Is It Time for a Book Coach? How and When to Get Expert Help With Your Writing
Understand the stages of writing where a book coach can provide invaluable support and direction.
Five years ago, an editing client found me through word-of-mouth and hired me to copyedit a novel. I was newly self-employed and excited to begin. I didn’t know it when I opened the document, but by the end of the project, I would be convinced there was a role for book coaches.
I dug into the project with enthusiasm. I had been looking forward to my return to editing after a sojourn in nonprofit leadership. Sure enough, after a few hours with the manuscript, I recalled how much I loved the work. I was in the flow state and time whizzed by.
I saw, though, that this manuscript wasn’t entirely ready for editing. There were matters of craft that needed to be addressed. While the writer had an expert ear for dialogue, it was not formatted or punctuated as dialogue yet. She was an ace at building tension, but the story’s pacing needed attention to deepen the reader’s experience. Copyediting is one of the last stages of manuscript preparation. I wished that my writer had been offered guidance through the stages of publication earlier in the process; she might have addressed these craft issues had she worked with a developmental editor or engaged beta readers.
Here's what I want to say: This writer had needed support before the editor arrived. But at this late stage, she didn’t want to backtrack. She wanted to move forward with the publishing professional she trusted. My role was adjusted.
Later, I took on another client who asked me to review and edit her book proposal. Her motivation had carried her through the first, second, and third drafts of her manuscript, a lovely piece of prescriptive nonfiction, but now she needed to turn her mind away from the creative endeavour and towards the business pitch. Many writers struggle with this shift from writing a book to writing about the book.
We worked together until she had a solid book proposal. I did edit it, but the scope of my work grew to market research—understanding her readers’ demographics, lifestyles, and attitudes, and how they buy books. How could she reach her readers as book buyers? What was happening in the lives of her ideal readers when they opened the book? What transformation could she promise? As she worked on her proposal, the writer saw a need to return to the manuscript; her book wasn’t yet saying exactly what she so ardently wanted it to say to her readers.
You know that feeling when you have to go back to a project after you thought it was done? Yeah, that.
She had come to me with a request for editing, but she needed proposal support and a deeper understanding of her readers, and now, she needed a trusted person who could support her and motivate her to return to the page after thinking the book was done. It wasn’t an editor she had needed, after all. It was a coach.
In the year that followed, I met several prospective clients who told me about their long-held dreams of writing books. Time had slipped away from them, months and years, in the way it does when we have full lives and full-time jobs, and now they needed someone to hold them to their promise to finally write their book. Time was ticking. Could I help them?
Again and again, I saw there was a role for professional author support that came before the editor was needed, even before the manuscript was written. Writers were asking for guidance and wayfinding and for someone to hold their feet to the fire.
Do you need a book coach?
Maybe you do, and maybe you don’t. Many people can write a book and prepare to publish it without the help of a coach. There are the writers who dedicate themselves to their craft by joining writing classes, workshops, and master’s programs. They turn to trusted colleagues and writing groups for feedback and support. There are the writers who know their audience’s desires so well already, they write with ease and confidence. And we all know someone, don’t we, who is so goal-oriented, driven, and energetic that they can pull off seemingly impossible things when they put their attention to it—like writing a book in three months by waking up at 5 a.m. and just…writing it. (If only we could pack that in a daily vitamin, right?)
But then there are people like me, and maybe that’s you.
I need someone to show up and say to me, “You want to do this? Here is how. Here is when. I’m here to keep you inspired and on track. I’m here to show you your strengths. I’m here to help you love the process. I am here to get you to the finish line.”
When I have someone like that in my corner, I show up. I do the work. And I finish. Then I go off, inspired, with new skills and knowledge, able to do it myself.
You’re not me, and I’m not you. You may need something different from a book coach. Here are some questions to ask yourself to understand when it makes sense to reach out to a coach.
Question 1: What support do I need?
Book coaches bring different strengths and offer different support services, so it’s important to know what you need to move you through your project. What role do you want your coach to play?
Guide
Cheerleader
Taskmaster
Sounding Board
Story Expert
Writing Coach
Question 2: What are my skill and knowledge gaps?
You aren’t expected to be an expert in every aspect of manuscript preparation or writer’s craft. Bring in a book coach to support you in the areas you need to bolster. There are many coaches here in Canada with skills and specialties to support you where you need it. For example, here in our Book Coaches Canada community, we have coaches experienced in various genres—romance books, middle-grade novels, memoir, speculative fiction, and more—and with expertise in various stages of writing, revisions, manuscript preparation, and publishing.
Each of us in Book Coaches Canada approaches our work uniquely, and among us, we have expertise to support you with:
mindset
project management
writer’s craft
story development
genre questions
outlining
revisions
publishing decisions
Which of these do you need to address?
Question 3: Where in the book journey do you need support?
Book coaches can support you through the entire book development process, from concept to publishing. When you look at this diagram, which stages do you feel confident you can manage on your own? Where will you need help?
Book Coaches Canada members can support you in any of these stages. For example, I love working with people in the early stages of book development, from the kernel of an idea to an outline and first draft. Other coaches, like Nita Collins, support writers in revision. Others, like Kim Reynolds and Liisa Kovala give incredible support to writers mid-manuscript. Michelle Bish can support the pitch and proposal to agents and publishers. Caroline Topperman is who I turn to with questions on the ins and outs of publishing, and Akosua Brown can support you in all stages from writing through to self-publishing with deep care for your mission. And if I was struggling to get in touch with my creativity, I would bring in Katie Curtin as coach. This is to name only a few of us. There are currently 27 book coaches in Book Coaches Canada, all trained by Author Accelerator.
When do you hire a book coach?
Now that you know what type of support you need, your gap in skills or knowledge, and which part of the publishing process is daunting, turn to our coaches’ directory. Look for coaches who can meet you where you are at in your book’s development and in your own development as an author. Reach out early and ask questions. Find the coach that fits your needs, when you need coaching.
When do you engage a book coach? The answer is simple: When you need us.
When you need the surefooted guidance of another human who understands not just the writing process, but the publishing industry itself. We’re professionals who love supporting writers.
A book coach can support you when:
You need someone to listen—The people you typically turn to for support in matters of daily life may not be experts in writing or even interested in books. Book coaches love books—we can talk about them all day!
When you need feedback—Every writer gets to this point. You look back at what you wrote and you have no idea if it is any good. You’re too close to it. Your coach can be an extra set of eyes on your manuscript, as you write.
When your story hits a wall—You successfully started writing, but now you’re all twisted up and don’t know whether to restart or revise or keep writing. Ask a coach to take you back to the fundamental questions of your book: Why are you writing this book? Why now? What is it you must say?
When you need deadlines—Life keeps interrupting your plans. You need a coach to give you a date to deliver the next 10, 20, or 30 pages.
When you need a cheerleader—You’re sure this book is worth the effort, but your inspiration is waning. There’s a small voice in the back of your mind speaking doubt. Ask your coach to keep you motivated and focused — and excited!
When your habits are getting in the way—You need to set up positive habits and new routines that will put your writing centre stage and send distractions to the wings. Your coach can help.
When you are losing your way—Are you asking, “Why did I start this project, anyway?” That’s a lonely, discouraging place to be. Find a coach so you can get centered in your purpose again.
Visit our coaches’ directory now to see what we offer. You can find it in the documents section of our LinkedIn page. Book a call—most of us offer free discovery calls where you can ask questions and find out more, with no obligation. When you meet us, tell us what you need. Our aim is to serve writers, and to do it honestly and ethically, bringing the wealth of our experience and skills to the coaching relationship.
Tell us when you need us. We’ll show up.
DINAH LAPRAIRIE is a book coach in Greater Sudbury, Ontario who coaches writers writing big-hearted books. She loves working with people who want to make life better for people in their communities. She is an Author Accelerator-certified book coach of non-fiction and memoir. Her BUILD A BOOK IN SIX WEEKS group intensive begins on January 31. Visit www.dinahlaprairie.com for other details.
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