This article is not to convince you that working with a writing coach will sell your book. What I want to do is to share with you the benefits of working with someone who has been there. Let us look at the benefits of working with a writing coach.

They know their subject - I have a writing coach and I’m pretty sure I’ll have one for a very long time. I was the type of writer who roughly counted the word count of each chapter, then noting how many storylines ran through it. I would then take that knowledge to my keyboard and start typing away. I bought books and studied them, highlighting the key points. I watched webinars. I took online courses. I read more books.

While these tools are all very valuable, I have found that working one-on-one with someone else is exactly what I needed. With a coach, I can ask detailed questions. Have an extensive conversation. I can vent my frustrations or turn those frustrations into creativity, but best of all, I can leave the coaching session feeling fulfilled, understood and more eager to conquer my book. A good writing coach understands the importance of plot and character arcs and the storyline that drives each chapter. A good coach will point out areas of improvement and help you pull everything together.

They understand what publishers are looking for. Working with someone who works directly with publishers and literary agents really comes in handy when you have questions about any part of the writing process. From writing and pitching to having a manuscript optioned, your coach will more than likely have the answers.

I love this about my coach. I can ask her intimate questions about her own process and get answers I might not get from a book or webinar. It helps me have more than a textbook understanding of what really happens out there after a manuscript is optioned.

They see mistakes and flaws you don’t – I think, by far, this is the greatest benefit. They see areas to improve your novel when you are not fully conditioned to seeing them yet. They will make you understand how to continue to weave a theme throughout your story or other ways to make your book that much better and stand apart from the crowd.

They know the industry lingo. Of course, you don’t need to know every bit of lingo as you dive into your writing career, but it sure does help when you can bounce things off someone in the know.

Again, I’m not here to convince you. We all write differently and process information differently. I’ve just noticed that working one-on-one with a seasoned writing coach has been the edge I needed. Truly. It may be different for you.

Finally, this industry changes rapidly and you need a professional who is aware of the changing demand for different genres. They know the deal.

No matter how you choose this path, let it be with confidence. Do what works for you. And never stop writing.