Reader,
These days it seems you can find a coach for just about everything: sports, careers, relationships, life, and – yes – writing. All coaches have a few things in common. Coaches:
· Work one-on-one with clients
· Have proven expertise in their field
· Support clients where and how they need it
Writing coaches specialize in helping writers achieve their goals as a writer. Because of that, the first step in working with a coach is to outline your goals.
· What are you writing?
· Who are you writing for?
· Why are you passionate about this project?
· What do you hope to get out of the coaching experience?
Once we have discussed your goals, we set out a plan to achieve them. Usually that means meeting every week or every other week on Zoom to look at a piece of your writing and break down how you can make it stronger.
To me, the beauty of coaching is that it is so flexible. Each piece of writing offers a new challenge and a new opportunity to grow. The coaching process works best when you have ideas about what you want to improve. That way, your coach can structure meetings around those goals.
When you aren’t breaking down your own writing, you might
- look at published works to see how you can emulate what is working
- do writing exercises that will help you shore up a specific area of craft
- discuss publishing options and helpful resources
The sooner you work with a coach, the easier it can be to get to a final product. When an experienced coach has reviewed your outline or chapter summaries, you know you’re starting from a solid idea, and that can mean fewer revisions. However, some writers prefer to get out all of their ideas on paper and then ask for help in how to shape them. Both processes can work.
Coaching is not for everyone. If you have a completed manuscript and aren’t necessarily looking to write a whole series of books, you will save time and money if you opt for a developmental edit. As I’ve said before, we don’t all need to be experts in everything. This is why we hire service providers.
If, on the other hand, you see a chance to make writing a long-term part of your life, either through several short pieces or several novels, taking the time now to learn from a coach may help you to be more productive in the future.
Now Accepting New Coaching Clients
Speaking of coaches, I have an opening for 1–2 new coaching clients beginning in March/April.
Contact me today if you are looking for one-on-one support to help you achieve your writing goals.
Freebies for Newsletter Subscribers
Access a new, never-before-published scene from Debra Lee Won’t Break!
New subscribers to The Hop On Newsletter will receive a link to download several exciting freebies, just for signing up.
And you, my loyal readers, can access all three thank-you gifts right now! Click the button to download your free gifts:
· “Moving Day,” a new scene from Debra Lee Won’t Break
· “Kathy Comes to Visit,” an original, humorous short story
· “Hiring and Working with Editors,” my most popular blog posts, now in a free booklet
Client Publications
Congratulations to two POP clients on the publication of their books!
Dr. Keith Bellizzi is the author of Falling Forward: The New Science of Resilience and Personal Transformation, which published in December 2025. I provided developmental and line editing for this project.
Craig Mathews and Ruth Uhlmann released Craig’s beautiful collection of writing, Just Passing Through: Notes Along the Way, also in December 2025. For this book I not only proofread the text but also took the unusual step of laying out the interior and designing the cover.
Upcoming Events
Crafting Compelling Characters (2-hour class)
Thursday, February 26, 7-9 p.m.
Live on Zoom via the Writer’s Center
Join me on Zoom for an in-depth, interactive discussion of character development. This session focuses on three elements of character—tragic flaws, backstory, and contradiction—to see how they combine to create characters that step off the page. Come ready to write!
Register through the Writer’s Center website: https://writer.org/event/crafting-compelling-characters/
2026 AWP Conference, Baltimore, MD
AI and the Editor: Redefining Author-Editor Collaboration
Thursday, March 5, 2026, 3:20-4:35 p.m.
I will be presenting at AWP 2026 in Baltimore, MD. I will be joined on the panel by fellow editor-authors Tenesha L. Curtis and Linda Ruggeri. Christina Frey will moderate the panel. Learn more and register on the Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference page.
2026 Women in Publishing Summit
March 8–11, 2026
Live on Zoom
Can’t make it to Baltimore? This four-day virtual conference brings together women and nonbinary individuals across the entire publishing ecosystem. Whether you're an author, editor, designer, marketer, publisher, or creative service provider, this summit will help you grow, connect, collaborate, and make a bigger impact with your work.
With expert-led workshops, keynote talks, fireside conversations, practical education, and interactive networking, you’ll walk away with improved skills, clarity, and a real sense of community.
Tuesday, March 10, Linda Ruggeri, Tenesha Curtis, and I will present “AI and the Editor: Redefining Writer-Editor Collaboration.”
Register using my affiliate link: https://kped24--writepublishsell.thrivecart.com/2026-wip-conference/
Resources
Below are some of my favorite resources for working with coaching clients. This newsletter uses affiliate links.
From the Blog: My Winning Grant Application
In this post I am sharing the grant application I submitted to the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), which was fully funded in December of 2025. I will use this grant to attend the Zigbone Farm Alum Retreat in March of 2026. I have included the questions and the rubric provided by MSAC. These helped me to judge for myself the quality of my answers.
Happy Writing!
Katherine
