Is your writing stalled? Don't know where to start? Can't figure out the next step in your career?

Coaching for Writers

Writing is a profession, the same as any other. There is an entire business model to learn. You can't say "I want to be a carpenter" and start earning money. First you have to learn how to do the work in a professional manner. Then you have to learn how to market your skills and find people willing to pay for your work.

Now, if you want to be a professional carpenter, I can't help you with that. I do my own carpentry work, but I'm very much an amateur. I would never expect anyone to pay me for my carpentry.

If being an amateur writer is enough to make you happy, then you don't need a coach. You can go ahead and enjoy your writing the same as I enjoy my home carpentry. You can show off your work to your friends and family like I proudly display each new project that I finish. On the other hand, if you want to be a professional writer, you need to learn a lot more skills.

The actual writing is just the beginning. Then the rewriting starts. You have to learn how to turn your words into exciting, interesting prose that people will pay to read. Once your work is polished to a high gloss, you have to learn how to submit it properly. Writing a good query or cover letter is a separate skill, but it's essential if you want to earn money for your writing.

What about writing a book? Anybody can "publish" a book, right? Yes, that's true to some extent. But getting the book printed is just a middle step. Your work has to be as professional as any book published by the big boys in the business. And, if you self-publish, YOU have to do ALL the marketing yourself. You will have to fight to get your books into book stores, and that is an uphill battle for a self-published book. Face the fact that every book sold will be sold personally by you, either to a book store or the reader. Not an easy task. Self-publishing is valid in some cases, but you need to take a good, hard look at what you want to accomplish first. If self-publishing is right for you, then you get into a whole new field of marketing.

Ebooks are a relatively new field. There is free software available that will format your work into a saleable ebook. But then what? Once again, you have to sell every single book. And if the work isn't up to professional standards, you're sunk. A marketing plan is essential here too.

Have I shattered your dreams? I sure hope not. If these facts are enough to change your mind, you probably didn't have what it takes to be a writer in the first place. Writing is a business full of rejection and disappointment. The only way to be successful is hard work, lots of education, a tough skin and bushels of persistence. If you are willing to step up and do what it takes, I can help you succeed.

How I can help you:

• Get started. Figure out where your interest is, pick the best format for you to start with, and get into the actual writing.

• Develop the discipline to keep moving forward. We will discuss your responsibilities and non-writing life, and figure out the writing schedule that fits your life, while moving your career along.

• Plotting and outlining. Some fiction writers work best as seat-of-the-pants writers. Others need to have an outline to work from. Non-fiction must have a clearly defined outline to work from, since non-fiction is mainly sold from a query. The actual writing is usually done after the piece is sold. Whichever type of writer you are, I can help you get organized and move forward.

• The dreaded re-write. The writer who can turn out a publishable piece of work on the first draft is one in a million. Unless you are that one, you will have to revise your work. Probably half a dozen times...or more. I can help you cut down the number of rewrites you will have to do.

• Query and cover letters. This is the part of the business that gets your foot in the door. Your letter is what makes the editor/agent/publisher willing to read on. Your book may be the next Harry Potter, but if your query letter doesn't catch attention, no one will ever know. I can help you craft a sharp, crisp, attention-getting query or cover letter.

• Finding the right market. This is a vital step. There are thousands of markets out there, but they are all different. I don't care how well-written your article on banking is, a magazine on carpentry isn't going to be the least bit interested in it. Your horror novel may rival Stephen King, but no romance publisher will want to see it. I can help you figure out the right markets for your work.

• Submitting. If you don't submit, your chances of getting published (and paid) are zero. You have to submit your work for the editor/publisher to read it. Let me help you decipher the submission guidelines, and put together a strong submission package.

• Branding your name and building a following. Readers buy work from authors they enjoy and trust. If they don't know you, they will pass you over for an author they do know. You have to get your name out there and get known. Then when your work comes out, people will be lined up ready to buy it. I've done this for myself, and helped many others. Let me help you.

• Marketing. Once you have a finished product, it's time to start selling it. Nobody knows your work like you do. You are uniquely qualified to convince people to buy. If you are lucky enough to get a big-name publisher, they will help with marketing. But every author has to market their own work. The smaller your publisher, the more marketing you will be expected to do on your own. I've worked marketing in many diverse fields. Lets put your marketing plan together.

Do you still want to be a professional writer? Great! Then it's time to get started.

When you are ready to start coaching, email me. We will discuss what you need and are looking for. There is no charge for the initial evaluation.

My basic Coaching Package is a combination of phone/Instant Messenger and email. (I have Yahoo, MSN, ICQ and AIM messenger systems. With IM, you have a written record of the discussion.)

Coaching Package:  two emails per week (up to 10 pages critiqued), and one half-hour IM session or phone call.

Rate:  $50 per week, or $175 per month. Pay with PayPal, credit card online, check or money order.

Individual session: $35 for two emails (up to 10 pages critiqued), OR one email and a half-hour on IM or telephone.  

Start the process now!

Questions? Not sure if coaching is for you? Email me, and we'll talk.

Audrey Shaffer Enterprises

558 Philadelphia Street, 2nd Floor

Indiana PA 15701

724-801-8390

aj at audreyshaffer.com