How a Book Coach Makes Writing Easier. And Why I Wish I’d Had One.

Photo by Vadim Danilov on Unsplash

Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities. -- Terry Josephson

17 years ago, I wrote my first nonfiction book. I still remember the note from my agent telling me that the publisher had bought my book. 

It said: You are happy…..

But once I was under contract and started writing? I felt stressed. 

I realized that there was a lot I didn’t know. I had a good agent but very little guidance as to how to write the book that I was under contract to write. It was like heading into the jungle without GPS, a map or a compass!

Even though I was a writer and at the time was contributing dozens of health and wellness articles to popular consumer magazines like Woman’s Day, Prevention and Better Homes & Gardens there was still a learning curve. That curve can be steeper if you don’t have writing experience or even if you do, don’t have writing experience writing a book. 

Writing a book is a complex endeavor. It’s not easy to DIY.

If I’d had a book coach who provided editorial guidance, support and project management the process would have been SO much easier. 

I would have saved a lot of time and energy and actually enjoyed the process of writing my book.

A Book Coach Would Have Provided 

1. Expert Editorial Guidance 

This would have helped me: 

·         Define my idea, the point I wanted to make and what I wanted to cover in detail

·         Discover who my ideal reader was and why she would benefit from the book 

·         Define the problems that I was solving for the reader

·         Establish my authority over the material so that my advice resonated with readers

·         Create a Table of Contents that served my content and made it more robust and comprehensive

·         Write a book proposal that strengthened all these elements and gave me a better roadmap to follow

·         Revise the book more easily to make it publication ready. An objective point-of-view and a book coach’s editorial expertise would have helped me to take the content from good to great.

2. Support

A good book coach would have had my back. She would have:

·         Asked good questions

·         Practiced Active Listening and helped me find the answers

·         Given me positive feedback to spur me on

·         Encouraged me every step of the way

·         Helped me find the answers I needed

3. Project Management 

This would have helped me:

·         Stay on track

·         Meet my deadline faster and more easily

·         Assess my progress

·         Identify problem areas

·         Find effective solutions 

Since then, I’ve written eleven more books (fiction and nonfiction) and edited many more. But I still remember how I felt way back when. 

I’ve seen the same stress and anxiety in writers who need help writing a book.  

That's why I'm a book coach and editor. 

I help writers the way I wish I'd been helped. I share what I've learned so that new and experienced authors can write books faster and more easily and with more confidence.

I can help you too.

As the quote says: Think of the Possibilities! 

Have you used a book coach? How did it help you? Please leave a comment below!

Contact me when you’re ready if you need:

1. A book coach to be your editorial guide, support and project manager as you write or re-write your book and/or book proposal.

2. A manuscript evaluation for a big picture, smallest detail overview.

3. A developmental editor to structure your book, and make the text clear, concise, and reader friendly.