what is book coaching, anyway?

I’m glad you asked!

One of the reasons people most frequently hire me on as a ghostwriter isn’t because they’re opposed to writing their own book—it’s because they don’t know how to write it themselves, where to start, or what the process entails. Sure, there are plenty of places you can go for general guidance on book-writing, but each book, each story, and each author are different. At some point that general guidance breaks down and the experience becomes overwhelming. Enter the ghostwriter, whether that’s really the path you want to take forward or not.

As a book coach, I solve that problem by helping you navigate the writing process from start to finish.

We’ll work through the points in book writing where it’s helpful to have professional guidance with solutions that are designed specifically for you and your book.

I help non-fiction authors of all stripes navigate the various elements of the book-writing process, from ideation to structuring to writing to editing to publication strategy. I’m right there with you through the whole enchilada. While I work with both self-published and traditionally-published authors, book coaching can be particularly helpful for those who are self-publishing, because they otherwise miss out on the experience of having a designated editor to offer feedback and guidance. As a former Random House editor, I provide the benefit of that experience, no matter what your publishing scenario is. I’m also an author myself, so I intimately understand what it’s like to be in your shoes.

is book coaching right for me?

You can find plenty of info on this site about me but, more importantly, let’s talk about you. Specifically, let’s talk about whether book coaching is right for you.

Are you writing a non-fiction book?

Are you ready to start or have you already started writing your book?

If you’ve answered yes to both of those questions, then we’re off to a good start! But there’s more …

The first thing to understand is that you don’t necessarily have to be a writer to write a book. In fact, most non-fiction authors are not writers by trade. They’re people who have something to say about a specific topic, a story or expertise to share, and books are their medium to convey that information to the world. The knowledge comes first, and that informs the writing. Having said that, if you are a professional writer, book coaching can still be helpful because an outside set of eyes can always see things that are difficult to see when you’re in the thick of it. That’s why god made editors, after all!

To write a book, you have to be willing to be open. If you’re writing a memoir, this means you have to be willing to be forthcoming—even when it’s scary. If you’re writing a more informational or prescriptive book, you have to be willing to share the information you know in the way that best serves readers. Don’t worry about giving too much away or putting all of your knowledge into one book. That’s the point!

Perhaps most difficult of all, to successfully write a book, you have to be willing to put in the work and remain dedicated to the task at hand. Even in those moments when you don’t want to (and there will be moments like that). Writing a book isn’t easy. That’s why 1% of all people do it. (Okay, that’s not an actual statistic, but I would guess it’s accurate.) But while writing a book isn’t easy, it is incredibly rewarding. Books are permanent in a way so few things in the world today are. It is a legacy and a record you’re leaving behind in perpetuity. And that’s worth putting in the effort for.  

That’s where I come in. I’m here to keep you in the game, to remind you why what you’re doing is important, and to arm you with strategies and accountability to stay the course. In my experience, every book has a hurdle. Sometimes the challenges are logistical in nature. More often than you might guess, they’re psychological in nature. Over the years I’ve helped countless authors overcome all of these obstacles—and many, many more—to get to that end goal of holding a finished book in their hands.

As a book coach, I'm the seasoned voice of guidance, here to help you navigate the sticking points, to keep you accountable, to talk you through those parts of writing or publishing that are unclear, and to be your biggest cheerleader.

I hold your hand while you hold the pen. 

what does book coaching entail?

While I believe that writing a book is one of the most valuable endeavors a person can embark upon, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. And, let me be clear: it’s not easy. 

Writing a book requires you to:

• Show up time and time again

• Be honest and vulnerable

• Put yourself in the reader’s shoes

• Understand how to organize and present your information

• Know how to approach either an agent (for traditional publishing) or effectively navigate self-publishing

Not to mention the fact that once you get into the process, you'll likely find that there are questions you never thought about before.

Questions like:

• How do I distill my information into a book format?

• How should I structure my book?

• What should my writing schedule/routine look like? 

• Does what I’m writing make sense?

• How do I engage my reader?

• How do I transition from a draft to a polished manuscript?

• What do I do with my manuscript once I’m finished?

 I’ve dealt with each of these issues—and more—many, many times throughout my career with many different authors, many different types of books, and in many scenarios. Together, we will figure out answers that work specifically for you and your book.

That’s why I’m here.