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Bruce Landay's avatar

Every writer approaches the long learning curve a bit differently. It can depend on factors such as how we learn and how much money we have to invest. When I started writing I took classes and read a ton of books on how to write. A number of years later when I started writing again I joined a writers studio and got feedback from an instructor and the other students. Better than getting no feedback but nothing close to what a book coach or an editor can provide. I learned years later that investing in an editor was money well spent. I learned far more from professionals than I ever got from a room full of newbie writers like me.

I looked briefly at book coaches, however, the cost was prohibitive. It also depends on what a writer needs. Part of a book coach is someone to hold a writer accountable and I didn't need that. There was also a lot of step-by-step and hand holding I didn't need at that point, though no doubt would have benefited greatly earlier in my writing journey. If a person can afford a book coach and they are serious about their writing they should go for it.

The key thing to remember is that it's a LONG JOURNEY! Learning to write well takes a long time, a lot of help along the way, and STUBBORNNESS! I'm finally having a book published next year with a small hybrid press. It's my third novel and it's actually worthy of getting published. I tried to traditionally publish my first novel and got nowhere. Looking back at the writing today it deserved that fate. It's the story that won't let me go so I'm rewriting it now that I'm a better writer and can manage a complex story.

Thanks for your consistent great advice and reminders.

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