Coaching and editing
If you have an idea for a writing project, but you don’t know where to start, or if you have a manuscript that you’d like to take to the next level, I’d love to help you reach those goals.
I specialize in literary memoir and other personal writing. Some of my clients are working on book-length projects. Others hire me to boost their personal statements for graduate school applications.
As a coach, I can help you:
Design a plan to guide you through your first draft.
Locate the core of the story you want to tell.
Define your ideal audience and reach that audience more effectively.
Level up your writing with advanced tools, such as defamiliarization, extended metaphor, and lyricism.
Craft a persuasive query letter for agents or a proposal for small presses.
I offer a discounted hourly rate for clients who book five or more appointments in advance. Paying subscribers get a full coaching session free.
As an editor, I offer three packages:
Á la carte editing: I charge by the word for smaller projects. Let’s talk about your goals and a package that fits your needs.
Standard reading: A big-picture assessment of your completed manuscript, including transcribed voice notes on my impressions while reading and a 2-3 page summary report.
In-depth edit: I devote every writing tool I've honed over 20 years to sharpening your story through line-by-line feedback on everything from sentence structure to scene development, as well as a 3-5 page summary report.
There’s no risk in reaching out. If you have a smaller project in mind, I’m happy to offer an estimate over email. If you need help with a book project, let’s set up a free consultation to see if we’d be a good fit!
Why work with me?
My friend Nigel Beale asked me pointedly during an interview for his “Biblio File” podcast what qualifies me to be a book coach. “Can’t anyone hang out a shingle and call themselves a coach?” Nigel asked. I do my best to answer in the episode below.
My publication record is the best evidence I can offer of my expertise. I have published in more than 40 magazines, including elite venues such as these.
But if you have an idea for a memoir, novel, or trade manuscript, I suspect that you’d be more interested in what my clients have to say about me. Only if you felt that others had thrived under my care would you want to talk to me.
So let’s start with the testimonials.
"I can’t thank enough Josh for the transformational experience I had working with him as a writing coach. Josh has an uncanny ability to help writers tap into their inner power. During our time working together on my memoir, Josh generously offered extensive feedback on my manuscript. His keen eye for detail and constructive criticism helped shape the memoir in ways I hadn’t imagined possible. What sets Josh apart is his commitment to fostering authenticity in every writer he works with. Josh's approach to coaching is not just about teaching writing techniques (though he offers plenty of that, too); it's about nurturing the writer as a whole. He encouraged me to embrace my unique voice and style, empowering me to write with confidence and conviction."
— DJ Lee, author of Remote: Finding a Home in the Bitterroots
"Working with Josh has absolutely improved the quality of my writing. But the greatest benefit is having a thought partner. It’s so easy to treat writing as a solitary experience when writing, for me at least, is really about sharing and being in conversation."
— Beth Anne Macdonald, current client
"Before working with Josh, I had not completed a draft that I loved in about ten years. After ten sessions, I have written several drafts that are quite dear to me. I feel confident that when new ideas come, I have the tools to help them live outside of me."
— Joseph Hirsh, current client
"Josh's feedback on my writing helped make my application essays much stronger and made me feel more confident. His suggestions helped me develop a compelling narrative that blended my personal story with my professional experiences and this significantly strengthened my PhD application."
Gabe, former client and PhD Candidate in Biosciences
“Josh is a dear friend and one of the best writers and teachers I know. He's been informally coaching me for years, and my work is so much better for it. He doesn't just teach, he presents some of the best, most analytical, thoughtful pieces of his own for inspiration. He's been there, done that, in authentic spaces. Take him on as a mentor, you won't regret it. Maybe the best part of it is he leads with the beauty of his own work.”
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, author ofIf you like what you see here, let’s talk. If I can’t help you, I’ll be happy to refer you to someone who can.
