Tolulope Popoola is a Creative Writer, Author, Writing Coach and Publishing Consultant. She is the founder of Accomplish Press, a coaching and publishing company, where she works with aspiring authors of all ages to write and publish the books they really want to.
Have you spotted a spark of creative writing talent in your child but feel unsure how to nurture it? Have your attempts to encourage their gift left both of you feeling frustrated or stuck? If you’re wondering how to nurture your child’s writing interest or take their talent to the next level, it might be time to consider a writing coach, someone who can inspire, guide, and unlock your child’s full potential.
What is a writing coach?
A writing coach is a professional who provides guidance, feedback, and mentorship to help aspiring authors improve their writing skills, and work towards a project, such as writing and publishing a novel or a nonfiction book. A writing coach can collaborate with a writer during any stage of the process, from initial idea, to completing the full manuscript. A writing coach is different from a ghostwriter, as they do not write the book on the client’s behalf, but they give the client the tools and support to write it themselves.
For children, a writing coach acts as a supportive mentor who nurtures their creativity, teaches essential writing techniques, and builds confidence in their abilities. Whether a child is crafting a story, preparing for a competition, or exploring their passion for writing, a writing coach tailors their approach to suit the child’s unique needs and goals.
I started out working with adults in my coaching business, but over time, I have worked with more and more children. Parents often approach me because they have noticed a talent for writing or a love of words in their child, and they want to nurture that talent and encourage the child to express their creativity. In my work, I have met and worked with over a hundred children from diverse backgrounds who want to achieve different things. Some of my students have authored their own books, some of them have won writing competitions, some of them have written scripts for movies, some have gone on to start their own blog, or even written and delivered a TEDTalk. And for some children, they just enjoy the practice of writing stories and essays regularly because it is fun and interesting.
What does a writing coach do?
As a writing coach for children, my work focuses on:
Teaching children core writing skills such as grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and vocabulary development. I also teach my students different techniques to write both fiction and nonfiction and include a variety of examples from contemporary literature.
Encouraging creativity and helping children generate and organise ideas for stories, essays, or projects. I ask them questions to spark their curiosity or get them to imagine different scenarios. Sometimes I offer them prompts on different topics and encourage them to use the prompt as a starting point for creating their own stories.
Providing constructive feedback when they submit their work to me. I offer gentle, actionable feedback to help them improve their writing without discouraging the child.
Goal setting and motivation. I set achievable writing goals to keep the child motivated and focused, and provide encouragement after they achieve every goal, so that they are excited for the next one.
Building the child’s confidence. I instill self-belief in the young writers I work with by celebrating their progress and achievements. I encourage them to read their work in class (if it’s in a group setting) and I publish their best work on my blog, so that they are proud to share it with the rest of their family and friends too.
Tailoring lessons to each child that I work with. I get to know my students well, so I can adapt my teaching and mentoring methods to suit the child’s age, skill level, interests and goals.
Why your child needs a writing coach
If you want to encourage your child’s creativity and writing skills, then it’s a great idea to get them to work a writing coach. Unlike a classroom setting in school, a writing coach provides one-on-one support, focusing on the child’s specific strengths and areas for improvement. This tailored approach ensures your child’s unique needs are addressed. Working with a writing coach will:
Foster your child’s creativity
A writing coach nurtures a child’s imagination, encouraging them to explore and express their ideas through storytelling, poetry, or other creative formats. This sparks a lifelong love for writing and storytelling.
Boost your child’s academic performance
Strong writing skills are fundamental to academic success. A coach can help your child excel in school assignments, essays, and exams, giving them a solid foundation for future learning.
Improve their communication skills
Writing coaches teach children how to express themselves clearly and effectively, a skill that extends beyond writing into verbal communication and presentations.
Encourage discipline and focus
Regular coaching sessions help children develop good writing habits, meet deadlines, and work towards goals, fostering discipline and accountability.
Strengthen emotional expression
Writing can be a powerful outlet for emotions. A coach helps children articulate their thoughts and feelings in a constructive way, contributing to their emotional well-being.
Build confidence in writing
Through consistent feedback and encouragement, a coach will help your child overcome insecurities about their writing abilities. They will learn to view mistakes as opportunities to grow.
Prepare for competitions and publishing
A coach can guide children in entering writing contests or even help them take steps towards publishing their work, giving them a sense of accomplishment and recognition.
How is a writing coach different from a teacher or tutor?
Parents often ask this question, as it is easy to get the roles of a coach mixed up with other people who work with helping children. While teachers, tutors, and writing coaches all help children develop their writing skills, their roles, approaches, and focus areas are distinct. Understanding these differences can help parents determine which type of support best suits their child’s needs.
A schoolteacher is responsible for delivering a structured curriculum in a classroom setting, typically designed to meet academic standards. Their focus is on ensuring all students meet specific learning objectives, such as understanding grammar rules or writing essays for exams. Teachers focus on broad writing skills that align with curriculum standards. They use a structured, one-size-fits-all approach due to the need to address a large group of students with diverse abilities. A teacher aims to ensure that all students meet grade-level expectations and perform well in assessments.
A personal tutor provides one-on-one or small-group support to help a child catch up on schoolwork, improve in areas where they struggle, or prepare for specific exams. Tutors often work on reinforcing what is already being taught in school and on fixing specific problems, such as poor grammar, weak sentence structure, or difficulties with school assignments. Tutors work within the framework of what the student is learning in school, often using repetition and exercises to reinforce understanding. Tutors help students improve academic performance and gain a better understanding of school material.
A writing coach is a mentor who goes beyond academics to focus on nurturing a child’s creativity, helping them explore their unique writing voice, and developing their storytelling or creative writing skills. A coach tailors their approach to suit the child’s individual interests and goals, focusing on the child’s overall growth as a writer. This may include brainstorming ideas, crafting compelling stories, exploring different genres, and building confidence in creative expression. Coaching includes teaching, but also goes far beyond just completing a curriculum. The coach adapts to the child’s unique strengths, weaknesses, and interests. A coach fosters a collaborative and interactive learning environment, often allowing the child to take creative risks and learn through experimentation. The goal is to build confidence and help the child find their unique voice as a writer, encouraging a broader range of writing, including creative fiction, poetry, personal essays, and even blogging or journaling. This allows children to explore and develop their interests in storytelling or other creative pursuits.
How about a writing coach vs. editor?
Both writing coaches and editors play important roles in helping writers improve, but their approaches, goals, and methods are distinct. When working with children, these differences become even more significant, as the focus often shifts from just improving the work to nurturing the child’s skills and creativity.
An editor’s primary job is to refine and improve a specific piece of writing. For children, editors usually work on a finished draft, correcting errors, polishing the language, and ensuring clarity and structure. Improving sentence structure and flow, suggesting ways to make the text more engaging or coherent, maintaining the writer’s voice while enhancing the quality of the piece and preparing the work for submission, publication, or presentation.
How they complement each other
A writing coach and an editor often work together, especially for children:
A writing coach helps the child create a draft by brainstorming ideas, developing characters, and teaching structure and technique.
Once the draft is complete, an editor steps in to refine and polish the piece for competitions, school projects, or publication.
For example, a child working on a children’s story book may first work with a coach to develop their plot and characters. After completing the story, an editor can fine-tune the language, fix errors, and ensure the story reads smoothly.
How to find the right writing coach for your child
When choosing a writing coach, look for someone who:
Has experience working with children of the same age group.
Is knowledgeable in various writing styles and genres.
Provides constructive and encouraging feedback.
Fosters a positive and inspiring environment for growth.
Understands how to balance skill-building with creative exploration.
Ask for references or testimonials from other parents.
Conclusion
A writing coach can be a transformative influence in a child’s life, helping them develop skills that go far beyond putting words on a page. A writing coach provides a nurturing environment for the child to grow their writing skills and confidence. From academic excellence to personal growth, the benefits of having a writing coach are immense. If your child has a flair for storytelling or struggles to find their voice, hiring a writing coach could be the perfect step to unlock their potential and inspire a lifelong love for writing.
As a writing coach for children for over eight years, I have worked with over two hundred children, both in one-to-one settings and in my weekly Creative Writing Club. Some of my students have written and published books, written movie scripts, and given TEDtalks that they wrote, and I have many happy parents who testify!
If you want your child to improve their creativity, overcome self-doubt, expand their vocabulary, develop excellent writing skills, build their confidence, or even start writing their own book, then reach out and schedule a call with me today.
Tolulope Popoola, Writing Coach and Publishing Consultant
Tolulope Popoola is a Creative Writer, Author, Writing Coach and Publishing Consultant. She established Accomplish Press and The Creative Writing Academy to provide writers like herself with an opportunity to have their works written and published. She now works with aspiring authors of all ages to overcome their obstacles, clear their doubts and reconnect with their creative side, so that they can finally write and publish the books within them! Through her award-winning Creative Writing Club for Kids and Teens, Tolulope has worked with several young authors to improve their writing skills and confidence.
