My sister gave me this biography of playwright Wendy Wasserstein for Christmas. It is a masterfully told tale of a complex woman, and a fantastic profile of what it takes to make art. I'd recommend it for anyone interseted in theater, writing, creativity and women making their way in the world.
faqs
1. What exactly IS coaching and who needs it?
Whether you're thinking of writing a book, halfway through writing a book, finished with a first draft of a book or struggling with the tenth draft of a book, you might benefit from the services of a writing coach. A writing coach does exactly the same thing a football coach might do, only with the intention of building a book instead of winning a game. A coach provides outside perspective, gives you exercises to strengthen your work, guides you to reach your goals and cheers you on. Coaching can be especially useful if you need to gain clarity about your ideas, establish the habit of getting work done every week or month, or need someone to help you push through to the finish line.
I've worked with writers who range from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author to a British soap opera star, a one-time TV mogul to a Broadway ballerina. Maybe I should work with you!
2. How long does it take?
I tend to work with most clients for six months to a year -- however long it takes them to finish their book and get it out into the world. The most important thing about coaching, however, is that it's flexible. I can, within reason, design a program that will work for you and your budget.
3. How much does it cost?
I charge $120 per hour for most services, and record time in 5 minute increments. This may seem like a high price to pay, but I'm very fast and very thorough. I get a lot done in an hour. Most of my clients book somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 90 minutes per deadline at the start of a project or when they are in a crisis mode (we all have them -- and art is an emergency), and they have deadlines typically twice a month. In the middle of projects, clients typically book somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 to 40 minutes, and at the end, in the agent-pitching stage, it can go down to 5 or 10 minute check-in consultations.
4. How does it work?
Here's how coaching works: we select a deadline -- usually twice a month. We decide upon an assignment for that deadline, which might be to write something, to revise something, or to research something. I expect the assignment to be in my inbox at 8 a.m. on the designated day, and I read the work by the end of the business day. I get it back to you with detailed line edits, and, if needed, an overall analysis/summary. We then decide on the next task for the next deadline. If there are big issues on any given deadline, we can schedule a phone call to discuss them -- often the day after I read. If, due to health reasons or family reasons, you can't meet a deadline, I expect to hear in advance of the day itself. We all have things that come up, but if a client starts missing too many deadlines, I may suggest putting off coaching until things stabilize in your life.
I can also meet with you in person if you'd like, usually at a coffee shop. I live in the South Bay of Los Angeles, and people mostly come this direction to meet with me; other times they pay for me to travel closer to them. I start the clock when I leave my house. If you come to my area, I don't charge for my travel time.
5. Are there any guarantees?
No. There really aren't. I can't promise you will finish, can't promise you will write something anyone will want to read or publish, and can't promise you will ever feel that it worth the time and money you spent on coaching. I do, however, have a good track record (see list of succeses on testimonials page), but even more important, I have a long list of happy clients (see testimonials on testimonials page) The fact of the matter is that it feels good to write. It feels good to write under the guidance of a professional. It's an investment in yourself. If at any time you're not satisfied with the way things are going, we just stop working together. It's as easy as that. By the same token, however, if I feel that you are not putting in the time and effort needed to succeed, I can drop you, too.
6. How do I start?
If you want to proceed, I will need a physical address (for a contract, which I will email), and I ask for a two hour deposit, which will offset charges incurred in the first billing period. We will choose a day to start, and an assignment to start with. If you have any questions, email me and I'll do my best to answer them.
7. Interested in learning more about coaching in general?
This New Yorker piece on a surgeon who hired a coach is facsinating.
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