a writing group. Once a member of that group started working with me on her book about growing up abroad as a daughter of a CIA agent, I realized I had a new career working as a writing coach online.
My clients have been as diverse as their projects. Over the years, I’ve coached people writing nonfiction, self-help and how-to books, memoirs, and novels. I’ve worked with people who wanted to promote their businesses with a book and others looking to fulfill a bucket-list dream. And while I’ve learned a lot along the way, including that people don’t learn to better writing mechanics if I do the editing for them, much of how I work as a writing coach online has remained consistent. My method boils down to three key beliefs:
- Writing challenges are often really thinking challenges. Brainstorming helps generate ideas and clarify thinking. Ditto for a sloppy copy brain dump. So, we do a lot of both in the initial stages of a book.
- Grammar aside, I don’t believe there is one right way to write. Opinions about writing are subjective. The goal is to find someone you click with who can push you creatively and help you find your voice and grow as a writer.
- I’m never going to tell anyone they’re a crappy writer or that what they’ve written is crap. Oddly enough, people ask me to do both, but those are not my calls to make. I’m also not going to unduly praise someone’s talent or writing. No matter what, I’ll just continue to work hard to raise up the writing level of each client and each project a notch or five.
I’ve worked this way for so long, that a recent email from one of my newish writing coach clients shocked me. She wrote:
So, I’m at the retreat and I tell my friend that you told me I have potential and may actually fly as a writer then add “but my first thought I struggled with is, ‘Don’t believe Linden, she’s just saying that because otherwise she won’t get paid.’ … And my friend goes, “Oh weird. I’d of thought the exact opposite, like if she just wanted you to keep paying her she’d tell you you’re bad to keep you on longer, you know, for more lessons.”
We’ve discussed this since and I’ve made it quite clear that neither of the above applies. I may work as a writing coach professionally, but the focus has never been—and will never be—the money. It’s all about helping people achieve their potential as writers. And it’s all about authenticity, so you’d better like what you hear during our free writing coach consult because that’s what you’re going to get.
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