Writing Coach in a Box

“Writing Coach in a Box is an exemplary course to improve one’s writing.”

If you or someone you care about wants to improve their writing, check out Writing Coach in a Box. Succinct and well organized, this box set provides practical, proven advice for writers of all types.

Packaged in a delightful chartreuse box with an image of a typewriter, notebook, and coffee mug on the cover, the box set is ideal both for a gift and placing on your desk. It includes a 30-page booklet and 60 illustrated cards, all packed with guidance for writers.  

Your immediate inclination is likely to be to rifle through the cards. Resist the temptation. While the booklet states that you can just jump into the cards, “Meet Your Writing Coach” is a thoughtful and well-laid-out guide to the cards. It provides an outline of each of the cards, so that the writer can find topics of interest with ease. More important, it teaches the reader how to use the cards so that you can analyze your work and improve it to reach your writing goals. The booklet also has a great glossary of writing terms.

The cards can be used in several ways. One is to “troubleshoot” the problems you have with your work. Another is as a course to guide a new work from beginning to end. You might use the cards to redraft works-in-progress, better pitch your writing to others in the business, or appreciate the work of other authors. No matter how you apply the cards, the information is likely to be useful.

The cards are organized into five sections: character, world-building, structure, details, and writing life. They are numbered, so if you drop them or set them out, they can easily be found again using the booklet’s content list. The cards are to-the-point, providing insights and directions that make sense and are easy to follow.

While the first four groups of cards are about the writing process—and are worth every penny you’ll spend on this box set—the final section about the writing life is a true gem. It gives instruction from a meta-view of writing your book and directions on the “what now?” after you’ve completed your book. Perhaps one of the best cards is “The Science of Storytelling.”  

There’s nothing shocking in the cards, no earth-shattering original truths. But there’s also no superfluous commentary, either. The content is what’s needed to improve your writing, without filler. The subject matter is so well laid out that this work jumps to the fore of a crowded field of books. It would be a great companion to other books on writing.

Writing Coach in a Box is an exemplary course to improve one’s writing. It should be a staple in both high school and university creative writing classes. Consider gifting it to every writer you know this holiday season.