Why Hire an Academic Editor or Writing Coach? Rethinking the “Go It Alone” Culture of Scholarly and Professional Writing

The focus of this post is hardly original. You can find many reflections on why scholars hire editors or writing coaches, and yes, unsurprisingly, many are written by people like me who offer these services. My perspective may be a little different, though, because it’s a form of support I never formally used, but now wish I had. Like most academics, I relied on advisors, colleagues, and generous friends to read my work. What I didn’t realize was that other forms of structured support existed. That lack of awareness is partly on me, but it also reflects the cultural and institutional norms that made me believe I had to go it alone.

Humanities fields—and some social sciences—tend toward individual monographs. In English, my home discipline, there’s pride in being a strong writer (and equally shame for struggling with it), as well as cultivating a distinct intellectual voice. None of this is actually in tension with the work an editor or writing coach does; a thoughtful one helps your ideas really sing. But, as a graduate student, I thought I could manage with the incisive (though intermittent) feedback from my faculty advisors, brilliant peers, and my own grit. I did succeed, but I also suffered unnecessarily. It took me far too long to submit things and even longer to move on to the next project. When doubt crept in, things got worse. There was no regular writing practice. Sometimes there weren’t even pieces to procrastinate on. If only I had known I could seek support that was confidential, neutral, encouraging. Imagine what I might have created if I’d had dedicated writing support along the way.

Shifting Your Mindset on Cost

The “go it alone” mindset can also make paying for editing services or writing coaching support feel indulgent, or even shameful. Many writers carry around a chorus of shoulds: I should be able to do this. I should be able to make time. I should be further along. Try setting those voices aside. Instead, think of writing support as investing in yourself and your project, and the people who will ultimately benefit from the work you put out into the world. 

It’s also okay to be transparent about budget. You can let consultants know what you’re able to spend or ask whether there are ways to adjust the scope of a project or arrange a payment plan. Too often, people avoid these conversations, but the benefit of working with freelancers is flexibility and the chance to talk openly about goals and constraints. At the same time, it’s important to respect their labor, their expertise, and the realities of sustaining a small business. 

How Writing Support Can Accelerate Your Work

When writers wait for feedback from what I call “end readers”—journal editors, peer reviewers, grant committees, hiring committees, or other decision-makers—they are putting time and opportunity on the line. The review process can take months and the feedback that comes back is often brief, delayed, or difficult to act on.

Writers can create more agency in the process by building their own early peer review. Working with an editor or writing coach allows you to test ideas, refine your argument, and anticipate how readers will respond before a submission is on the line. Thoughtful feedback at this stage can help you strengthen the piece and make strategic decisions about revision, submission, and next steps. Sometimes a single focused conversation can save months of stalled revision or help you avoid a rejection that stronger early feedback might have addressed. Sometimes writers need regular check-ins with someone who helps them stay accountable to their goals.

Putting Gas in the Tank

Somewhere along our path, many writers get knocked down: a rejection, a discouraging comment from an advisor, a stalled project. The pressures might be external and internal, or both. Our confidence wanes, and our writing derails. 

While an editor’s work focuses primarily on the document and its component parts, a writing coach helps writers identify and address the barriers or stressors that prevent them from reaching their goals. This work requires vulnerability, something that can be hard to show in the context of your own department or institution, where you feel your performance is under scrutiny. 

At other moments, writers simply lose their support systems as they transition to a new job, program, or stage of their careers. Working with an editor or coach can be a way to rebuild that support and regain momentum.

Whether you need a good polish, detail work, a structural check-up, or a little gas in the tank, hiring a writing consultant can—and I’m committing to this cheesy metaphor—help you avoid road bumps, build a better roadmap, and reach your destination. If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or ready to move a project forward, a conversation might be a good place to start.