Book Coaching FAQ: What is a Book Coach and What Can One Do for You?

Since I’ve done a few book recommendations this month, I’m going to hold off on my usual monthly book roundup, and maybe post it next week or later in the summer. 

Instead, I want to delve into the questions I’m often asked about book coaching, such as: What is a book coach, anyway? What does a book coach do? How is that different from an editor? And more. Read on to see how a book coach can help you achieve your writing goals.

What is a book coach?

Fair warning: this can be a bit of a loaded question. Book coaches have different ways of working, and may focus on a specific genre, or a specific stage of the writing. 

But generally speaking, a book coach helps writers at all stages of their writing, to develop their book from idea to finished product. The coach helps keep you accountable by working with you to set a writing schedule, and having regular check-ins by email, phone, or Zoom. The coach is part cheerleader, part taskmaster/mistress, part writing teacher, and part editor, depending on what is required.

What does a book coach do? 

At the beginning stage, your coach works with you to clarify and refine your idea. A coach supports you whether you are someone who likes to just start and follow the idea where it goes (a “pantser”) or an avid outliner who likes to plan before writing (a “plotter”). I personally think a little planning can go a long way, preventing you from getting to page 50 – or 100 – and realizing you’ve written yourself into a corner, or have characters so flat you could make standees out of them and use them for darts practice. I use a process called the Inside Outline to help writers at this stage develop the bones of their idea, to make sure they have an action or narrative arc as well as a strong character arc that intertwines with it. In the end, it’s your book, and you need to use whatever process works best for you. If you are someone who starts things but rarely finishes them, though, this middle-ground Inside Outline, or something similar, might be helpful.

In the middle stages, the coach answers your questions about writing, helps brainstorm ideas, and keeps you accountable. There is nothing like regularly schedule deadlines, especially ones you are paying for, to motivate you to produce. You can also discuss the process of writing, the challenges of the writing life, and other things not directly related to the book itself. The coach will also point out craft issues they see and recommend books (either craft books or ones in your genre) or exercises to help you learn. This is often the stage where people are tempted to give up – on themselves or coaching – and is the stage where you need the most support to actually finish your book.

At the end stage, the book coach helps you bring it all together and finish your draft. They may also help you make a plan for revision, and even work through that revision process. Some coaches also work with writers on the book submission process – writing queries and synopses, pitching, etc. (Of course, if you are writing a form of nonfiction that requires a book proposal, the actions are reversed: you first write the proposal, then when it’s accepted, you write and revise the book.). The book coach can also help with the psychological issues that arise at this stage: imposter syndrome, fear of rejection, and discouragement, as well as understanding the publishing world and how it works. If you are self-publishing, it is a different journey, but a book coach may be an excellent sounding board, or recommender of designers, editors, and others to support self-publication. 

It’s always best to ask if the coach does what you need before you start working with them. Most of the time, if they can’t do it, they will be able to recommend someone in their network who can.    

How is a book coach different from an editor? 

An editor usually comes in at the end of a draft – or several drafts. There are different types of editing/editors, and although the names for them may differ, below is a summary of each:

Developmental editing is when an editor reads the whole manuscript and makes extensive comments on big-picture issues: character development, plot and structure, and other major points of craft. If your characters are undeveloped or inconsistent, your middle sages, your story ends with a whimper, or if the whole is confusing, they will let you know. They may or may not give you any idea of how to fix it. This is generally a one-off consultation, rather than an ongoing relationship, as it is with a book coach. 

Copyediting/line editing is when an editor goes through your story line by line making sure the grammar is correct, there are no inconsistencies, the story flows well, and that each sentence makes sense and contributes to the story. They tighten and clarify sentence by sentence. They might even do some fact-checking, or point out where you need to make a concept clearer or back it up with evidence. 

Proofreading is someone reading through your entire manuscript, focusing on spelling, final grammatical errors, typos, punctuation, make sure there is a consistent style of text, and so on. If this is done at the stage just before final publication, this person endeavors to make sure the copy is as error-free in all respects as possible, and is formatted correctly. 

Some book coaches also provide one or all of the above editing services. Whether you hire a book coach or an editor, make sure you are on the same page about what edits you are expecting, and what they provide. Some of these editorial terms are used interchangeably, and can cause confusion. 

Also be aware that what you think you need and what the editor/book coach thinks you need may be different. I’ve had people send me manuscripts they thought only needed proofreading or line editing, and I’ve quickly realized they need a developmental edit (there is no narrative arc, or other major issues are present). This can be a difficult conversation to have, but it’s important to realize the book coach/editor has your best interests in mind. They want you to produce the best book possible, not just extract more money from you. 

In fact, I would recommend that you not use the same editors for these three editorial stages. People understandably want to save money by only paying for one edit, but it is not a good idea for several reasons: 

1.     If you need a developmental edit, chances are you will be doing substantial revision on at least some portions of your book. It does not make sense to pay for a line edit on chapters that will be cut or dramatically changed. 

2.     Each editor gives you fresh eyes on your work. A developmental editor that has been working with you and knows the book well will inevitably gloss over things because they’ve seen it so often.

3.     Proofreading needs to be saved for the final-final version, to make sure the manuscript is as error-free and clean as possible (and formatted correctly, especially for self-publishing).

Should I get a book coach?

First of all, if you are a very beginning writer, start by taking a class. There is no need to pay a premium to learn the basics. In the beginning, the best way to learn is to simply write, and get some feedback from a teacher on how to improve. Do writing exercises, and write some short stories or essays to get a feel for the elements of craft and style. A book-length project is a whole other beast. You don’t have to stay with those short forms, but they are bite-sized chunks where you can work things out without the pressure of putting together a book-length narrative.  

Once you are ready to tackle a book-length project, your chances of successfully finishing a manuscript are greatly aided by some personalized, one-on-one assistance. I can’t count the number of MFA grads who graduate with half a book or maybe a strong first draft, who never end up finishing it after the regular deadlines and support are taken away (they always graduate with great intentions, of course!). 

With a book coach, you:

• Set meaningful goals and deadlines for your work

• Have personalized support and structure to create a writing practice that will enable you to finish your book much faster than struggling on your own 

• Have a sounding board for ideas

• Have someone to talk through the psychological challenges that come up in the writing process

• Have someone to point out what’s not working well and teach you how to improve craft elements

• Are able to create a revision plan that actually makes substantial improvements instead of just moving sentences around

• Get knowledgeable support on the submission and publication process

That said, a book coach cannot guarantee you will be picked up by an agent, or traditionally published, much less write a bestseller (there are too many subjective elements in the process, to say nothing of luck). Anyone who makes such promises should be avoided at all costs!

What a book coach can do is dramatically cut your learning curve. You don’t need to flail around, wondering if you’re getting anywhere, or if what your writing is any good. You learn craft topics that apply immediately to your own writing. And you get support in dealing with all of those pesky issues of self-doubt and fears that can otherwise derail you. 

Plus, it has to be said, it costs money. A fair amount of money, since book coaches have to have a lot of knowledge in many areas. With a big chunk of financial skin in the game, you are more likely to follow through on your goals (in terms of services, we value what we pay for more than what we get for free or low cost). 

So, yeah, I’m very much pro-book-coach, since that is what I am! That said, book coaching is a relationship, and its success depends as much on the connection between writer and coach as it does on the skills involved. 

• Do talk to any book coach you are thinking about working with to get a feel for how they work. 

• Don’t go to a book coach if all you want is to be told your book is brilliant and ready to go. The sign of a good coach is someone who is fair but honest, and committed to helping your improve.

• It’s your book, so in the end you will make the decision whether or not to follow your coach’s advice. However, if you constantly are on the defensive, ask yourself if you are really open to being coached, or if it’s a question of a bad fit. There is a difference between constantly challenging what your coach is saying, and having conversations about your intentions for your work and how you can realize your vision.

• We’re not going to write your book for you, or force you to embrace our vision, or take over your story, or steal your story. These are all fears I’ve heard people express, but that is not what happens in a coaching relationship.

• Make sure there is a contract with clear terms around the parameters of the coaching relationship, and what happens if one party or the other wishes to terminate the agreement.

How do I find a book coach? 

Well, obviously I welcome inquiries! However I may not be the best coach for you. I can recommend Author Accelerator, which has a book coach matching service that is free for writers. The application asks you a lot of questions, and works to match you with an appropriate coach. You are not obligated to work with that coach, however. If, after a conversation, you feel they are not a good fit, you can go back and ask for another recommendation. They have many experienced coaches on their roster and are always adding newly-certified coaches. I recommend them because I am certified through Author Accelerator, and I know the coaches go through hundreds of hours of comprehensive training. This to me is more important than someone who has just “written a book” since the ability to write (and even publish) a book does not guarantee the person will know how to teach you to do the same. There is a difference between the skills used in teaching or coaching and writing, as there is between editing and writing. 

And if you are interested in being a book coach yourself, follow the link above and check out their training program!