Many thoughtful professionals tell me the same thing: they want a coach to help with their writing or career, but they feel uneasy about booking that first call. They’re not afraid of work. They’re cautions about not knowing what will happen once they are on Zoom or the phone.

If that’s you, too, be assured that you’re not alone.

A Fit Call, known generally across a number of industries as a discovery call, is simply a short, structured conversation where we both find out whether working together makes sense. When people search for what to expect, they’re often really asking, “Will I find psychological safety in this space? Will I stay in control of my time and my choices?”

I use Fit Call as my umbrella term for our first conversation. Sometimes that comes to me as an editing inquiry, and sometimes it’s specifically a coaching inquiry. Sometimes it’s work on clarity (more on that later). What a Fit Call is not is a coaching session. Fit comes first; work comes second.

A Fit Call with me is not a transaction or a sales screen. Rather, it is a shared moment of thinking, understanding, and collaborative discernment about whether we might do meaningful work together. In this post, I walk through what a Fit Call truly covers, what it doesn’t, and how I handle those coaching calls in my own editing and coaching practice. My goal in a Fit Call is clear: you feel informed, calm, and free to decide what’s right for you.

Key Takeaways

• My Fit Call is a short, low-pressure conversation to see whether you and I would work well together, not a sales trap or performance test.
• The purpose of the call is to clarify what you want and need, share how I work, and decide together whether it’s a good match.
• The tone of the call is calm, private, and respectful; you’re free to ask direct questions, say no, or take time to think without any pressure.
• The call is neither a mini-coaching session nor a surprise editorial review, and I won’t be judging your worth as a writer or your chances of success.
• If you’re curious about working together, the call gives you a clear picture of the process so you can make a steady, informed choice in your own time.

What Exactly Is a Fit Call?

A Fit Call is our first conversation. It’s not a work session, not a sales pitch, and not a commitment to anything. It’s simply where we sit down, talk through what you’re hoping to do, and decide together whether we’re a good match.

Sometimes that conversation leads to editing. Sometimes it leads to clarity work, or sometimes to coaching. Sometimes it leads to a pause or a referral.

I’m going to repeat this over and over: the goal of a Fit Call is absolutely NOT to sell you something. It’s to understand what’s true and what would actually help.

Many industries call this first conversation a discovery call, but around here, “fit” matters more than discovery alone. I want to know where you are, what outcomes you want, how you think, and whether our work together would feel right.

How a Fit Call Feels

You arrive to the call with a warm drink beside you and a little hope, or maybe uncertainty, sitting just beneath the surface. There is no rush to explain everything at once. I’m relaxed, not goal-driven. We begin slowly, with where you are now and what moved you to reach out — whether you’re wrestling with a draft, circling an idea that won’t quite settle, or standing at a personal crossroads and trying to make sense of the next step.

I ask questions gently, not to extract data or diagnose a problem, but to understand you and the shape of the work you carry. The conversation isn’t an executive download where you race to summarize everything for me. It’s not scripted or designed to push you toward a package. And it’s certainly not an interrogation. We move at a human pace, curious, spacious, and respectful, with room for clarity to surface instead of being forced. We explore what matters to you. We notice where you light up as you speak, and when you tense up. We pay attention to the quiet places, too, the places where something important appears, signaled by hesitations or by softening, or where something asks for more room.

Sometimes the conversation points toward editing, perhaps clarifying voice, tightening structure, or restoring momentum on the page. Sometimes it reveals that the work is less about the writing and more about the person doing the writing, which means coaching or clarity work may be the right container. Sometimes it simply confirms that waiting is wise and no action is needed yet.

There is no pitch. No discussion of packages or fees. No pressure. Only a conversation held with care, meant to reveal direction, fit, and what kind of support, if any, would actually serve you. When the call ends, you don’t leave with tasks or homework. You leave with more shape, more insight, and a steadier sense of where you might go next.

Why is Coaching In This Post?

I’m both an editor and a coach. If my coaching skills can benefit you, I’ll offer them. In any case with any client, I need time to understand your needs. That’s how I work. The core purpose is clear understanding for us both. The call exists to answer a shared question: are we a good match for each other’s defining goals, boundaries, and working style?

How a Fit Call Is Different From a Regular Coaching Session

A Fit Call is not a mini-editing session. It’s also not a mini-coaching session.

It’s not a hidden “quick fix” or a disguised editing evaluation. We’re not trying to solve your full problem in half an hour, and I’m not there to mark up your pages live on the screen.

Instead, we stay at a high level. We might touch one or two specific examples from your writing or career, but only to understand scope, complexity, and context. I may offer a brief reflection on the main challenges if it helps ground the conversation, but I’ll keep the focus on fit to set clear expectations.

If you imagine a map, a regular session walks a section of the road with you. A Fit Call is us standing at the trailhead, looking at the map together and asking, “Is this the right route, and am I the right person to walk with you?”

When people ask what to expect in a Fit Call, this is the heart of my answer: expect a calm, practical talk about needs, options, and next steps, not a performance or a test.

What This Call Isn’t About (So You Can Relax)

Sometimes it is easier to relax when you know what will not happen. I want you to know exactly what won’t happen on this call, because too many folks assume the worst.

The Call Is Not a Hidden Sales Pitch or High-Pressure Conversation

The purpose of the call is not a hidden sales pitch or high-pressure conversation. My Fit Call doesn’t use scripts, fake scarcity, or “only three spots left” language. I don’t ask you to make a commitment before you hang up. Your autonomy matters much more than a fast yes. I’d rather you take your time and choose support that fits your life than rush into a commitment that doesn’t feel right.

The Call Is Not a Free Coaching Session or Quick Fix

My Fit Call is not a coaching session in disguise. I won’t try to solve your entire writing problem or career question in the first session. I won’t push you from editing into coaching, either. I may share a short reflection if it helps frame what you are facing, but the focus stays on scope, needs, and expectations. This protects both of us. You don’t feel misled, and I can keep my deeper coaching energy for paid work where there is enough time to do it well.

The Call Is Not a Surprise Evaluation of Your Worth as a Writer

Many writers worry that a coach or editor will judge their draft, their CV, or their publication list the minute the call starts, especially as a potential client. That’s not how I work. My Fit Call is not a test of whether you are “good enough” for support. If we talk about a sample, we do it to understand length, genre, and complexity, not to rate your talent or your career. I treat the call as a partnership conversation, not an audition.

What I Mean By “Clarity Work”

Sometimes the real need is structural clarity, not surface edits or coaching. It’s what used to be called editorial partnership and is rarely found these days. It’s largely a lost skill in these impatient days. But basically it is a partnership analyzing and aligning the argument of the manuscript.

It’s what happens when the idea exists but not yet in a shape the writer can move through. This isn’t therapy; it’s not coaching, and it’s not line editing. It’s the structured thinking space where the work and the author meet on equal footing. Instead of fixing sentences, we sharpen the idea. Instead of pushing process, we ask better questions to get more clear thoughts. We find the architecture before we paint the walls.

You don’t need a full developmental edit to start clarity work. You also don’t need coaching. You need a thinking mind beside yours. It’s the quiet middle ground where vision becomes articulate.

How A Fit Call Is Different From A Standard Discovery Call

A typical discovery call often centers on explaining packages or convincing someone to buy. My Fit Call is different. There’s no sales script here, just a human-to-human conversation focused on understanding your needs. Instead of asking, “Do you want to hire me?”, I ask, “Is this the right kind of help, and the right time, for you?” I listen, reflect back what I hear, and help you figure out if this kind of partnership would support your goals. The outcome isn’t a yes or no; it’s clarity. And sometimes that clarity leads to working together towards a goal that we specified together. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either is a good outcome.

Fit Call → Possible Paths Forward

The Real Purpose: Understanding, Not Convincing

During a Fit Call, I’m not trying to talk you into editing, into coaching, or into spending money. I’m focusing very hard on understanding you.

I want to know what you’re working on, and what challenges you’re facing right now. At the same time, I want you to get a clear sense of my work style: how I think, how I talk about work (on the paper or inside a self), and how I hold boundaries.

The questions in the background are simple: do you feel comfortable with my style, and are your timeline and budget a good fit for how I work?

Whatever service you are seeking, you’re free to say yes, no, or “not right now.” That freedom is part of the design, not an afterthought, because all my work is informed by being a coach.

How I Show Up in a Fit Call

I can’t speak for how other editors run their inquiry calls, whatever they call them. Some may focus on page count and pricing. Some may sprint through scope and timelines. These editors might be wonderful, and you may talk to a few as you explore options.

What I can tell you is how I show up.

A Fit Call with me is calm, relational, and curious.
You don’t have to impress me or prove anything.
You don’t need a polished draft or rehearsed pitch.
We just talk.

I ask about what you’re working on, but also about what you want, what you’re struggling with, and where you’re trying to go as a writer or simply as a person with something to say. We explore whether editing, clarity work, or coaching might support you, or whether you simply needed space to think out loud before moving forward on your own.

I’m not here to evaluate you.
I’m here to understand you so we can decide, together, what comes next.

Sometimes that’s a project.
Sometimes that’s a pause.
Sometimes it’s a referral or a different kind of support entirely.

The Fit Call exists so you don’t have to guess.

What To Expect in a Fit Call, Step by Step

Before We Talk: A Brief Intake and Your Questions

Before we meet, I usually send a short intake form or ask a few questions to ask by email. I might ask about:

• your project or role,
• your writing background,
• what you’re hoping editing or coaching might change.

This is part of how to prepare for coaching. I also confirm the date/time, how long the call will be, which platform we will use (video or phone), and links/phone numbers.

You never have to share more than you want at this stage. If a question feels too personal, you can skip it. The point is not to pry. A bit of context ahead of time keeps the call focused on what matters most to you, instead of spending 20 minutes on basic facts.

You’re also welcome to send questions in advance, especially if you tend to forget them once the call starts.

The First Few Minutes: Setting Tone, Boundaries, and Safety

At the start of the call, I greet you, make sure the tech is working, and name the time frame so you know when we’ll finish.

Then I say out loud what this call will and will not cover. I state that

• this is not a sales trap,
• this is not a surprise critique of your work,
• this is a space to explore whether working together feels right.

I assure you of confidentiality during our conversation. I invite you to tell me if you feel rushed or overwhelmed at any point. That simple invitation often eases the nervous energy and builds psychological safety, especially for first-time clients.

The tone is relaxed and professional, like two colleagues meeting to see if a project makes sense.

Listening First: Your Goals, Frustrations, and Hopes

After those first few minutes, I shift the focus to you. I might ask:

• What are you working on right now?
• What feels hard or stuck?
• What would feel different in six months if the support worked well?

Then I listen. As a coach, I practice active listening.

I ask gentle follow-up questions if something is unclear. I might repeat a phrase you used, to check that I heard you right. My job for this section is not to impress you with solutions. It’s to understand your goals, your pressure points, and your hopes.

This is where you get a sense of whether you feel seen and respected, and whether my way of listening lines up with your values.

Sharing How I Work: Editing, Coaching, or a Blend

Once I’ve heard your story, I reflect back the main themes in plain language. For example, I might say, “I am hearing that the manuscript is mostly drafted, but you feel unsure about structure and tone, and you want a partner who can both edit and talk through your decisions.”

Then I explain how I might support you. I describe options such as:

• full editing on a document,
• editorial coaching sessions focused on thinking, habits, or planning,
• or a blend where I edit sections and we also meet to discuss choices.

I explain my coaching process, boundaries, and communication style, and I give a sense of time frames. If it makes sense, we talk about fees at a steady, unhurried pace, with room for your questions.

This is information, not a pitch. You should leave with a clear picture of what working together would look like in practice.

Ending the Call: Clear Options Without Pressure

Near the end, I summarize what I heard and what we discussed. I usually name one to three possible next steps, including creating a preliminary action plan, such as:

• you take time to think and email me if you want to move ahead,
• you send a sample later for a separate paid review,
• or we agree that another type of support would serve you better.

I make it clear that “no” and “not right now” are completely valid outcomes. You never owe me a decision on the spot.

I leave time for questions, so even if we never work together, you walk away with more clarity than you had before the call.

How to Decide if a Fit Call Is Right for You Right Now

You may still be wondering if this is the right moment to reach out for personal development. That’s a fair question.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Book

Here are a few simple questions to ask as you prepare for a Fit Call with me:

• What do I most want help with right now?
• Am I looking for editing, coaching, or both together?
• What would I like to feel by the end of a first call?
• Do I have the bandwidth and accountability to act if it turns out to be a good fit?
• What boundaries do I want to keep around time, money, and energy?

If your answers feel vague, that’s okay. Sometimes the Fit Call is where those answers start to form. If everything in you says “not yet,” you can honor that as well.

Signs You Might Benefit From A Fit Call

You might find a Fit Call especially helpful if:

• you’re facing the challenge of feeling stuck on a thesis, book, or long report and have tried to fix it alone;
• you keep getting conflicting feedback and don’t know whose advice to trust;
• you want a thinking partner for structure, voice, or argument, not just “proofreading”;
• you’re unsure how much editing you really need, or what kind.

In those cases, a short, calm conversation with an editor-coach can save a lot of second-guessing, even if we decide not to work together.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Closing Thought

My Fit Call is a calm, focused space for building rapport to explore whether we are a good match, not a test you have to pass or a funnel into a hard sell. When you know what to expect in my Fit Call, you can walk in with more ease and walk out with more clarity toward transformative results, whatever you decide.

You’re always allowed to protect your time, your budget, and your energy. Transparency is part of that protection.

If you’re curious, here is what we’ll talk about: your goals, your pressures, and the kind of support (like an action plan) that might serve you, along with how I work as an editor and coach. On my site, you can read more about my approach, sit with what you learn, and then decide, in your own time, whether a Fit Call feels right for you.

🌿 Not Sure What Kind of Help You Need?

If you’re sorting through stuck places, on the page or in your head, you don’t need to have the answer first.

This short form gives you space to share what’s on your mind. I’ll follow up with a few tailored ideas, and we’ll figure it out from there.

👉 Tell me what’s going on

You don’t have to do it alone.

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Thanks for reading—
here’s to clearer writing and stronger ideas.

~~ Susan