Wondering what a memoir writing coach actually does—and whether you need one? If you’ve started poking around for help with your memoir, you’ve probably run into the word “coach” somewhere along the way—as well as “editor,” “ghostwriter,” and “critique group.” It’s not always clear what separates them, or which one you actually need. If you’ve ever typed “what does a memoir coach do?” into a search bar hoping for a straight answer, this post is for you.
Ghostwriter, Editor, Critique Group, or Memoir Writing Coach—Which One Do You Need?
A ghostwriter writes your book for you, based on your material. They’ll interview you to understand the important moments of your story and the nuances that matter. But the voice on the page is theirs, built to sound like yours. A ghostwriter, while the most expensive of these options, is worthwhile if you want your story out in the world, but don’t have the time, energy, or skills to write it yourself.
Different from a ghostwriter, an editor works with what you’ve already gotten on the page. Their one-time services might include an overview (called a developmental edit), in which they track larger issues with your manuscript. Or you might hire them to do a line edit or copy edit. Both of these include tightening sentences, catching grammatical errors, and flagging inconsistencies.
A critique group offers ongoing community, accountability, and feedback. Made up of your writing peers, your critique group will support you as you work through the draft you’ll eventually give to an editor to fine tune. Taken together, the group’s opinions can give you a solid sense of how your work is progressing. Of course, if those opinions are too varied, it can be hard to know which to take onboard.
Coaching
A memoir writing coach shows up early in your memoir-writing process. They will stay the course with you, sharing resources and professional input. As a first step, your coach might help you determine the most pivotal aspect of your story: the change mechanism. Once you’re clear on that, they’ll suggest ways to structure the events related to that mechanism.
In addition to foundational input, a coach also offers accountability. They’ll provide early responses to your pages as you write—and guidance on all matters book-related. A coaching relationship is an ongoing conversation about your work: about structure, character, pacing, organization, theme, focus, motivation, and the hundred other choices that will shape your book over time.
In practice, that often looks like reading pages together, talking through what’s working and what still feels murky, and figuring out what to tackle next.
Do You Need a Coach—Or Just a Deadline?
If you know your story and know how you want to tell it, you may not need any of the above! Just someone to keep you honest about your commitment. A deadline and a friend who checks in regularly might be enough.
But if you find yourself mired midway through your draft, circling the same handful of chapters in an attempt to say something that you can’t quite put your finger on, you might benefit from a few coaching sessions. Sometimes, a (professional) outside perspective can get you back in the game.
A Memoir Coach Might Be a Good Fit If …
- You know you’re ready to tell your story. But every time you start to write it, you get stalled out before the midpoint.
- You know what happened, but aren’t sure how to say what those events mean.
- You’re willing to be honest on the page, but could use guidance about how much to reveal and about whom.
- You’d rather have company on this than write in isolation for the next two years.
- You’re done waiting for the right time to start—but aren’t sure how to start.
Remember, whether you hire a ghostwriter or editor, join a critique group, or engage a coach, you can write your memoir. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
I work with memoir writers in all subgenres and at all stages of the process. If you’re wondering if you’re ready to write your story—or have already begun!—I can help you start (or finish) your book. Visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also like to take a look at my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.