“‘If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word’”
Academic 1-1 Writing Coaching
Academic Coach offers Early Career Researchers and established academics 1-1 writing support (humanities and social sciences broadly defined). This support might be in the form of help with increasing productivity through coaching sessions, and specific advice tailored to the individual client’s needs. The 1-1 writing service can also take the form of help with editing journal articles or chapters to prepare the text for publication, or with preparing text for a conference presentation. Academic Coach can also help with the preparation of book proposals for publishers. As an experienced consultant for public institutions, Academic Coach can also help academics pivot their writing styles to suit non-academic audiences.
This service is for you if:
You have no problems turning up to your writing slots, but what happens afterwards could do with some improvement
You are working on a specific challenging project that is stretching you and you need help with planning, developmental editing and execution
You have a different learning style that requires 1-1 engagement with establishing writing routines and accountability
You have difficulty with one genre of writing (eg journal articles, grants, etc) and require detailed feedback on your work
You need advice around career progression or other academic mentoring
Coaching can take place via Zoom in a regular coaching slot, or a bespoke set of interventions designed by the Academic Coach in consultation with the client for a set number of hours. A minimum number of 10 hours must be booked.
Where does this fit in our range of services?
Many clients who choose 1-1 have a particular issue they require coaching on. Sometimes it is detailed 1-1 feedback on writing - in other words, artisanal improvement - or as a specific set of interventions on a particular issue. Many clients pair 1-1 coaching with the Academic Writing Accelerator or the Writer’s Collective which sets the foundation for a better writing practice, and/or opt in to particular live events which supports different aspects of their development.
If you would like to find out more about 1-1 coaching you can contact me at coach@academiccoach.info to arrange an exploratory meeting.
Testimonials
“I came across Melanie’s details at the time I needed coaching to help me review my book before submission. My manuscript was almost finished but it felt terribly disjointed and lacked clarity. I needed fresh eyes and a set of skills to help me understand where I went wrong and how I could make the changes necessary to produce a better and more interesting book in my research area. Working with Melanie is like working with a colleague who has the time to asks the right questions, helps you think and provides just the right level of steering you need when she knows you have strayed from the point you are trying to make, or you are simply writing something totally unrelated to your initial argument (e.g., something you like to write about rather than something that relates to the book). I look forward to my one-on-one sessions with Melanie because even though I have published my work for many years, I still need to be reminded that writing is a process that has several distinct stages that should be respected to ensure good writing habits.
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“I contacted Melanie as an early stage academic with limited writing experience. My research had merit but I couldn’t clearly capture and communicate it to my target audience. Through Melanie’s guidance, I have learnt how to both identify the correct journals to target, and how to structure my writing to engage their editorial board. In addition she taught me how to manage and prioritize my writing time, an essential element that is often overlooked. She has a highly effective, no-nonsense, practical approach to writing which provides a clear development plan. I would highly recommend her.”
“Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s quote, I right away knew that Melanie would be the person I was looking for. Melanie evaluated swiftly my needs and in less than two months, she changed my old habits into renewed efficient academic writing skills. The journey we joined together was inspiring, joyful, effective and impactful: thanks to Melanie’s careful review, my paper was published. Thanks to her encouragement, timely interventions, kind reminders and continuous support, I was elected best presenter during the first Conference I attended after many years of absence. Thanks to Melanie’s flexible, pertinent reviews and accurate encouragements while writing my papers I was able to finalise my study in the best circumstances. Melanie is the person who you wish you would have met before. She is also the person you send a message to, just to ensure that you receive a reply: proof of her existence! Thank you, Melanie, you make studying and writing a wish come true!”
“After a period of leave from academia, I have been searching for an academic writing coach to help put me back on the right track towards a balanced, healthy and productive writing career. Melanie has been a rare find! As a very successful legal academic and writer, Melanie offers a coaching approach drawn from research and directly from the coal-face of academia. Her one-on-one coaching has been tailored to prioritize overcoming my most pressing writing obstacles, and has given me the confidence to re-start my writing. Melanie combines sage, practical advice on academic writing with recognition of the emotional stumbling blocks that many academics encounter. The most revelatory element of Melanie’s coaching has been to expose the basic gaps and deficits in my approach to research and writing that should be addressed as a requisite part of PhD training. ”
“The one-on-one coaching sessions are supportive, brisk, down-to-earth, practical and compassionate. Since I’ve started working with Melanie one on one, I am seeing myself get projects into publication and write with new purpose. I can’t recommend these sessions enough—it’s really like having a coach in your corner”