Coaching for Christian Fiction Writers
“With insightful and considerate comments, MaryAnn pinpointed areas of need in my manuscript and provided encouraging suggestions for improvement. I consider seeking her advice as profitable and time well spent.” – Jeremy D Vance
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Welcome to Dr. MaryAnn’s Coaching Program for Writers! We are delighted that you stopped by. Let’s answer some of your questions.
What You Need to Know about Writing Coaches
What is a Writing Coach?
A writing coach is one who walks alongside you, the writer, to guide you in reaching your writing goals and to encourage you along the way. A writing coach is not an editor. A writing coach does not edit your manuscript, although she can refer you to a professional editor.
At the same time, a writing coach can often assess your manuscript in terms of structure, development, logical consistency, and clarity of execution. A writing coach points out areas needing improvement and offers practical strategies for improvement. Whether you are writing a novel, a nonfiction book, a children’s story, or a poem, a writing coach can help you see your manuscript with fresh eyes.
Most of all, a writing coach is an encourager, a motivator, and one who helps you to stay on course with your writing project. She holds you accountable to your goals. She helps you to establish a writing plan and stick to it. She helps you to set deadlines that will catapult you to the finish line of your writing project.
In short:
__A writing coach will help you reach your writing goals.
__A writing coach helps you get out of your own way so that you can write your novel or book and get it published.
How can a writing coach help you?
__A writing coach can help you develop success habits that will boost your confidence and assist you in finishing your book.
__Depending on the writing coach, she can teach you the craft of writing fiction and the business of writing and publishing.
__A writing coach can help you design a unique, individual plan for finishing your book or story.
__A writing coach can encourage you to stick to your plan by avoiding distractions. A writing coach can also help you modify your plan if necessary.
__A writing coach will provide accountability by holding you to your commitment to finish your book.
__A writing coach will help you create a schedule in line with your lifestyle and responsibilities.
__A writing coach will guide you through challenges affecting your creativity and productivity.
__A writing coach help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as a writer.
__A writing coach will offer you an outside perspective when you cannot see the forest for the trees. Writers are notoriously too close to their work to evaluate it objectively.
__A writing coach will give you consistent feedback by being your sounding board, strategist, and fellow brainstormer.
__A writing coach will help keep you and your book in focus and on target.
__A writing coach will help you develop a success mindset.
__A writing coach will teach you how to navigate the publishing industry, both traditional and indie (independent) publishing.
__A writing coach will help you foresee challenges in the publishing process and overcome them.
What You Need to Know about Me
—I work with writers of both fiction and nonfiction.
—I hold the MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. I also hold the PhD in French with a concentration in Comparative Literature.
—I have taught fiction-writing at the university level.
—I have won many awards for my fiction and nonfiction.
_My writing has been widely published.
_Writing fiction is my passion.
—I have published nine novels, three novellas, fourteen nonfiction books, ten children’s books, and several short stories, as well as hundreds of articles for numerous magazines.
—I am not an editor, but I can refer you to excellent professional editors.
How the Coaching for Writers Process Works
__The coaching process is an individual process, differing from coach to coach and from client to client.
__Some writing coaches work only by telephone and email. Others combine phone calls with Zoom or Skype calls and email correspondence.
__Some coach only via email, sending you periodic encouragement and checking up on you to make sure you’ve met your writing goals.
__Some read your work and assess it before talking with you. Others read your work and assess it and then set up a phone call or Zoom call to discuss it.
How My Coaching Process Works
__I combine email with phone calls or Zoom calls, depending on your preference. I offer feedback on your writing pages as well as coaching calls to support you.
While this plays out differently for each client, I do follow a basic structure:
—I begin with a 30-minute evaluation call (either by phone or Zoom). The purpose of this initial call is to discover what is working and not working in your writing life. We then develop a writing plan in line with your strengths and weaknesses and your current lifestyle.
—I will then give you short, customized weekly assignments to keep you focused while you pursue your ultimate writing goals for your particular project.
—I will provide you with email feedback as needed to answer quick questions between sessions.
—I will provide you with principles for achieving success in your writing life.
How Coaching Differs from Editing
__The distinction between coaching and editing is often confusing. Although I do provide you with written feedback on your manuscript, I do not edit it.
__An editor is someone with whom you usually work on a one-time basis. You send the editor your finished manuscript. Your editor edits it and then returns it to you with comments. You may never speak to your editor. Your only communication with your editor may be via email.
__A writing coach, however, is someone with whom you stay in regular contact–usually weekly– over the period of time you choose to be coached. A writing coach may offer you a minimum amount of editorial feedback, but a writing coach does not deal with a finished manuscript. Instead, a writing coach usually starts with a client at the beginning of a project and guides the client through the writing and completion of the writing process. The goal of the writing coach is to get you from start to finish in writing your book
How Much Do I Charge?
__I offer a free 15-minute consultation to help a prospective client to answer questions and to determine if we are a good fit for each other.
__A one-time, 60-minute coaching session is $60.
__All extended coaching (more than one session) is charged at $60 per hour.
Coaching Options
I offer several different coaching packages to accommodate you. Non-refundable monthly fees are due in advance on the first of each month. Payment is made via PayPal.
Individual coaching plans are listed at the end of this page. After each coaching session, you will receive a summary of our session together with recommendations for advancing toward your goal. You will also receive tips for overcoming the practical, emotional, and psychological aspects of writing.
For the best results, it is strongly recommend that you commit to a minimum of three months of coaching. Month-by-month, we will set up phone or Zoom sessions and goal deadlines. If you must reschedule, a 24-hour notice is required except for an emergency. Otherwise, you will be charged for your missed session. Missed sessions must be made up during that same calendar month, if possible, or forfeited.
Coaching Plans
The One-Month Plan (Total of 4 Sessions, 1 per Week): $240
–Includes four hours of phone or Zoom calls. One of these calls is the Initial Evaluation.
The Three-Month Plan (Total of 12 Sessions, 4 per Month): $720
–Includes four hours per month for three months of phone or Zoom calls. One of these calls is the Initial Evaluation.
The Six-Month Plan (Total of 24 Sessions, 4 per Month): $1440
–Includes four hours per month for six months of phone or Zoom calls. One of these calls is the Initial Evaluation.
The One-Year Plan (Total of 48 Sessions, 4 per Month): $2880
–Includes four hours per month for twelve months of phone or Zoom calls. One of these calls is the Initial Evaluation.
NOTE: You may choose a lower plan and then move up to a higher plan. If you commit upfront to a plan above the one-month plan and pay in full, you will qualify for a 10% discount.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We look forward to an enjoyable, productive, and successful coaching relationship.
Contact Info:
Dr. MaryAnn Diorio
Email: drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com
Voice Mail: 856-492-1175
Coaching for Writers
Coach: Dr. MaryAnn Diorio
Merchantville, NJ 08109
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Copyright 2000-2025 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved.