Mentoring, Coaching, Editing

Mentor vs. coach vs. editor

So you’re writing–or you want to write–and you feel like maybe you want someone to help. The trick is figuring out what kind of help will actually be, well, helpful.

If you’re struggling to find your way, to figure out your process or even what your writing goals are, let alone how to reach them, a mentor can be incredibly helpful. When I was younger and very much didn’t know what I didn’t know, I kept searching for a mentor in workshops and classes, but never found one right for me.

Is a mentor necessary to be a writer or have a writing career? Not remotely. Can one help streamline the learning process by providing guidance, accountability, and spotting gaps in your craft knowledge that you were unaware, possibly condensing years of work? Yes.

As a mentor, I support and cheer you on and always, always trust that you are the expert on your own creative process.

If you have a story you want to write, but it’s not behaving or simply refusing to be written, you might want a writing coach: someone to provide accountability, help you stay on track with your vision for the story, or help you reevaluate if that vision changes.

If you have a completed manuscript, you have likely reached the point of wanting to hire an editor. Do you know what kind of editing you’re looking for? Developmental editing is most often helpful for an earlier draft to catch things like structural faults and major plot holes. Copyediting is most helpful for later or near-final drafts for finding things like inconsistencies in characters or world-building, and is frequently more time intensive than developmental editing.

Is any of this necessary to be a writer or build a writing career?

No. I just hope to help streamline processes that took me years to learn so other writers can get there sooner. The world needs more stories. The world needs your stories, whether you use me, someone else, or find your way on your own.

Does this sound helpful for you? Then email me at mb@melissaburkart.com or fill out the form below. (You will NOT be added to any mailing list.) Ask me questions or let me know where you are in the writing process. Writing doesn’t have to be solitary!