Should you hire a writing coach? Great question! Writing a book can feel like rearranging furniture in the dark—until someone walks in, flips on the light, and says, “Okay. Let’s move the couch together.”
Considering a writing coach?
I know how important it is to find the right support for your writing journey! If you’re thinking about hiring a writing coach, you probably have questions. 
I wrote the articles below to help answer some of them—from the perspective of someone who has coached writers for many years. Each piece offers ideas to help you understand what to look for in a coach and how to make the most of that relationship.
I hope you’ll find my thoughts helpful.
I’m currently offering limited, select consultations to writers who might need a spot of clarity, a quick boost, or just a helpful guide to point the way. If you think we might be a good fit, visit the Let’s Connect page.
Writing coaching 101
What Is a Writing Coach? Basically, a writing coach is your smart, capable writing friend. They’ve traveled this road before and know how to help you get you where you want to be….
What is a Book Coach? A book coach is a writer’s fairy godmother. But instead of a magic wand, a book coach wields a full toolkit of book-saving devices….
Why Hire a Writing Coach? A writing coach can help you avoid time-wasting literary pitfalls, potholes, and dead ends. This means hiring a coach could help you get to the finish line faster (and with fewer literary labor pains)….
How to Find a Writing Coach: Seven Strategies to Get You the Book-writing Coach of Your Dreams While I offer seven strategies here, my client Peg boiled it down to this: “Finding the right writing coach is much like dating: trying out personalities, finding which one fits best to foster your productive and fruitful work….”
Fiction Writing Coach A fiction coach shows up to help you make a strong plot, develop dynamic characters, and write scenes that put your readers right there—as well as tending to a hundred other tender details of your narrative craft….
What writers have said (about hiring a writing coach)
Jamie, DRAWN AND BURIED won a Freddie Award.
You were instrumental in getting it into shape. Thanks! —Dana Summers, author of DRAWN AND BURIED, THE DARK AND THE DEAD, and DOWNHILL FAST
Many, many thanks to Jamie Morris. She’s a master at getting to the heart of a story. I was fortunate to have her at my side from the beginning on this one. —Julie Compton, acknowledgements, RESCUING OLIVIA (Macmillan)
[Jamie is] an insightful coach. Whether you’re an experienced writer or just starting out, I can’t recommend Jamie Morris highly enough. —Patrick Matthews, DRAGON RUN (Scholastic); columnist, DADDY TALES; publisher and editor, GAMES FOR EDUCATORS
Jamie has the ability to cut directly to the core of your writing issues and offer kind,
constructive, and EFFECTIVE suggestions for how to proceed at a higher level. Wherever there’s a block, weakness, or inefficiency—be it practical, emotional, spiritual, or otherwise—she’ll help you unearth it and move forward. She’s a keeper! —Tierney Sadler, THE DECK OF 1000 SPREADS (Llewellyn)
Shout
out to Jamie Morris for helping me decipher the structure of this effort. —Dr. Sharon Spano, THE PURSUIT OF TIME AND MONEY (Morgan James)
What writers have said (about hiring a writing coach)
Jamie Morris is an outstanding resource for writers who want to reach the pinnacle of success. She’s a warm, encouraging angel on your shoulder, but she’s also got the skills, experience, and good judgment to help you vanquish your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths. If you’re a writer with serious ambitions, work with Jamie. —Elizabeth Sims, YOU’VE GOT A BOOK IN YOU (Writers Digest)
Jamie, I think hiring you is the single most important gift I’ve given my writing life in years. Your guidance has led me to completed manuscripts, better story structure, and increased confidence as a writer. You’re a genius, and you help me feel like one, too. Thank you! —Tia Levings, co-author of PLOTTING YOUR NOVEL WITH THE PLOT CLOCK and author of A WELL-TRAINED WIFE: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy (St. Martin’s)
I’ve been teaching writing for twenty years, and I’ve been a writing coach for nearly as long. But I recently invested in five sessions with Florida writing guru Jamie Morris. Her fresh eyes on my work was exactly what I needed. —Ryan G. Van Cleave, author THE WEEKEND BOOK PROPOSAL (Writers Digest) and MEMOIR WRITING FOR DUMMIES (Wiley)
Jamie, I believe you are this story’s fairy godmother. You are making sense of what’s already been done and giving a new perspective on what is yet to be. Big Shared World is better thanks to you! —Colleen Waterston, BigSharedWorld.com
Jamie! Still absorbing the awesomeness! Amazing brains clicking together. I now have a solid first act, broken down scene by scene. So many thanks! —Anne Hawkinson, author, THE MYSTERY AT MOZ HOLLOW; co-author, SCOTLAND’S KNIGHT; Royal Palm Literary Award winner
Jamie is one of the most insightful readers I’ve ever worked with. She not only sees the bigger picture of a manuscript, she sees the deeper picture. —Joyce Sweeney, literary agent and author of CENTER LINE (Delacorte Press)
Jamie, thank you for the knowledge you bestowed on me during my first draft. The manuscript that sold reflects your amazing instincts. —Melody Maysonet, author of Eric Hoffer Award-winning A WORK OF ART (Merit Press)
Jamie Morris is a fantastic coach!
No matter what I’m working on, from plotting to character development, Jamie always has an intelligent, unique perspective to present. If you’d like to take your writing to another level, I strongly recommend Jamie! —Alina Smith, songwriter, music producer, at LYRE