Writing Coaching for Early-Career Faculty

Coaching, Not Editing

This program is designed to help faculty become more confident, intentional and independent writers. Coaching focuses on writing practices, goal setting, accountability, problem-solving and big-picture feedback.

The program does not provide proofreading, copyediting, line editing, rewriting or contracted editing services.

What You'll Receive

Participants will receive:

• An initial 45-60-minute individual coaching consultation to discuss their project, goals, writing practices and potential obstacles.
• A personalized writing plan with concrete goals, strategies and accountability actions.
• Support identifying scholarly colleagues, mentors, models and resources relevant to their work.
• At least one 30-minute follow-up coaching session to assess progress, troubleshoot obstacles and adjust the writing plan as needed.
• The option to participate in a small writing and accountability group.
• A closing consultation to assess progress and develop a plan for continuing the work beyond the program.

Participants will work with the Office of Faculty Success Faculty Fellow as well as the TTU Library Research Impact Librarian.

Who Should Apply?

The program is open to full-time faculty who:

• Are within their first five years at Texas Tech University.
• Are in a pre-promotion position and eligible for tenure or continuous appointment.
• Have scholarly, research or creative writing expectations as part of their faculty responsibilities.

Faculty from all disciplines and professorial position types who meet these criteria are encouraged to apply.

Faculty members who have already submitted materials for tenure, continuing appointment and/or promotion are not eligible.

What Writing Projects Are Supported?

The program is designed for substantial scholarly and research-related writing projects, including:

• Journal articles
• Book chapters or book proposals
• External award applications
• External grant and fellowship proposals

For grant and fellowship proposals, coaching will focus on the writing process and development of the project. Grant requirements, proposal mechanics and agency-specific requirements should be directed to the appropriate university research support resources.

What is not supported?

The program does not provide support for:

• Internal award applications, such as FDL or travel grants
• Proofreading, copyediting or line editing
• Rewriting or ghostwriting
• Manuscript formatting
• Departmental documents or policies
• Recommendation letters
• Course materials or teaching documents

Discipline-specific content feedback should come from faculty colleagues or mentors, while research assistance is available through Texas Tech University Libraries.

What Participation Requires

Participants should be prepared to:

• Attend individual coaching meetings.
• Develop and follow an individual writing plan.
• Work consistently toward an identified writing goal during the program.
• Follow through on identified scholarly connections, resources and accountability actions.
• Provide writing materials at least one week before a coaching meeting when requesting document-based feedback.
• Complete a brief end-of-program evaluation.

Participants may also choose to join a small interdisciplinary writing and accountability group. Groups will meet approximately every two weeks and provide an opportunity to share progress, troubleshoot obstacles and establish commitments for continued progress.

What You'll Need to Apply

The application will ask you to provide:

• Basic eligibility information.
• A description of your scholarly writing project and its current stage.
• A short writing sample or other material demonstrating the project's development.
• What you hope to accomplish during the program.
• The types of support that would be most useful to you.
• A brief description of your current writing practices.
• Confirmation that you can participate in coaching meetings.

After you apply, your Chair, Director or Area Coordinator will be asked to confirm details about your position and affirm that they support your participation.

How developed does my project need to be?

You do not need to have a complete draft to apply. However, you should have a clearly defined writing project, intended audience and goal or deliverable, along with some developed material.

This might include an abstract, detailed outline, partial draft, first draft or similar material that provides a foundation for coaching. Faculty whose projects are still in the early planning stages are encouraged to develop their project further before applying.

Apply for the Writing Coaching Program

How Are Participants Selected?

Participants will be selected based on the fit between their needs and the coaching model, readiness to participate actively, clarity of their proposed writing project or goal and potential benefit from coaching, accountability and scholarly connections. Cohort representation across disciplines and academic units may also be considered.

The program is developmental, not remedial. Selection is not based on a judgment that a faculty member's writing is weak or deficient.