I was gifted a flying lesson for my forty-first birthday last week—and while I was chatting with the instructor, he inevitably asked what I did. I answered, “I’m a book coach.”
Over the din of the motor and radio static, I explained that I help aspiring authors write their books. After a while, he asked, “So, you work with articles—or what exactly do you help them with?”
I had to smile to myself. If I had a dime for every time I explained what a book coach is . . . well, I’d have a few grand in the bank at least.
So, what is a book coach?
A book coach is a professional who walks your author journey with you, from idea to completed draft and often beyond. A coach is typically not editing your draft unless you’ve specifically defined that at the outset of your work together—in which case a better term would be “developmental editor” or “cowriter.”
If you’re looking for someone who deeply understands integrating your book into your business or brand efforts, you might also look for someone who is a book strategist. This person has the business and marketing acumen to help ensure your book is a “catalyst book” that will enable you to go from point A (where you are today) to point B (your big vision).
Essentially, a book coach is your flight instructor, teaching you what you need to know to craft a book that lands with your readers.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the specific things to know and look for before trusting a coach to guide your author journey. Here are a few absolute must-knows and must-haves in your future book coach.
1. Look at your book coach as a partner, not just a role you’re hiring.
The most successful collaborations happen when there is trust and partnership. You’re hiring an expert because they’re an expert. They have the gold-star record you’re looking for—plus they pass the vibe check for working together. The bonus of a great partnership is that you don’t have to go it alone; instead, you get to write in community with someone who cares deeply about your work.
2. A great book coach has the heart of a teacher and the skill of an expert.
This is where formal education is a big plus. If you’re looking for an exceptional guide, a book coach will have have put in her time becoming the expert you’re looking for. From their wealth of knowledge, they should approach working together with the expert confidence to guide, push back, and challenge you, and they should be collaborative, connected, and willing to teach—so you develop a new skill, not just finish a book.
3. A great book coach should be invested in you and excited about the work you’re doing.
Excellence only shows when there is full buy-in from both partners. This is why I only work with authors I’m all in and thrilled to get to work with, and why I’m quick to kindly tell an author that we’re not the right fit for working together (and do my best to connect them with someone who is).
4. A solid working relationship with a book coach will be structured, clear, and time-bound.
At their core, a book coach should have a proven system and a process to encourage you and keep you accountable. In my coaching, I provide clients with a project plan, a step-by-step system, and templates, plus the encouragement, accountability, and honest feedback needed to ensure they write the best book draft possible. You should know exactly what the results will be, how long it will likely take, and what the process looks like, step-by-step.
5. A professional book coach should send a clear legal contract with clarity around how they use or don’t use AI.
It’s the Wild West right now in publishing when it comes to AI usages—protect yourself, and make sure you know exactly how the publishing professionals you’re working with are using AI. And know where they stand, and how you feel about, generative AI. (You probably won’t be shocked to know I’m not a fan.)
It’s your book—and it’s also your life. A book can be a catalyst to incredible things: new opportunities, bigger stages, scaled impact. Make sure the person you’re working with is someone who knows their stuff, cares about you and your work, and will help you see this project through to the finish line.
P.S. This is a genuinely human article. No AI was used to write this piece.
Comments +