Assistance for Writers

Are you an emerging writer working on a memoir or short story, or an artist seeking to produce a monograph or statement about your work? Are you a creative practitioner looking to express the principles of an existing tradition, at the same time as articulating your own style?
Do you seek representation in a country or language that is not your native tongue?

I offer one-to-one coaching sessions and editing services to writers and creative practitioners. I mostly work in the genre of non-fiction (memoir, nature writing, journalism) but will partner with writers of other genres if there is a common interest. I aim to provide a supportive space especially to writers whose work:
touches on diverse cultural backgrounds and worldviews; is culturally sensitive needing to avoid appropriation; includes a high level of visual content; reaches beyond familiar vocabulary and paradigm seeking to find words for communication with place, nature, flora and fauna.

I have been working with text for over twenty years. I also worked for 6 years as an interpreter in the indigenous Altai Republic, Siberia. Facilitating spoken communication among diverse voices and audiences, I honed the art of listening, not just to the words a person might speak, but to the place within them from which their message, often deeply held, would emerge. Aside from the technical exercise involved in choosing specific words and phrases, it was the art of listening that enabled me to convey an individual voice to an audience that might have no shared sphere of reference for the information being imparted. This skill very much carries over into my coaching sessions.  In addition, I have six years experience of teaching adults from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, and have a masters degree in German and Russian literature from Cambridge University. See below for details of services (coaching, mentoring, line editing and content writing).

“Joanna’s expertise as a writing coach has been transformative for me. From my humble beginnings as a self-doubting, aspiring author, she has guided me with precision and care, nurturing my development into a confident and evolving memoirist. Her mastery of the craft is evident in her ability to enrich prose through line edits and offer constructive, detailed feedback on both style and content. ”
— Dr Maxine Meju, junior doctor

Coaching
60 minute video call session / read of max. 4,500 words
Individual session or ongoing support for the duration of a writing project.

In preparation for a coaching session I will read up to 4,500 words of text and ask that this be sent to me via email 3 days prior to the session. I provide feedback on the writing during an online video call in a safe non-judgemental environment identifying strengths and weaknesses, and determining strategies for improvement.

It is not essential to provide a piece of writing prior to a coaching session. The session can also be used to: talk through the objectives of a writing project, determine key threads and themes; provide encouragement, accountability and a reset when needed; save time by moving efficiently through the challenges of the writing life.

Rate: £65

Mentoring
60 minute video call session / annotated text of max. 2,500 words

Mentoring is suitable for support in producing a manuscript for publication. Prior to a mentoring session, I will read up to 2,500 words of text and then produce an annotated version of the file providing feedback in the form of added comments, and notes at the end of the document which can be discussed during the video call. Annotations are intended to give advice, provide guidance and suggestions.

Rate: £65

Line editing
Edits made using tracked changes and comments plus explanatory email / approx 4-6 pages per hour

Line editing involves making changes to the language and structure of a text at the level of sentences and paragraphs rather than whole chapters, and is effective when undertaken after all the structural parts of a manuscript, the narrative or argument, are in place. Line editing addresses elements such as voice, clarity, tone and vocabulary. The aim is to elevate the prose and improve readability by focusing on accuracy, even tone and style, and smooth transitions from one paragraph to the next. Line editing is useful when a writer is preparing to submit their first 10,000 words of first 3 chapters to a literary agent.

Free 1-page sample
Rate: £40 per hour

Copywriting
Can I help you write something?

Do you need a blog post or an article but don’t think of yourself as a ‘words person’? Are you an artist seeking to produce a statement about your work, or a creative practitioner looking to express the principles of an existing tradition, at the same time as articulating your own unique style?

If you are tasked with producing a specific piece of writing in connection with your business or practice, I can write content on your behalf or edit your draft. Book a free 30-minute consultation with me to discuss your project.

Rate: £200 per day

Our Agreement

Once you have scheduled a coaching session, I will ask you to email me an extract of your work no later than 3 days in advance of your session. In order to enable me to read or annotate your work most effectively, it is helpful if you include a short paragraph explaining where this piece of writing sits within your project, and any difficulties you might be having with it. If you have booked a standard coaching session (are not submitting a piece of text), I request that you send me an email 2 days prior outlining what you would like to achieve during our session. 

Payment terms: for individual sessions, I take payments via BACS and ask for payment on the day prior to the session. Sessions can be re-scheduled giving no less than 48 hours notice in advance of the booking time.

  • Joanna’s expertise as a writing coach has been transformative for me. Under her editorial and coaching guidance, I've not only crafted opening chapters for my memoir but have also seen them recognised, having been longlisted for a prize and gaining encouraging attention from two literary agents.

  • Joanna was extremely supportive, valuing the work I had already completed and continually checked her understanding of what I wanted to say. Her guidance has enabled me to be more confident and I have been able to use the strategies she suggested in other parts of my work.

  • My story was feeling very flat, and so was the author. Imagine my delight when Joanna launched into our session with strong new ideas to 'unstick' me and my story. One hour later I was buzzing with renewed enthusiasm for a story I had loved at the outset and more particularly a plan of action to move forward with it.

  • Joanna is meticulous and her editing is spot on. She really pulled together some complex concepts. She's awesome. Quality, high-standards, and flexibility all from one experienced person.

  •  Having had the opportunity to travel in the Altai Region with Joanna Dobson as our translator, I cannot recommend Joanna highly enough. Her intimate knowledge of the local culture coupled with her command of Russian thoroughly enhanced our experience. Joanna not only did an excellent job of translating complex topics including the cosmology of the Altai people, she helped with trip logistics, was compassionate when the going got tough and showed herself to be an accomplished horsewoman on our three-day horse trek into the high-country to see and experience the sacred mountain of the Altai people.

  • Joanna is an inspired intermediary, A translator who delves into and interprets the sacred by becoming a hollow bone, open to the mysticism and magic that is language.

  • Joanna’s skillful and precise translation of the Russian articles written by Prs. Samashev and Toleubayev were a real contribution and a gift to this catalogue "Gold of the Great Steppe." So often it is almost impossible to capture both the importance of these national treasures from Kazakhstan as well as the aesthetic pleasure of reading precise, accurate and pleasing text.

  • Joanna Dobson's excellent English translation of the Arbachakov's work brings to a wider international audience a fascinating glimpse into the rapidly disappearing traditional world of the Shor Mountain people.

  • Joanna edited my translation, and it was an excellent experience. She was able to understand the deeper meaning of the spiritual text as if it were her native tongue. Joanna’s insights and suggestions greatly improved the quality of the translation.

  • The level of communication between us and the results of the translation work were outstanding. Ms Dobson is flexible and demonstrates high efficiency and levels of tact when working with an editor and discussing suggested changes. She was exceptionally diligent in fact-checking and referencing original sources.

  • We contracted Joanna to translate a work of fiction by a native Nivkh writer. Cultural sensitivity really stood out in our collaboration. It is rare to find a person who is to this degree careful and considerate of what might seem minor elements of culture.

  • I am grateful to you for your professional approach, as well as the personal interest you showed in the materials, your deep consideration of the text and study of terminology,

  • Joanna is an extremely diligent translator with an excellent ability to convey the text in a natural manner. Joanna has worked on many marketing related articles which are always a pleasure to read. She is an asset to our organisation.

  • The main thing that I would like to mention: Joanna's desire to thoroughly understand the subject of translation, to get to the core of technical terms, as well as to add a certain style to the final text.

  • I was lucky enough to be recommended Joanna when looking for a translator for ‘A Different Sky’ – the English-language version of Hidden Siberia Magazine, which portrays the real Siberia. I was deeply impressed with Joanna's work. She is a consummate professional, a brilliant translator and a gifted writer

  • I selected Joanna out of 20 potential candidates to translate a popular philosophy book from Russian to English. The result was a high quality and timely translation of a complex philosophical book written in spoken Russian. Joanna managed to retain the flow, character and feel of the original book while naturally adapting it to English language audience.

  • Joanna has translated quite a demanding project from Russian into English for me perfectly and on time. None of the other 17 translators who bid for the job could have done it better, even judging by their sample tests

  • I am grateful to Joanna for her fastidious approach. Thanks to her perfect translation, my novel retained its precise original meaning, style and tone.