Coaching

You don’t have to do it alone.

Writer, is this you?

  • You know you could write a great book, if you just knew how to get started.

  • You started your book. Yay! But then instead of moving forward, you restarted it…  again…. and again…

  • In school you loved writing, but now every time you sit down to write, you get distracted.

  • You want to share your writing with the world, but you don’t know how or where to submit it. And you’re worried that when you do send it out, no one will want it. 

If any of these describe you, you’re in good company. Nearly every writer will hit at least one of these creative blocks in their life.

The secret truth is that the most successful writers aren’t always the most talented. It’s the ones who find the tools to overcome challenges who succeed.

Even the best writers need a little help along the way.

For some writers, craft guides, classes, and writing groups can pave the way. But, if you’ve tried those methods, or if you have a busy life and need help that fits into your schedule, a writing coach may be the solution.

What is a writing coach?

Just like a personal trainer designs a fitness plan to meet your goals, a writing coach can provide a needed boost to help you achieve your writing goals.

This might take the form of:

  • Weekly writing sessions with prompts and goal-setting to keep you generating new work.

  • Structural feedback and specific revision plans to “un-stuck” your book in progress.

  • Targeted writing assignments to help you build confidence with a specific writing skill such as dialogue or setting.

  • Feedback on your writing and guidance on submitting stories or essays for publication.

  • Help breaking down a large project into manageable pieces and keeping you on track throughout the process. Examples: applying for an MFA, finding an agent, creating a newsletter or blog.

  • …or another custom plan to fit your unique needs.

Coaching is:

  • A partnership—not a lecture.

  • Flexible to your needs and goals.

  • A relationship that adapts to your needs as you grow.

Meet your Coach

Hi, I’m Kayleigh, and I’m dedicated to helping writers take the next big step in their writing life.

I’ve taught hundreds of writing students in college, community education centers, and the prestigious Grub Street Writing Center in Boston. I’ve helped students of all ages write their first story, get their first creative writing publication, and jumpstart their novels.

Now, I want to open up the care and attention my classroom students receive to a new group of creatives – writers like you, who want help but don’t have the time or flexibility to sit in a class every week.

With a writing coach, you can achieve the results of classes in a fraction of the time.

You’re an individual, and your writing life should be, too. I’ll guide you to find the practice that works FOR YOU and achieves the results that YOU care about.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined!

— Henry David Thoreau

My Philosophy

I believe that the core of teaching (and coaching) is to grow the writer. Often we do this by focusing in the short term on the story, or the essay, or the book (or the submission); but the farther goal is for the writer to become a stronger, more confident, more adventurous version of themselves, and to claim the writing life they’re envisioning.

We have so many tools to meet this goal – writing assignments, pep talks, spreadsheets, apps – but at every step in the process is really about getting closer to that person you know you can be, doing the work you were born to do.

 

I am especially interested in helping writers who feel stuck and want to break through to the next level, whether that’s finishing a short story, sharing their creative work, submitting work for publication, or applying to an MFA program or residency. I love helping writers find their confidence to do the next hard thing.

I’m not for everyone. Am I right for you?

I AM NOT a literary agent, who you’ll wait months to hear back from and then may reject you. As a coach, my goal is to meet you where you are and help you move forward at the pace you choose.

I AM NOT a line editor who will just check your punctuation and spelling errors, or rewrite your sentences. I come from the teaching world and my aim is to help YOU grow as a writer and achieve your goals.

I AM NOT a genre snob who’ll look down their nose at genre work. I love mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, YA, romance, as well as literary work. (If it’s truly a genre I don’t feel qualified to advise you on, I’ll let you know in advance so you can find a different coach to work with.)     

I AM NOT an AI-addict who’ll plug your work into ChatGPT and email you the random assortment of cliches it spits out. I promise to take your creative work as seriously as I take my own. That means never sharing it with artificial intelligence or using AI to generate my responses. AI is good for some things, but your work deserves a human coach.

Coaching Packages

  • Single Coaching Session ($250)

    - 1 live coaching session (60 min)

    - Includes written feedback on up to 1000 words of fiction or creative nonfiction. (longer pieces for additional fee)

  • Generative Coaching ($600/month)

    - 4 live guided writing sessions (60 min)

    - Includes goal setting and tracking.

    - Includes weekly writing prompts customized to you.

    - Review and feedback of your fiction or creative nonfiction for additional fee.

  • Premium Coaching ($750/month)

    - 4 coaching sessions (60 min each)

    - Customized writing plan for you to follow between sessions

    - Mid-week email check-ins to keep you on track.

    - Includes review and written feedback on up to 1000 words of fiction or creative nonfiction/ month.

Let’s do this!

Interested in getting started with a free 20 minute consultation? Fill out your info below and I’ll be in touch!

Please include at least 2 methods of contacting you, in case email goes to spam. I won’t share your information or add you to any lists without your permission.

I look forward to working with you!

Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.

— Goethe