Your journey. Your way. Your lines, defined.
Restoring a Sense of Purpose
Many people don’t realize that there’s more to education than simply showing up to teach each day. I’m here to break that stereotype. Good writing results from sustainable writing routines and a deep sense of purpose.
A talented writing coach—particularly one with education and research writing experience—is an advocate, a guide, and a support squad. Sometimes they can help clear away the unnecessary constraints or push the boundaries holding you back.
There is nothing I love more than assisting writers in reconnecting to the reasons they write beyond simply completing what has to be done, for someone else.
Ultimately, the purpose of hiring a writing coach is to help yourself!
That’s hard to do when your purpose is unclear. Let me give you an example:
For early parts of my grad school days, I wrote simply to fulfill the criteria. I wrote to please those who would be reading my work.
A wise mentor of mine then taught me that there is a time and place for that. Comps, for instance, needed to be a moment of demonstrating that I understood how things work and have worked for a long time in the academy. It’s a nod.
She also said that it was important for me to move and next define what unique contribution I wanted to make. Little did she know where that would take me!
Long story short, my purpose for writing (and doing research and education) needed a canvas larger than academic writing could provide. I wanted the freedom to do uncensored academic work and in non-traditional forms. I eventually figured out that meant I needed to start my own business.
Purpose takes us on some curious journeys, but even when those journeys take the form of traditional genres, they lack soul if they aren’t driven by our purpose.
Readers sniff that out. Publishers have already seen that idea a million times.
It needs authenticity. It needs purpose: Your purpose.
Every writing project has to define our lines. We have to write enough to figure out what our particular contribution is going to be and weave it throughout our composition like a pedagogical breadcrumb trail.
Can you clearly state your purpose in your current project and how that contribution is idiosyncratically yours?