Writing consultant and coaching services

Learn to write effectively with Jo Morris, The Write Coach.

Academic Writing

Write in a way that suits your audience and purpose. Write to succeed and achieve.

Business Writing

Write with clarity and power, in a way that best serves your needs.

Writing Skills Courses

Write fluently and confidently. Develop your own distinctive style.

Your Writing

Write together for pleasure, to express yourself and to share your world with others.

Your writing consultant and coach – Jo Morris

TEACHER

I’ve taught English in secondary schools for more than 20 years. Sharing my passion for this subject with students and teachers has been extraordinarily fulfilling. Now I’ve taken that passion outside classrooms, to focus on targeted, intensive teaching and learning with individuals, departments and schools.

WRITING COACH

My ideas and insights will help you develop a distinctive voice for your business, company or organisation. I can work with individuals, small or large groups to help you achieve your communication aims, whether that be on your website, in publications or in your in-house communications.

WRITER

My own writing encompasses everything from academic writing, to blogs, to poetry. I understand the struggle that good writing involves – as Nathaniel Hawthorne once said: “Easy reading is damn hard work”. I love working with other writers in person or on-line, exchanging ideas and suggestions.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED

  • President of the New Zealand Association of Teachers of English (NZATE) for six years; Council member for sixteen
  • Head of Department of English (later Faculty of English and Languages) for more than fifteen years
  • Recipient of an NEiTA (National Excellence in Teaching Award) in 2012
  • Recipient of a Woolf Fisher Fellowship in 2013
  • MA in English (Otago); MA in Creative Writing (Victoria); Graduate Diploma in Arts (Massey); Diploma in Teaching (Dunedin)

WIDELY RECOGNISED

  • Published in English in Aoteoroa and Interface.
  • Writing team member for Ministry of Education projects (Senior Secondary Teaching and Learning Guide for English, New Zealand Curriculum)
  • Writing team member for NZQA projects (Unit and Achievement Standards, Tasks, Revisions of Standards, Conditions of Assessment documents, Facilitator)
  • Recently led a two year, school-wide project examining and improving writing for assessment.
    Producer of professional resources and workshops for NZATE
  • Convener for NZATE Conferences
  • Poems published in Landfall, Sport, Turbine, Cordite and Trout.
READ MORE ABOUT ME

Frequently Asked Questions

Will you be able to help me?

I work with a wide range of people, with a wide range of writing goals. These include business people who want to sharpen their written communications, individuals with writing goals, and groups who want to have fun writing together.

How long do I need coaching help?

This varies, because I specialise in specific, goal-focussed coaching and writing, Your goal could be anything from a one-off poetry workshop with friends, to on-going editing and support for your business writing. We’ll work out your timeframe together.

What do I need?

We’ll work that out together. All my work begins with a consultation, where we look at where you are and where you want to be.

How much will it cost?

Costs vary, depending on the length and nature of the work, where it takes place and how many are attending. You’ll find some options outlined on the Services page, but any can be personalised. Contact me to discuss your requirements and needs

Testimonials

Kind words from previous students and clients

We loved Jo's creativeness and time she spent learning our business, learning about us, and she nailed the process of creating our profile on Go One in a timely manner. We would highly recommend Jo.

Hayley Crosse and Kerry Bloor, Residential Sales Consultants, Property Brokers, Hastings

I approached my first lesson with Jo in nervous trepidation. I was worried I was going back to my 5th form English class of horror. Fortunately, working with Jo was a whole new experience. She made the lessons fun and easy to follow. No question was ever a problem. For the first time in a long time, I began to enjoy writing again. Thank you Jo.

The obvious passion and enthusiasm that Jo brings to her teaching is contagious – even to some of the most unlikely students. Jo also has a wonderfully creative way of adapting any situation to get the best possible outcome for her students.

Hawke’s Bay Prison regional volunteer co-ordinator Karyn Teddy