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Some people need a ghostwriter. They have the expertise, the stories, and the ideas but not the time or the interest in writing the book themselves. I ghostwrite those books. Other people want to write the book themselves. They want the experience of producing their own manuscript, developing their own craft, and seeing their own words on the page. Those people need a book coach.
I have published 113 books. I have ghostwritten 54. I write fiction, nonfiction, and memoir. I have built a library of 45 writing handbooks covering everything from character development to dialogue to world building to pacing. When I coach a writer, I am not working from theory. I am working from decades of doing the thing they are trying to learn.
Book coaching is not editing. An editor works on a finished manuscript. A coach works with you while you are writing it. The difference matters because the problems that kill most books happen long before the manuscript is finished. They happen in the planning, the structure, the early chapters where the foundation gets laid wrong and everything built on top of it wobbles. A coach catches those problems while they can still be fixed without tearing the whole thing apart.
What Happens in Coaching Sessions
Every writer is different. Every book is different. Coaching sessions do whatever the client needs them to do. For more, see book coaching.
Some clients show up with a complete draft that is not working and they cannot figure out why. For more, see why cursing at ChatGPT actually works (and what this means f. We read through it together and I identify the structural problems, the pacing issues, the places where the narrative loses momentum. Then we build a revision plan that fixes the foundation instead of just patching surface problems.
Some clients show up with an idea and nothing else. We spend the first sessions figuring out what the book actually is. Who is it for. What is the core message or story. What structure will serve it best. By the time we finish those conversations, the client has a roadmap they can follow instead of staring at a blank page wondering where to start.
Some clients are mid-draft and stuck. They wrote strong opening chapters and now the middle is collapsing. We diagnose why the momentum stalled and figure out how to get it moving again. Usually the problem is structural, something that went wrong earlier that did not become visible until the book hit the midpoint.
Some clients need craft instruction. Their ideas are strong but their prose is not there yet. We work on sentence-level skills, dialogue, scene construction, point of view, whatever the specific weakness is. I assign targeted work between sessions and we review it together.
Some clients need accountability more than instruction. They know how to write. They have the skills. They cannot make themselves sit down and do it consistently. Regular coaching sessions with deadlines and assignments create the external structure that keeps the project moving.
Some clients need help navigating publishing. Traditional versus self-publishing, how to find an agent, how to evaluate a publishing contract, how Amazon’s platform works, how to think about marketing before the book exists. I have been through every version of this process across 113 books and can explain the landscape without the agenda that agents and publishers bring to those conversations.
Most coaching engagements involve some combination of all of this. The mix shifts as the project progresses.
Who Book Coaching Works For
Book coaching works for writers who want to write their own book but need expert guidance to do it well. That covers a wide range of people.
First-time authors who have never written a book and do not know where to begin. The gap between wanting to write a book and knowing how to execute one is enormous. Coaching bridges that gap with structured guidance tailored to the specific project rather than generic advice from writing books that may or may not apply.
Experienced writers who are stuck on a specific project. Sometimes a book resists you. The structure will not come together, the voice is not right, the middle sags no matter what you try. An outside perspective from someone who has solved these problems across dozens of books can break the logjam in a single session.
Professionals writing their first book to establish authority in their field. These clients have deep expertise but no experience translating expertise into book form. Coaching helps them understand how a book works differently from an article, a presentation, or a blog post, and how to structure their knowledge for a reader who is encountering it for the first time.
Fiction writers developing craft. Character, dialogue, pacing, point of view, world building, plot structure, all of these are learnable skills. Coaching provides personalized instruction focused on the specific areas where each writer needs development rather than the one-size-fits-all approach of writing classes.
Writers who tried and stopped. Abandoned manuscripts are common. Most of the time the writer stopped because they hit a problem they could not solve alone. Coaching can diagnose what went wrong and determine whether the project is worth reviving and how to approach it differently.
How Coaching Differs from Ghostwriting
In ghostwriting, I write the book. The client provides expertise, stories, and ideas through interviews. I build the structure, write the manuscript, and deliver a finished book in the client’s voice. The client’s time commitment is primarily in the interview and review phases.
In coaching, the client writes the book. I provide guidance, feedback, instruction, and accountability. The client’s time commitment is significantly larger because they are doing the writing. The tradeoff is that the client develops their own skills, produces work in their own authentic voice without translation, and gains capabilities they can apply to future projects.
Neither approach is better than the other. They serve different needs. Some people want a finished book with minimal time investment. Ghostwriting serves them. Some people want to write the book themselves and become better writers in the process. Coaching serves them. Some people start with coaching and realize they would rather have the book ghostwritten. Some start with ghostwriting and decide they want to write the next one themselves with coaching support. Both paths lead to a published book.
What to Expect
Coaching engagements range from a single session to over a hundred hours depending on the project and the client’s needs. Some writers need one conversation to get unstuck. Some need sustained support across an entire manuscript from concept to completion.
Sessions are scheduled based on the client’s pace and availability. There is no fixed program or predetermined number of sessions. We work together as long as the work requires it and stop when the client has what they need.
Between sessions, the client writes. Coaching only works if the client is doing the work between meetings. My book coaching exists for exactly this. I provide direction, assignments, and feedback. The client provides the effort, the voice, and the commitment to finish.
The goal of every coaching engagement is a finished manuscript the client is proud of, written in their own voice, structurally sound, and ready for whatever publishing path they choose. If you have a book you want to write and need expert guidance to make it happen, start with a conversation. You can also explore the AI-Enhanced Writer’s Library for self-directed craft development between sessions.
11 Responses
I love how interesting this article is to read. These things are proof that there are professionals who can help you with your writing journey.
Interesting points made in the post, and just what I needed as I’m in the process of writing a book myself. You really pout a lot of great information together to help aspiring authors.
It seems like while ghostwriting certainly has its place, nothing can replace the personal growth and sense of accomplishment that come from writing a book yourself with the guidance of a skilled coach. It’s inspiring to hear success stories like Jenna Blum’s, and it’s clear that book coaching can make a real difference in helping writers achieve their goals. Investing in a book coach is a smart move for anyone serious about writing a book and taking their writing skills to the next level.
That’s interesting that the book coaching is usually less expensive than the ghostwriting. I would have thought it to be the opposite! I like the idea of a coach better because keeping your own voice appeals.
Wow, thanks for this one. I wanted to write a book for a while, but I didn’t have a book coach. Now I know.
Oh wow, I never thought about hiring a professional book-writing coach! This is something I’ll have to consider deeper, as I can certainly see the benefits of bringing someone like this onboard with an author’s book writing process.
Keep in mind that I am a book writing coach. Let me know if you want to talk about it.
Some really important points in this post. Many people think they only have 2 options: write your book by yourself, or hire a ghostwriter. A book is a great option to keep you on track!
Thank you for all this information. I had not heard of a ‘book writing coach’ but it makes sense for a writer to hire one especially in the early stages of writing. I’ve played with the idea of writing a cookbook – perhaps I need to look into a professional coach?
Keep in mind that I am a book writing coach. Let me know if you want to talk about it.
Your article on professional book writing coaches is incredibly insightful! As someone who aspires to write a book, I found your breakdown of the role and benefits of a book writing coach to be invaluable. Your emphasis on the importance of personalized guidance, accountability, and expertise in navigating the complexities of the publishing industry resonated deeply with me. It’s reassuring to know that there are professionals out there who can provide the support and guidance needed to turn a writing dream into a reality. Your article has inspired me to consider seeking out a book writing coach on my own journey. Thank you for sharing your expertise and shedding light on this valuable resource for aspiring authors!