Travelling Together: What does Coaching Offer Creative Writers?

Abstract

This interpretive study explores what coaching offers to creative writers using the imagery of writers as travellers through a landscape. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with coaches and writers; data analysis used an inductive approach. Findings underlined the importance of the coach-coachee relationship and shed light on the scope for coaching, distinguishing coaching from mentoring, especially in relation to feedback on work in progress. The nature of learning in coaching relationships is discussed, focusing on conversational approaches and reflective practice. Writers most likely to benefit from coaching were seen as those with commitment, self-awareness and objectives for the coaching relationship.

Keywords

• coaching
• creative writers
• coach characteristics
• coachee characteristics