Additionally, a good editor often goes beyond the current manuscript to identify strengths and weaknesses (see, for example, this editor gently suggesting that award-winning author, Arthur Slade has picked up a bad habit he needs to eliminate) that will help the author going forward to future projects.

A writing coach takes this a step further. Not only do they attend to the words on the page, encouraging the writer to get to the next level; they can also aid with the writer's process. A writing coach can help identify and resolve the issues behind writer's block; can help with motivation and self-confidence; check out-of-control egoism (before it leads to a premature publication the author may later regret); and generally hold the author's hand through what can be a very confusing process.

For example, I've taught a writing course for graduate students that allowed them to take on a thesis by first understanding that they had to unlearn everything they thought they understood about writing from their undergraduate experiences. Undergraduate papers are generally first draft only; they are on topics assigned by the prof; they are consequently on topics the student doesn't particularly care about; they are short enough to keep in one's head from start to finish; they are often low-stakes assignments; and are (let's be honest) usually written the night before they are due. In contrast, a sustained piece of writing like a thesis or a novel is the exact opposite: it's too big to keep in your head all at once; it requires multiple drafts; it's a topic one actually cares about a lot, so the emotional stakes are much higher; it's usually a do or die project, so higher stakes in terms of career as well; it requires sustained effort over months or even years, so requires a level of commitment and self-renewing motivation that is difficult to maintain; trying to write it the night before doesn't work, so time management changes; and so on. Graduate students have to unlearn the strategies that worked so well for them as undergraduates to be successful in their thesis or novel, but unless someone tells them that explicitly, chances are they will find themselves staring at a blank page thinking "I've finally lost it!" Most graduate programs teach how to collect and analyze data, and provide a lot of guidance and support through to the end of research process, but then typically the supervisor will get to the point where s/he says, "Great, you're done! Now, just go write that up!" As if writing were not itself a very problematic process! At one point in my research I identified that many PhD programs had something like a 50% attrition rate at the point where the student had completed all their course work and data collection/analysis because they were unable to finish—that is, could not write it up to complete their dissertation.

A good writing coach, then, can identify the issues with the author's writing process and help the author correct or overcome them. The writing coach develops a relationship with the client, understands the author's vision and process, and works to help the author achieve their goals. For example, I am frequently approached by graduate students or authors who have become 'stuck' half-way through their project. The project fails to 'jell' and they don't know why. One client author, for example, had put her novel in the bottom drawer for twelve years because she couldn't get past chapter ten. I immediately identified that she had given everything away in chapter six, so the book had quickly run out of steam after that point. Once recognized, the problem was easily resolved. In another case, a graduate student had been written off by two previous supervisors because neither had been able to get publishable work out of her. Whereas neither previous supervisor had understood the student's vision, but had insisted instead that she write as they thought one should (e.g., at one point advising the student to take a course on 17th century poetry although hers was a contemporary thriller), I worked to bring out the student's authentic voice, and she passed with flying colours. This isn't just editing, it's coaching.

Finally, writing coaches sometimes work as tutors, especially in the case of beginning writers. Like tutors for other subjects, this may involve setting a schedule of semi-weekly meetings to talk about both the current project and the author's process, motivation, self-confidence, and so on. Each session would target the most pressing issue with the client's writing/process, and may include the assignment of exercises or readings to be completed by next session. By identifying the most significant problems and barriers—leaving the question of split infinitives and dangling prepositions until later, if ever (that's what copy editors are for)—rapid improvement can often be achieved. Dr. Runté has published papers and lectured widely on student-oriented feedback, so knows how to focus feedback in ways that resolve difficulties rather than overwhelm students with too much detail or undermine self-confidence.

The average cost of tuition for an undergraduate creative writing program in Canada is $5595/year x four years = $22,380. When one calculates in textbooks, room and board, foregone income, and so on, that may not be the most cost effective route to a career in writing. A three week writing retreat in Banff this winter is $2330. You can find writing classes for $400, but that's sharing the instructor with 16 to 60 other students and the class may not always address the issues that apply to your writing. With coaching, you get individualized attention focused on your specific writing needs, so progress is faster, and more cost effective. SFeditor.ca offers coaching at $45-$50/hour. It usually takes a minimum of five hours to diagnose and address a client's specific problems; ten hours of coaching is usully sufficient to address the underlying problems that are holding writers back. SFeditor.ca works with clients at all levels but where a client require improvements in basic skills, may recommend other courses, workshops, writing camps, and programs instead as more economical than one-on-one tutoring.

[Although not a psychologist or reading specialist, Dr. Runté is open to coaching those with dyslexia or dysgraphia. (Dr. Runté has dysgraphia himself, though he didn't know that until recently, when both his daughters were diagnosed. Turns out there was a reason SFeditor.ca does not offer proofreading services!) Because both his daughters have dysgraphia, and one has dyslexia, he has had to learn about these conditions, and can act as a supportive and understanding writing coach when others may not quite 'get it'.]

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