Writing help is available here

You are probably here because you or someone you know needs help with writing. You are at the right place. I can help.

I provide private, one-to-one coaching, tutoring and other help with writing for work, for school, or personal pursuits.

For more than 30 years, I have been helping people improve the writing they need on the job or in class, helping others with papers and writing projects for work or college, helping high school students with college application essays and, now, helping them prepare for essays on the SAT and ACT.

If English is your second language, if you are into blogging, journaling or other personal writing, if you need a hand with non-fiction or creative writing, I can help.

For details on the kinds of writing help I offer, please select a coaching topic from the list at left.

Writing is linked to success. How well someone writes has a lot to do with how successful they are on the job or in school. Writing skills rank high on the list of qualities most employers want. Writing is used to predict how someone will do in college, and essays for college applications and on placement tests like SAT and ACT can determine whether a student gets into a particular school. Whether on the job or at school, putting your thoughts and ideas into words in a clear and simple way is becoming more important. Technology is changing how we communicate and our writing is probably being seen by a lot more people than we think, especially now that it can be shared by e-mail and accessed on networks and the Internet.

Coaching works. Coaching is a one-to-one, personalized approach to help with writing. Coaching focuses on the individual’s specific writing needs. An experienced writing coach is already familiar with the kinds of help someone may need. By its nature, coaching makes the individual special, so it's useful as a technique to break through on writing problems or to focus on opportunities and challenges. Coaching affords extra time and attention. The content and pace of coaching sessions can be adjusted to match the individual’s progress. The individual gets undivided attention and the full benefit of the writing coach’s experience. The time and location of coaching sessions can fit the individual’s schedule.

Coaching is private and confidential. Privacy is important to motivation and success. Confidentiality is strictly maintained, unless coordination with a school, teacher or employer is requested.

Coaching is available in Cleveland area. Personal, one-to-one coaching
is available near where you live, work or go to school. Online writing help is also available. Either way, it's quick and easy to get started.

Don't let writing hold you back. Whatever their level at work or school, writing can be a struggle for many people. We're talking about the plain everyday writing that nearly everyone has to do on the job or in class: reports, projects, papers, essays, letters, memos, e-mails, etc. Anyone can fix writing problems -- if they really want to, and especially if they have an experienced writing coach to help them. Everyone's writing problems are unique, and the approach to solving them has to be unique, too. That's why coaching works.

Act on it. For more information, click on the topic areas at left above or click here for the site guide.

I'm Mark Holthaus,
an editor and writing
coach. I work with
people to help make them better writers.

Through the years,
I have gently, firmly helped to improve the writing of hundreds
of people in school, business, government and the media -- from students, interns and beginners, to those in mid-career or beyond.

My professional work for the last 6 years
included providing
on-the-job coaching for recent graduates and others needing
help to improve their writing to the levels required in their jobs.

Besides 30 years at newspapers such as The Plain Dealer and Cincinnati Enquirer,
my career includes
6 years in marketing, communications and business development.

I have an MBA and
a journalism degree.