What to Expect When Working with a Book Coach from Book Coaches Canada

So you’re thinking about working with a book coach from Book Coaches Canada, and, naturally, you may be curious or nervous about what to expect.

I’m here to pull back the curtain on book coaching and put you at ease with this new adventure you’re considering.

You’re in the hands of a certified professional.

Book coaches from Book Coaches Canada are all certified through the rigorous training program at Author Accelerator, a premier book coach training company. These certifications teach the mastering of editing concepts, analyzing story structure, giving empathetic and constructive feedback, and staying current with the publishing industry.

Every certification includes hands-on practicums with real writers in real time. Our practicums have put us in the heart of complex publishing situations, such as redesigning the structure of books that aren’t working, evaluating and revising messy manuscripts, overhauling half-baked book proposals, searching for the right agent among the glut of information online, and crafting that pitch perfect query in the face of the ever growing slush pile and fast-paced attention economy.

While a coach can be immensely helpful, they can’t guarantee you’ll automatically land an agent, be published with rave reviews, or make a lot of money from your writing.

While your coach does have coaching superpowers, they can’t control the publishing marketplace with a flick of their fingers and guarantee these sorts of outcomes. Good coaches work to let their clients know what they CAN expect and what sorts of outcomes are given in the packages they promote.

While we can’t control everything, we can control what we commit to. Every Author Accelerator certified coach signs an agreement to commit to keep current with the industry, respect clients’ time, money, beliefs, and perspectives, and to actively develop more coaching skills and expertise. While we can’t control luck or opportunities in the publishing sphere, we bring a multitude of skills and patterns of committed action to the table with our training and our culture as Author Accelerator certified coaches that prepare clients for the realities they face in today’s publishing world.

Often writers are confused about what level of writing skills and completed work they need to begin working with a coach.

All you need is something to work with, not something completed.

Book coaching often works “upstream” – as writers are in the process of completing the work of drafting, revising, pitching or publishing – as opposed to editing which is often “downstream” when the work is completed and done. There’s a book coach for every stage of the process and every skill level, during the ongoing work of that process and learning new skills. Do you only have an idea? Great! Let’s get going!

You will be kept accountable to working on your project and given a structure to work within.

Each book coach in our Book Coaches Canada directories (Fiction , Nonfiction, Memoir) offers varying packages with different structures for different focuses in their coaching practice, but one thing unites us all: we care about you making progress with your project, and thus, we’ll keep you accountable and find creative ways to encourage you to DO what you say you want to do.

This is one of the most compelling reasons to have a coach: you have someone in it with you, seeing the the best in you and encouraging you to be the best version of the writer we know you can be. Finally, here is someone to help you get back up when you fall down and untangle the knots with you when you get stuck. Coaches mirror back to you what they see, honestly and empathetically, and it’s often things you might not notice right away or even be aware of.

To do all these amazing things, coaches need to tell the truth, and to get the most out of coaching, you will need to be open to their words. This does not necessarily mean changing everything they recommend, but listening to feedback with an open mind and heart.

You will be given constructive feedback, and you will need to know how to handle someone commenting on your work honestly and empathetically.

Some people come to coaching hoping their book coach will find nothing wrong with their work, and pat them on the back, validating their efforts as perfect. If we’re all honest, we often secretly hope this in many areas of life where an outcome is needed. But how would we grow as writers and as human beings if we never focused our efforts on learning new things and trying new skills in areas of growth?

Also, some writers want their work ripped apart and want the coach to show them no mercy, let alone compliment them or their work. This is the other extreme.

A good book coach gives balanced, truthful feedback that highlights weaknesses AND strengths.

Just like a coach is free to be honest, you can be too.

You don’t need to have all the answers. It helps to stay curious in the creative process, be intentional with your commitments, and be honest when something works or doesn’t.

You’re allowed to get something wrong with your book, or make mistakes in your writing. You have permission for your book to be in a messy stage.

Asking for help and needing help does not make you less of a writer.

The creative process in general is messy and iterative. Coaches know this and understand how the writing process often isn’t linear or tidy, even when we give it our best. You can relax and enjoy the ride, knowing that you or your writing don’t have to be perfect.

Another important thing: be honest about what you can commit to in a given time frame. And then do your best to show up to that task. It may frustrate or burden you if you choose a too aggressive or lax pace for your efforts.

Be honest about what you feel is good for your book, what is working with your coach, and what isn’t. Coaches can read your manuscript, but not your mind. Clear is kind. Let your coach know, they’re there to help.

I hope this has been helpful to answer some of your questions, and if you have other questions, reach out to any of our Fiction , Nonfiction, or Memoir book coaches and we’d be happy to have a conversation about book coaching and what to expect.

---

Laura Aliese Miedema is a nonfiction, fiction, and memoir book coach that helps emerging writers face their fears of writing, publishing, marketing, and being seen and heard as they truly are. Nicknamed "the Book Coach for the Underdogs," she helps writers of all different personalities, mental wiring, and abilities, from all walks of life, have a fighting chance at approaching publishing, first and foremost, because she believe writers can find deep, spiritual meaning by contributing their unique gifts to the common good. Connect with Laura at lauraaliese.com