essay writing coach

Susie Rinehart

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College Essay Coaching

Young people need a mentor and guidance to tackle the toughest part of the college application: the essays..

Even great young writers don’t know how to talk about themselves. That’s where I come in. My goal is for students to write essays that college admissions readers won’t forget, and that stay true to the student’s authentic voice. The whole process is fun, effective, and transformational.

I work 1-on-1 with only a handful of students each year, including a few on need-based scholarship. 

• Parents get to step back and focus on their relationship with their child
• I meet confidentially, 1-on-1, to brainstorm, structure, and fine-tune their essays
• My students discover who they are, what they value, and how to express themselves

Online Bootcamp: How to Write a Great College Essay

Enrolling now a four-part online course that guides you step-by-step in 20+ videos and one 1-on-1 call with me..

I’ve been an award-winning writer and a teacher of writing for 25+ years. As an English teacher and assistant director of the Mountain School of Milton Academy, I taught High School juniors and seniors the art of the personal essay, and oversaw their college application process. I also worked as the director of Where There Be Dragons, an organization dedicated to meaningful travel programs for teens. I am one of those rare people who LOVES teenagers. As a trained personal coach, I know how to interview them to get their best ideas powerfully told on the page. My system includes multiple tools, honed with experience, that they can use in college and beyond to write clearly and persuasively. The top five schools attended by the students I’ve advised are Brown, Middlebury, Yale, Bowdoin, and Cornell.

The Process

Pre-Meeting. Before we meet, I’ll send you a few questions to help me get to know you. This frees us up to dig in immediately when we connect and begin the 3-step process.

• Brainstorming.  This is a no-judgement space. I do a series of interviews and share my favorite tools for finding the story that makes you distinctive. We have fun diving in and uncovering your developing sense of self.
• Structure. With a topic in hand, how do you write in a compelling, focused way? How will this essay stand out from the rest? We work on creating a “storyboard” for each essay. I’ll challenge you to take risks. I’ll teach you how to take something that seems so ordinary, so mundane, and write it so vividly that it ends up extraordinary.
• Fine-Tuning . Plan to write 3-5 drafts. We work together to find the best hook, to end with a “bang” and to get rid of any prose that weighs down the writing. I’ll help you with grammar and spelling to avoid distracting errors. I’ll also provide that outside perspective: does this person come across as curious, open, likable?

Let’s Get Started!

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re curious about college essay coaching, try a session on me book a free 30-minute phone consult to gain instant momentum, and to see if working together is the right fit..

Schedule a Free Consult

I offer a few paths forward:

Standard package (for up to 5 colleges).

This is the worry-free package. It’s a flat rate. I work by phone or in-person, beginning to end, for all essays. You don’t have to count how many hours we work together. And you can trust that I have your back to brainstorm, generate uncommon ideas, create a structure, provide unlimited editing and revision feedback of the personal statement essay (for either the Common Application or the Coalition Application), plus all supplemental essays/questions for up to 5 colleges. Book a free 30 min consult to get started. $2,549

Personal Statement/Core Essay

This essay is the toughest because colleges are looking for insight into who this applicant really is in 650 words. It requires reflection, perspective, and a unique angle. The open-ended prompts are overwhelming: “share your story” “what makes you unique?” My system breaks the mountain of writing down into small hills and gives support for the three main steps: 1. Brainstorm 2. Structure 3. Fine tune. Book a free 30 min consult to get started. $949

Supplemental Essays (under 500 words)

For Returning Clients Only

These essays are shorter, but they need to be of the same quality as the core essay. Each school asks for 2-3 of these. Done well, these responses can pull an applicant out of the ‘Maybe’ pile and into the ‘Yes’ pile. $315

Review of Finished Essay

A close look at a polished draft from an outside, experienced perspective. This is to catch grammatical errors, flow, and to help find the best hook and the most powerful ending. Book a free 30 min consult to get started. $150/hour

By popular demand, I’ve added services:

Comprehensive college advising package .

Cover all the bases; Don’t miss a detail. One-on-one coaching every step of the way on all aspects of the college application process. Reserves your spot in my calendar (get first pick of coveted meeting times). Saves you money and includes the packages listed below. Book a free 30 min consult to see if this package is right for you. $5549

Find Your Path: Major/Career Coaching 

For any student who wants clarity on who they are, what they want to do, and where they want to go. One-on-one coaching on finding a college major and potential career path based on 25 years experience guiding high school students on their values, interests, and strengths. Book a free 30 min consult to see if this is the right package for you. $549

Make the Match: Build a Custom College List 

Identify the best-fit schools and d iscover programs you may never have heard of before. Strategize for family budget considerations. Build a custom, balanced list that emphasizes fit, plus complete the common app profile and learn how to m ake the most of college visits. This can be done as a 2-day intensive to use momentum to motivate through overwhelm. Book a free 30 min consult to see if this package is right for you. $1849

On Track & On Time Complete Application Support

Don’t miss a deadline!  Soup-to-nuts application support for all colleges on your list. Strategize for scholarships . Develop supplemental essays that stand out (this package includes brainstorm & design of supp. essays but not editing or fine tuning). T rack all school requirements and Honors’ program needs. Learn best practices for communication with coaches and department heads. Grow self-advocacy skills for on-campus accommodation or support services, if needed. Book a free 30 min consult to see if this package is right for you. $2549

Tips for Navigating Uncertainty  

Sign up here for FREE resources. NO Spam. No spam. As my gift to you, I’m sending over my “7 Steps to Overcome Perfectionism.”

• A Short Guide to Being a Friend in a Crisis
• 6 Steps to Reclaim Your Voice
• How to Thrive in a Crisis
• 7 Steps to Overcoming Perfectionism

Spring Sale: Get 15% off selected writing courses, only through April 19! Learn more »

Whether you’re working on a book-length project or want to improve your writing skills, a private writing coach can transform your writing journey. The best writing coaches have an excitement for language, expertise in the writing world, and compassion for your work as a budding writer.

That said, there are plenty of book writing coaches that aren’t worth your time and money. Additionally, every writer has their own needs, and it’s important to address those needs as you try to find a writing coach.

What does a writing coach do? Let’s answer this question and look at 9 things to know so you can find the best private writing coach for your work.

What Does a Writing Coach Do?

A private writing coach works to improve both your writing and your writing journey, and the best writing coaches wear many different hats to make this possible.

A private writing coach is more than just an editor. The best writing coaches also nurture your literary career, giving you books to read, communities to join, and advice on the publishing world at large.

First and foremost, a writing coach works as an editor for your writing. They will give you different types of feedback, including global feedback and in-line feedback . “Global feedback” is commentary on the work as a whole: is it convincing, well-written, compelling, unique, and enjoyable? “In-line feedback,” by contrast, is feedback line-by-line, looking at the specifics of grammar, word choice, structure, and style.

At the same time, a private writing coach is more than just an editor. The best writing coaches also nurture your literary career, giving you books to read, communities to join, and advice on the publishing world at large.

Finally, your book writing coach is also your friend. Writing can be a solitary journey, unearthing powerful emotions and personal struggles. A great writing coach will be there for you through whatever writing challenges you face, guiding you through the toughest parts of becoming a writer .

Check Out Our Online Writing Courses!

Tiny and True: Creating Flash Essays with Mindfulness

with Susan Barr-Toman

April 17th, 2024

How do you tell the full truth in under 1,000 words? Learn the art of flash essays and write nuggets of wisdom in this tiny essay class.

A Poet’s Calling Card: Writing and Composing a Chapbook

with Caitlin Scarano

The poetry chapbook gives poets the chance to make a small, artful collection around a poetic obsession. Learn how to craft yours in this 8 week chapbook intensive.

Plot Your Novel

with Jack Smith

Over eight weeks, you'll develop a solid basis in the fictional elements—protagonist, setting, secondary characters, point of view, plot, and theme—while you develop the outline of your novel. You'll receive feedback at all stages from your fellow writers and your instructor.

From the Source: Journaling for Self-Knowledge and Creativity

with Amy Bonnaffons

April 24th, 2024

Journal to discover yourself, find a wellspring of creativity, and produce publication-ready pieces.

How to Craft a Poem

with Zining Mok

A poem can tell a story, communicate our innermost thoughts, and reveal what moves us most deeply. Craft poems that do all of this and more in this guided poetry workshop.  

9 Tips for Finding the Right Private Writing Coach

Now that we’ve answered the question “what does a writing coach do?”, here are 9 tips for finding the right coach that will transform your writing journey.

1. Know Where to Find a Writing Coach

Knowing where to find a writing coach is essential. You want to know that your coach is a well-respected member of their literary community and that they have the professional credentials to give you expert coaching.

Do some research on professional associations for your specific writing genre, and you may find coaching and mentorship opportunities.

So, where can you find a writing coach? For starters, you may be interested in coaching at Writers.com. Our instructors have the experience, degrees, and qualities that make for the best writing coaches, and they’re excited about offering their expertise to fuel your writing journey. If you’re interested in one-to-one coaching with us, or you want to learn more about an instructor and their writing coach rates, send us an email !

That said, there are plenty of other professional organizations and websites dedicated to connecting writers with coaches. Here are a handful of websites you can peruse to find a writing coach:

• writers.com
• Gotham Writers
• Author Accelerator
• New York Writing Room
• National Association of Memoir Writers

Additionally, do some research on professional associations for your specific writing genre, and you may find coaching and mentorship opportunities. You can also search for coaches using sites like Facebook, Craigslist, and Meetup, though always be cautious about the people you meet from those sites, and do careful research about the potential coaches you meet from there. Check if they have a personal website, and make sure they have the below qualifications.

2. Research the Writing Coach’s Credentials and Experience

Who is your potential writing coach? What degrees did they earn, what books have they published, and what prior teaching experience do they have? For your private writing coach to help you, it’s best that they have the credentials and experience to back up their teaching.

Having a terminal degree ensures that your coach knows how to properly teach creative writing.

Generally, it’s best if your coach has a terminal degree in English or Creative Writing. This means they have an M.A., M.F.A., Ph.D., or some other post-baccalaureate diploma.

Now, not all coaches need terminal degrees, and some of the best writing coaches have published bestselling books without ever studying English! That said, most Masters and Doctorate programs require their students to take courses on teaching English, so having a terminal degree ensures that your coach knows how to properly teach creative writing.

Additionally, your coach should definitely have a strong publication history. Naturally, a book writing coach will have published books themselves, but it also helps if they’ve published work in literary journals or magazines. You, too, might try to publish in those same journals!

3. Know Your Budget and the Writing Coach Rates

Writing coach rates are rarely lower than $50/hr.

A private writing coach can cost a lot of money, but that shouldn’t surprise you. If you take a look at any other industry, you’ll find that private advisors and personal coaches always charge high hourly rates—after all, they provide high-level expertise in a field they’ve been studying for years.

If you’re considering a book writing coach, be sure to budget accordingly. Writing coach rates vary, but most coaches won’t charge an hourly rate that’s below $50. If an author has a lot of publications and high-level credentials, their writing coach rates might scale as high as $200 an hour or more.

At Writers.com, our writing coach rates vary between $55 and $240, depending on the instructor and the type of work the student looks for.

With enough research, you are sure to find a coach that fits within your budget, just be aware how much you’re willing to spend, and how much work you want your coach to do for you each week.

4. Look For Examples of the Writing Coach’s Work

Before you agree to work with a private writing coach, spend some time researching their writing and getting to know their work. You want to know that this potential coach is the right match for your work, and reading their own writing will help you gauge if they’re a good fit.

To put it simply: if you vibe with their work, you’ll likely vibe with their coaching.

Some things to ask yourself as you read the work of a potential coach:

• Do they write in a similar genre as me?
• Do they write about similar topics as me?
• Does their writing demonstrate techniques like storytelling or literary devices ?
• Do I like their writing style?
• Does their work interest and inspire me? Does it compel me to read more?

You can learn a lot about an author simply by paying attention to the work they write, the words they use, and the overall style of their writing. To put it simply: if you vibe with their work, you’ll likely vibe with their coaching.

5. Work With a Writing Coach Experienced in Your Genre

You wouldn’t train for a soccer match with a football coach, and you shouldn’t write your memoir alongside a novel writing coach, either. It’s essential that you work with a coach who has extensive experience in the genre of your own work.

It’s essential that you work with a coach who has extensive experience in the genre of your own work.

You might see a private writing coach say that they work with authors of all genres—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and even copywriting or journalism. While they can likely help in any genre, they won’t be the best fit for you if they haven’t written extensively in your genre.

Every genre has its own conventions, rules, archetypes, and dos and don’ts. Just look at the wide diversity between literary fiction and genre fiction , and how there’s so much difference between two types of genre fiction as well.

If you write fantasy, a sci-fi coach might not be the best fit. If you need a nonfiction writing coach, you shouldn’t work with someone who hasn’t even published an essay. Make sure you know the publication history of your coach before you commit to working with them.

6. Know the Help You’re Looking For

Having a sense of direction and purpose will help guide your relationship with your coach.

To make the most of your relationship with a private writing coach, think about the goals you want to accomplish with them. Having a sense of direction and purpose will help guide your relationship with your coach.

What are some things you can seek help with? It depends on what form of literature you’re writing, but consider the following topics as starting points:

• Making your writing compelling and engaging.
• Honing your style as a poet or storyteller.
• Developing convincing characters, plots, or settings.
• Perfecting the structure of your story or poem.
• Expanding your vocabulary and word choice.
• Practicing different literary devices.
• Finding the right literary journals, book publishers, or agents.
• Refining your query letter or book pitch.

Of course, you might not know what exactly you need help with, you just know you want to write and get better at it. That’s okay too! The best writing coaches will be flexible to your needs, working with you to figure out the best trajectory for your work.

As a writer, you are your own best advocate for your writing. Any work you do considering the help you need as a writer will be time well spent.

7. Make Sure Your Schedules are Compatible

How often do you want to meet with your coach? Do you want a Zoom or phone call with them once a week or two? When are you available for meetings? These are questions you should think about and address with your coach before you get to work.

Have a clear sense of your schedule and your needs, and make sure those needs will be met when you first consult with a potential coach.

The best writing coaches will have flexible schedules, though of course, nobody’s calendar is easy to work with. What matters is that your coach makes the time to work with your calendar and is flexible with your scheduling needs.

For example, if you know you need a lot of accountability and encouragement, your private writing coach should be available to meet more frequently and help keep you inspired. Or, if you have a contest you want to submit your writing to and the deadline is fast approaching, you want to know your coach can give you generous feedback with enough time to edit your work.

Bottom line: have a clear sense of your schedule and your needs, and make sure those needs will be met when you first consult with a potential coach.

8. Don’t Just Seek Professional Help

The best writing coaches are more than just professional editors—they’re also your advisor, your guide through the literary world, and your friend.

In other words, don’t just seek a private writing coach who publishes good books. You also want your coach to inspire and motivate you, as well as teach you about the publishing industry and the writing world at large.

If you were to hire a personal trainer, you wouldn’t choose one based on who has the largest biceps or the most athletic awards. Those things are valuable, but you want someone who will motivate you to go to the gym, understand your body’s needs, and work with you to achieve your desired fitness.

A book writing coach is the same way. It doesn’t matter how big their literary biceps are or how many awards they’ve received, it matters that they care about your needs and are actively invested in your growth.

When you first start meeting with a potential coach, gauge how well the two of you will get along. You’re not just seeking professional help, you’re fostering a relationship, so foster one that works for you!

9. Remember: The Best Writing Coaches Meet You Halfway

Your writing coach will offer you books to read, advice to inspire, edits to make, and journals to publish in, but it’s your job to actually improve as a writer.

Lastly, remember that the best writing coaches will meet you in the middle. They’ll offer you books to read, advice to inspire, edits to make, and journals to publish in, but it’s your job to actually improve as a writer.

Your private writing coach will do a lot of work to help you grow as a writer. In addition to giving thoughtful and constructive feedback on your work, your coach might also find great journals to submit your work to, recommend helpful books and authors, and perhaps even connect you with other writers in your community.

That said, you can’t just receive this help and not do anything with it. Don’t just passively absorb the coach’s instruction or input: read the books they recommend, follow their advice, consider all of their edits, and submit to the journals they send you. Be prepared for all of these opportunities—a successful literary career requires a lot of work!

Qualities of the Best Writing Coaches

Every writer will have different needs that they want their private writing coach to meet. But regardless of experience, degrees, or writing genre, the best writing coaches share these same qualities:

• Accommodating: Our day-to-day lives are busy, and it’s rarely easy to develop a consistent writing habit with all our daily responsibilities. While you should try to be as committed to your writing as you can, sometimes you’ll need to reschedule meetings or push back on due dates. Your coach should be understanding of this, while also pushing you back on the right writing track.
• Communicative: A good private writing coach will be easy to talk to. You should feel comfortable talking about your work with them, and they should make it easy for you to ask questions and seek the help you need.
• Empathetic: Your coach should work to understand your needs, your writing, and your experiences. The best teachers understand exactly where their students are coming from.
• Encouraging: As you explore the possibilities of creative writing, new doorways will open. You might discover a new form you want to try or a writing technique you haven’t heard of before—your coach should encourage you to explore those doorways, as all creative work will help you grow as a writer.
• Invested: The best writing coaches are interested in your work and invested in your success. When you do well, the writing community at large should celebrate!

Find a Writing Coach at Writers.com!

Are you looking for a private writing coach to edit your work, teach you new skills, and help you get published? The instructors at Writers.com can help! Learn more about coaching with us here , and let’s set up your first session with your new writing coach.

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Lisa Michaels

College Essay 

Writing Coach

I am passionate about using my creative writing skills to help high school students write essays that can change their lives.

“Lisa walked me through every step of the college essay process and helped me feel at ease when I was staring at a list of 30+ essays I had to write. She helped us navigate this territory we knew nothing about. In part due to her excellent advice and support, I have been accepted early-action into Harvard College Class of 2022! Not only did she help me get into my dream school, but she taught me skills that will serve me while I’m at Harvard and beyond.” 

— Aspen Buck

I am a published author and the mother of two high-school-age boys. I love working as a college essay writing coach because it allows me to share my craft, while leading young people to their fullest potential.

I started writing while an undergraduate at UCLA. I received my Masters in Fine Art from Mills College in Oakland and published a memoir, Split: A Counterculture Childhood (a New York Times Notable Book). My first novel, Grand Ambition , was named a “best book of the year” by Booklist and the Los Angeles Times . I have written essays and book reviews for Condé Nast Traveler and the Wall St. Journal , and taught creative nonfiction at Antioch University Los Angeles and the University of Washington Extension. I am passionate about using my creative writing experience to help high school students write essays that can change their lives.

“Working together on the essays for college was very helpful. I had no idea where to start and what colleges were looking for. I am so used to writing in a technical way I didn’t know how to write personal essays. You asked me questions that guided me to think in a different way and get more out of me than I thought I could. I am not very creative but you brought that out in me by explaining my stories and you helped me construct my essays to be more entertaining to read. Thank you so much for your help!” —Elise Bengston

HOW IT WORKS – For the parent

I know the college application process is stressful for parents. We’ve all read the news about the difficulty of getting into a top school. According to USA Today, “Personal statements are one of the most important parts of the application and sometimes the deciding factor for admission.”

But I have good news: with a burst of intensive effort your student can write an essay that admissions officers won’t forget. A powerful personal statement turns a list of grades and scores turn into a three-dimensional person. This is a page and a half of writing that can change your student’s life.

I have been writing creative nonfiction for twenty years. I can walk your student through the process, from brainstorming and freewriting to line editing and proofreading. Let’s talk, so I can get to know your student!

“Lisa helped me find my voice at a stressful time. She created a calm, pressure-free environment where I could breathe and put down all my essay ideas on paper. Together we worked on strengthening my ideas, enhancing my vocabulary, and replacing dull sentences, all while keeping my main points. Lisa never urged me to change my topics or ideas instead she encouraged me to think and grow as a writer and a student. I’m now a second year student at UC Davis studying biological psychology and still to this day use parts of the essays and short responses we wrote together for job, research, and award applications.”

— Anouk Thomas

HOW IT WORKS – For the student

I can help you draft a standout personal statement–and you might even have a little fun along the way.

We will start by talking, either in my office or over Skype. I have questions that will help you figure out the best way to tell your story.

In our first meeting, we will outline your essay, scene by scene, and I will show you how to keep the writing fresh.

I have methods that can help you write a rough draft in one day.

Once we have captured the energy you want to convey, we will begin shaping the writing.

I will guide you through the steps of revision, until you have painted a vivid picture of yourself, one that admissions officers can’t forget. Together, we will create an essay that captures who you are and what makes you special.

Hourly Rate: $150 an hour for one-on-one coaching

  1) In-depth interview and brainstorming session

2) Help with a scene-by-scene outline of your primary personal statement

There’s No One Like You. We’ll Help You Prove It.

Our 1-on-1 essay coaching will make your application impossible to ignore. 98% of Prompt students get into one or more of their top-choice colleges.

• Get started
• See how it works

Prompt is the highest rated and most recommended essay coaching company.

• Half of Prompt students are applying to one or more Ivy or Ivy-equivalent colleges.
• Half of Prompt students are applying to every other college - selective privates, competitive publics and everywhere else.
• Gifted writers and struggling writers.
• Highly motivated and unmotivated.
• Go-getters and procrastinators.
• English learners. International. LGBTQ+. Learning disabilities.
• Athletes. Musicians. Thespians. Makers. Debaters.

Let’s make your admission essay impossible to ignore.

Your essays – what you say and how you say it – will set you apart from the tens of thousands of academically similar applicants, increasing your admissions chances by 10x. See the data.

We have the perfect Writing Coach for your student.

We hire the top 2% of coaches.

• Our coaches go through a rigorous training and evaluation process. Only 2% make it through to become coaches – i.e., it's far more difficult to become a Prompt Coach than to get accepted at any college.
• Our coaches are Prompt employees, each spending 100s of hours coaching students on college applications and essays every year.
• Every coach is trained on and follows the Prompt coaching method, proven to get your student accepted at their top choice colleges.
• Our coaches operate as a team. They often communicate with each other to further improve their coaching skills and discuss specific essays.
• Every coach has completed their undergraduate degree, and many have master's degrees, such as a Master of Fine Arts. Many attended top programs, such as Ivy and Ivy-equivalent colleges.
• Our coaches have varying backgrounds, such as playwrights, freelance writers, journalists, authors, educators, and researchers.
• We match your student to a coach by considering how your student's college list, personality, and ambitions match with the coach's interests, background, and personality.

People ask, "What's the biggest value Prompt provides?" Compelling content. Clear writing. Accountability.

1. developing your personal brand..

We help you tie your most compelling content into a cohesive narrative that relates to the 5 Traits Colleges Look For in Applicants: drive, intellectual curiosity, initiative, contribution, and diversity of experiences.

2. Identifying what to write about for every part of the application.

We help you brainstorm compelling content, match content to each part of each application (essays, activities lists, additional information, portfolios), and outline your writing for each part.

3. Making your ideas concise and compelling.

We help you identify how to shorten your writing (usually by 40-60%). Word count is at a premium. And being concise will help you fit in more content, providing a clearer picture of why you are extraordinary.

4. Making your writing clear.

We help you structure your essays and write in ways that admissions officers will easily understand. Admissions officers only spend an average of 8 minutes per application. So being clear and easy to read is critical.

5. Holding you accountable.

Procrastination is the #1 cause of not being accepted. Over 90% of students scramble to complete their essays, submitting their applications within 48 hours of the deadline. Prompt holds you accountable to the timeline you agreed upon.

We make completing your essays simple and low-stress.

• You agree on a timeline with your Student Success Manager, who keeps you on track to finish early.
• You work with your Writing Coach, who provides expert support through video calls and written feedback as you plan, write, revise, and complete every part of your essays.
• You submit your applications early and with confidence.

Here’s what Prompt looks like for a typical student.

Together, we'll make your story shine.

Prompt Satisfaction Guarantee

1-on-1 essay coaching, what you get with our 1-on-1 coaching.

• Your own support team: Student Success Manager and Writing Coach
• Access to Prompt’s platform to simplify the process
• A personalized timeline to fit your schedule
• Coaching on every written part of your applications
• Get as many video calls and reviews as you need to feel confident

Coaching options based on your needs

Common app bootcamp.

Group sessions for the Common App.

• Two 90-minute sessions for planning and writing your Common App Essay or personal statement.
• Two rounds of written feedback on your drafts.

Not sure which coaching option to select?

What our 10,000s of students and parents have to say.

Prove no one is like you.

Sign up for 1-on-1 application and essay coaching.

• Become a Writing Coach
• Writing Center
• Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
• Sign Up for an Essay Coaching Package
• College Essay Feedback for High Schools
• Prompt for IECs

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Writing Coach: What Are They, Rates, and Tips on Hiring One

Hannah Yang

If you’re hoping to take your writing to the next level, it might be time to look for a writing coach.

So, what exactly is a writing coach, and how do you hire one?

The short answer is that a writing coach is a professional who can give you feedback and guidance to help you along your writing journey.

Read on to learn more about how much it costs to hire a writing coach and how one can help you improve your writing.

What Is a Writing Coach?

Benefits of hiring a book coach, cost of hiring a writing coach, top 5 tips on finding the best writing coach for you, writing coach vs writing tool, why prowritingaid is a great ai writing coach.

A writing coach is a professional who helps people improve their writing skills and reach their writing goals.

Writing coaches can work with writers at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming and idea generation to editing and publishing.

You can hire a writing coach for any large writing project, whether it’s a novel, a nonfiction book, or something else. If you don’t need help with a single specific project, you can also ask a coach to help you achieve your writing career goals in a broader sense.

What Does a Writing Coach Do?

Writing coaches use a variety of different techniques to help writers improve their skills. Some common techniques include:

• Offering guidance on early aspects of the writing process, such as brainstorming and idea generation, research, and outlining
• Providing feedback and big-picture critiques about a written work, such as its content, structure, and overall effectiveness
• Editing and proofreading a piece of writing to make sure it has no grammar and spelling mistakes
• Teaching writing techniques and strategies, such as how to craft a compelling narrative or how to write for a specific audience
• Helping you develop a personalized writing plan that includes specific goals, strategies, and timelines for achieving those goals
• Helping you identify your fears so you can face them and overcome them
• Offering support and motivation to encourage writers to continue their writing journeys

Many people confuse writing coaches with editors, ghostwriters, or agents, but these are all different jobs.

Editors provide big-picture critiques of your work, or line-by-line feedback on your writing. A writing coach often provides feedback, but that’s not their only role.

Ghostwriters write the actual words for you based on your ideas or outlines. A writing coach doesn’t do the writing for you—that part’s your job!

Finally, agents represent your work to publishers and other publishing industry professionals in exchange for a commission on your earnings. A writing coach won’t represent you or negotiate with publishers for you.

A writing coach’s job can overlap with the jobs provided by editors, ghostwriters, and agents, but they all serve different roles. The primary focus of a writing coach is to work collaboratively with you on the process of writing your project and achieving your writing goals.

If you’ve ever been stuck on a book project, you probably know how hard it is to get yourself unstuck.

There are so many reasons why writers get stuck. Here are a few common ones:

• You haven’t figured out the right writing process for you
• You’ve lost the spark that inspired the story
• You’ve written yourself into a hole and don’t know what to write next
• You’ve finished a draft, but you know it needs a lot of improvement
• You don’t have support from others around you

Regardless of the reason you’re stuck, it often takes help from someone else to get writing again.

A book writing coach can provide that help. They can offer the emotional support and encouragement you need to keep going, but on a more technical level, they also have the literary know-how to help you improve your book.

Because they’ve worked with many writers before, book writing coaches can help you diagnose the weaknesses in your writing process and see things from a broader perspective.

Writing coaches are a valuable resource for any writer who hopes to take their writing to the next level. A great writing coach can’t write your book for you, but they can certainly make the entire process easier.

Do Writing Coaches Specialize in Genres Such As Fiction?

Not all writing coaches are the same. Many specialize in specific genres and specific types of coaching.

Here are some examples of broad genres that writing coaches might specialize in:

• Fiction genres (e.g., literary fiction, fantasy, or romance)
• Nonfiction genres (e.g., history, biography, or self-help)
• Screenwriting
• PhD dissertations
• Grant applications
• Workplace communications

Also, different writing coaches come from different backgrounds that might influence their coaching styles.

For example, if you choose a writing coach with an editorial background, they might be more skilled at critiquing your work and offering you specific feedback on your prose. They might assign you exercises to help improve your writing craft.

On the other hand, if you choose a writing coach who’s also a successful author, they might have firsthand career experience to share that can help you achieve similar success.

Alternatively, you could choose a writing coach who has training as a life coach. In that case, they might be better at helping you face your fears and solve problems that are preventing your writing success.

Writing coaches have built up years of writing skills and career expertise, so their time is valuable.

Different writing coaches charge different rates. Their hourly rate depends on their level of coaching experience, their specific writing credentials, and other similar factors.

At the lower end of the scale, you should expect to pay at least $50 per hour for a private writing coach.

If you’re hiring a coach with a proven track record of coaching success and top-tier writing credentials, such as New York Times bestseller status, they might charge over $200 an hour.

You can also look for a writing coach who’s willing to work with a group of writers, which usually costs less than a private coach. The downside is that the guidance you receive will be less personalized to you and your own writing journey.

So, where do you start if you’re looking for a writing coach?

Tip 1: Figure Out What Type of Help You Need

Before you start looking for a writing coach, you need to know what you want.

Do you want help improving your writing style? Help building a sustainable writing schedule? Help revising a first draft of an existing project?

Not all writing coaches provide the same services. Knowing why you need a writing coach can help you narrow down your parameters.

Tip 2: Research Options From Multiple Sources

There are lots of ways to find a writing coach.

One great way is by joining a writing community, such as an online writing workshop or a local writers group. You can ask other members of the community if they’ve worked with writing coaches before, which can help you gain insight into what different coaching styles are like.

Another way is by looking up your favorite professional writer, blogger, or editor to see if they offer coaching services. There’s a chance you can work with someone you already admire.

Finally, you can read through online resources to look for coaches. Many writing blogs and articles offer coaching recommendations.

Tip 3: Choose the Right Coaching Style for You

You have to establish a lot of trust to successfully work with a writing coach. In order to get the best results, you’ll need to be able to show your coach work you’re not proud of, admit your weaknesses, and confess your fears.

It will be hard to establish that level of trust if your coach’s style isn’t compatible with your personality.

For example, maybe you need someone who will tell you the harsh truth, even if it hurts to hear, because that fuels your writing. Or maybe you need someone who cushions their critiques with praise because you need to feel good about your writing to stay motivated.

If you know what kind of style you’re looking for, you’ll be able to pick a coach who’s a good fit for you.

Tip 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

When you’ve found a potential writing coach, don’t jump right into signing a contract with them. Start by asking them different questions about their coaching style and what you can expect if you work together.

Ask about their availability to make sure their schedule is compatible with yours. Ask about their preferred communication channels, such as phone calls, Zoom meetings, or email.

You can also ask if you can watch how they coach another author or if you can speak to one of the authors they’ve worked with. Some coaches will say no to respect their clients’ privacy, but others will say yes if the client gives their permission.

The more questions you ask, the more you’ll be setting yourself up for success.

Tip 5: Utilize Multiple Resources

Even after you’ve hired a good writing coach, the journey isn’t over—far from it. There are many more resources and tools you can use, even with a coach helping you.

Many writers hire multiple people to help them work on their project. A writing coach can be a great complement to other writing professionals, such as ghostwriters and editors.

If you choose to hire multiple professionals, it’s important to clearly establish what you’re hoping each person will help you with.

You can also use editing software and AI-powered writing tools in conjunction with your coach’s advice. Feedback from multiple sources will ensure you give your writing a strong chance of success.

Many writers wonder whether to invest in a writing coach or a writing tool. The answer comes down to what you’re looking for.

Both human coaches and digital tools can provide useful practical advice but in different ways.

There are some services only a human coach can provide, such as life experience, a genuine connection, and an empathetic perspective. If you want someone you can talk to about your writing problems, a writing tool might not be the best choice for you.

But there are many ways in which an AI-powered tool can serve as a fantastic writing coach as well.

For example, if your primary goal is to get feedback on your writing, a writing software can give you great personalized suggestions. Or, if you want to learn more about ways to improve your writing skills, an online tool can give you a treasure trove of resources.

Another important factor to consider is price. Most private writing coaches charge at least $50 an hour, which is a prohibitive cost to many aspiring writers. Most writing tools, on the other hand, can provide an entire month of personalized guidance for less money than an hour with a private coach.

If there’s room in your budget, you can always hire a human writing coach and use an AI tool at the same time. That way, you can reap the benefits of both options.

If you’re looking for an AI writing coach, ProWritingAid is a great option.

ProWritingAid is an editing software that will check your work for grammar and spelling mistakes, as well as suggest ways to improve the style and readability of your writing.

You can also access a wealth of educational materials through ProWritingAid, including in-app explanations, video lessons, and interviews with famous writers. With these resources, you can develop your innate writing abilities while using the tool.

Finally, ProWritingAid includes a community of other writers who are all hoping to improve their skills as well. Joining the community can be a great resource for improving your writing trajectory by learning from one another.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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