Are you looking for writing help? Whether you are just thinking about writing your first book or you have experience publishing a book already, having doubts about your ability to take a book from concept to print-ready by yourself is common. In truth, many authors seek writing help during the creation, writing, and editing process. In just about every type of work, getting support and instruction from an expert is the rule, not the exception, so connecting with someone, a group, an organization or the right tools to help you create the best book possible is a smart move for many writers.
Do I Really Need Writing Help for My Book?
Even knowing that experienced writers depend on writing help during different phases of their writing development process, you may wonder if seeking writing help would be worth it for you. Regardless of how many books you have completed (or if you have even written a word of your first book), authors confirm that there are three main reasons why they benefit from partnering with someone or something to help them as they continue their writing journey.
There is a learning curve to writing. Even those who have written stories or books before can agree that writing always challenges authors in new ways each time they begin the journey of writing and publishing a book. New writers may not even know what they don’t know, so the learning curve can be steep and discouraging, keeping some talented authors from completing their dream of becoming published authors when they don’t seek support. For experienced writers, new challenges often pop up, creating an unexpected barrier to completion that writing help could help mitigate.
Writers appreciate the ability to lean into the expertise of those who have done it before. Authors can seek support from experienced writers who have faced the same challenges or use tools that were created to solve the exact writing problem they are facing. These kinds of specialized supports target the exact needs writers have at all stages of the writing process, providing relief from not only the writing challenges but also the added stress these problems bring, which often cause authors to abandon their writing projects altogether.
Professional support is key in being successful in self-publishing. For authors who publish books themselves, the sheer volume of details writers have to consider when writing a book can be overwhelming to even the most experienced of authors. Coming up with a workable book concept, writing, revising and rewriting it, editing, and then designing a book cover, crafting a solid book format and seeking beta readers without any input from anyone who has published a book before or any tools to support you is hard for some, and a roadblock to continue for many.
Seeking writing help for your book is a lifesaver for most authors, whether it is a small amount of input or help at every stage of the process.
Three Types of Writing Help Every Author Can Tap Into
1. Partnering with Technology: Digital Writing Help
Probably the easiest way to get writing help for your book is to turn to digital products and services crafted specifically for authors. You can link up with them at any time and how much or how little you use of them is up to you. Some of these tools work on and offline, too, giving writers flexibility to implement them how they work best.
Software Programs: that can help you format and structure your book are an excellent starting point for writers who are just getting started. Specialized programs like Atticus and Scrivner provide comprehensive writing platforms for writers, while Google Docs and others offer easy-to-use templates that authors love and can count on to make their non-writing tasks easier.
Productivity Support: Staying on task, meeting your writing goals, and keeping up with your book writing plans can be hard, so many authors depend on digital tools to track their work and give them motivation to continue writing consistently. To keep writing organized, set goals and track writing progress, many authors use writer-friendly digital tools like Evernote, Notion, Obsidian, Tana and Trello.
2. Asking Other Writers: Peer Writing Help for Your Book
One of the greatest resources for a writer is other writers who have successfully navigated the journey of planning and writing a book already. Some authors offer their services for free, while others and their guidance come with fees attached. But all of the personal peer support options can give a writer just the boost they need to craft a manuscript that is ready to send off to the printer and into the hands of readers.
Groups: Writer groups are an excellent resource to participate in for authors of all experience levels. Often loosely organized but fiercely supportive, a writer group gives authors a place to ask questions about the writing process, bounce ideas off of other experienced authors, and find solace in the sympathetic musings of others who are facing the same highs and lows of writing a book.
Online Courses: Taking an online course is the perfect solution for authors looking to level up their writing skills, learn about the editing process, or who are interested in a deep dive into anything writing, book, or publishing related. Some offer live interaction with instructors, while many provide self-paced learning paired with discussion interactions with classmates and instructors with meaningful experience.
Retreats: For authors able to commit a few hours up to days at a time to the craft of writing, writing retreats can be the solution to staying on track and absorbing motivation and inspiration from other writers at a dedicated retreat. Usually structured as blocks of writing time coupled with intentional author interactions often led by talented writers, these retreats are an excellent tool for writers who want to dedicate time to writing while being surrounded by others with the same mindset and goals.
3. Hiring Experts: Professional Writing Help
The way to ensure your writing help is targeted to exactly what your needs are is to hire an expert. Freelance professionals within the writing community are available to hire for precise support for writers at every stage of book development, and pricing varies with the amount of time or tasks you need help with, the depth of the support and the writing experience of the expert.
Book Idea Assessor: Getting started with a concept that will work can be tricky, so some authors find support in working with a book idea assessor who has demonstrated experience within their genre so they can guide you toward a book idea that could be successful in the current book marketplace.
These uniquely positioned experts assist authors in honing in on elements that create the right book idea that will focus the concept into a workable project. Assessors can assist with character development, plot structure and setup, the book’s overall messaging, voice and even marketing direction for the published book. Authors can find assessors through literary consultants, writing schools, independent editors and some publishing services.
Book Coaches: For one-on-one writing help, writers can use the services of an often genre-specific writing coach. These gems can give guidance on everything from concept formation to time management. Specialized coaches may offer specific support for authors, while many coaches provide motivation, help staying on track, problem solving and other management services that many writers need to finish their book’s manuscript. Book coaches are often freelancers who have successfully published their own book.
Editors: These workhorses of the writing world help writers catch the little and big errors that make manuscripts look great. The old saying that you only realize how hard an editor works until you read something that an editor didn’t touch is true, too. Most editors are specifically trained to work with one type of editing, but many can provide a variety of services to writers who need an expert eye to review and improve their draft.
Developmental editors help writers with the overview of their manuscripts, looking for ways to improve the plot, character development, theme and pacing of the story. They guide writers toward what works best for their story. Developmental editors are an excellent tool to engage before publishing your story since they act as a sounding board that comes with knowledge-based suggestions to improve your writing.
Line editors work with the ground level of your manuscript, fixing problems with language, including word choice, tone and voice. Line editors are perfect for taking one last look at your manuscript before you hand it to the printer.
Choosing the Best Writing Help For You
Selecting the right writing help for you depends on where you are in the writing process, your budget and the time you want to devote to utilizing the support you choose. New writers with only a concept may want to look into digital tools and creating a supportive writing environment with a writer’s group, but an experienced writer may seek a retreat to focus on writing alongside other authors, along with a line editor who can add in their expertise to an already-in-process manuscript.
There is no perfect combination of writing help for every author, though, so try out different kinds of help that work within your budget to see what makes your work shine and gives you confidence as a writer.
Turn Your Hard Work into a Finished Book
Finishing your manuscript, whether you get writing help or not is a huge accomplishment, so don’t forget to partner with a trusted printer like Dazzle Printing when it’s time to transform the manuscript into a beautiful book for your readers to enjoy.
