The Ins and Outs of Book Coaching
Working Title: Your favorite authors rely on professional input—you should too
Romance and fantasy writers, would you like to work with me? Head over to Book Bound Coaching. Folks that subscribe to this Substack get 10% off their first service. Spots in my calendar are limited, as I’m also writing book two of my romantasy series.
Publishing trends going into 2024
Publishing, like the rest of society, is in a bit of turmoil. Over the past decade, mid-sized publishers were acquired by larger ones. We are now in the era of the “Big 5”. Unfortunately, these consolidations have not benefited authors. Marketing budgets have dwindled along with editorial staff. Agents now must make hard choices, passing on novels with potential in favor of a works nearly ready for publication. For debut authors, this raises an already high bar to an almost insurmountable height.
Aspiring authors are also up against the unprecedented numbers of manuscripts flooding agents from folks who took up writing during the pandemic . Of course I encourage everyone who has a desire to write to do so. However, there is a vast space between writing for the sake of being creative and writing professionally for an audience willing to pay to read your words.
I repeat: It is hard to stand out in a sea of manuscripts. In a recent panel hosted by the New School and NY SCBWI, the newly launched agency Open Book Literary received 3000 manuscripts the first month they opened to queries. How can you ensure your story floats to the top of the slush pile?
Hire a book coach!
What is a Book Coach?
Book coaches and publishing consultants serve a number of roles including mentor, editor, beta-reader, and cheerleader. Whether you are planning to self-pub or go the traditional route, more authors are turning to book coaches for support. While offerings vary, most should be able to provide the following services:
Strengthen the Structure of your novel. It does not matter how well you write if the underlying structure of your story is weak—or worse—missing. If you think of a story like a human body, you need a skeleton to keep everything in place. Designer shoes don’t do you any good if you’re missing feet. A book coach will assist you craft a novel with a strong inciting incident, logical plot beats, a compelling internal arc, and a satisfying climax.
Maintaining Momentum: Its very easy to start a novel. Most people never reach the concluding chapters. A coach will help you push past your challenges to get your story to the finish line.
Brainstorming: A coach is a non-judgmental sounding board for your ideas. In addition to their writing credentials, ask the coach about their background. For example, my senior history thesis focused on Roman Britain. My work with a writer who is currently drafting a historical fiction novel set during the time of Rome’s initial conquest was a natural fit. My familiarity with world mythology, ancient history, and the visual arts also helps my clients as they create their worldbuilding.
Project Management: There is more to writing a book than opening up a Word doc. A book coach can guide you through writing, revising, and polishing the story on a deadline. Some offer query assistance, while others do editorial work for self-pub authors.
Emotional Support: Coaches are not therapists, but they do prove a safe safe for sharing your fears around the creative process, and offer emotional support during the tough phases of writing.
Book Coach Red Flags
Book coaches—especially the certified ones—offer invaluable assistance! However, as with most services, buyer beware. If a potential coach makes a statement in line with the following points, thank them kindly for their time and then look elsewhere.
Agent Guarantees: Legitimate book coaches will never promise that your book will be picked up by an agent because of their input. Some coaches have better track records than others (shout out to Jennie Nash). However, an agent guarantee is a red flag. Run, don’t walk.
Profitability Assurances: This is the same idea as above. The marketplace is fickle. While a good coach will do everything they can to help you reach your highest potential, that does not guarantee a best-seller.
Changing your Story: If your coach is telling you that your story ideas stink, and they ask you to make changes that are wrong for your vision, move along. Their role is NOT dictating the story, just as your role is not that of a scribe.
Finding the Right Coach for You
Book coaches have different strengths, so its essential to identify the specific type of help you need. Are you still in the ideas phase? Did you run out of steam on page 50? Or perhaps you have a completed manuscript that’s a hot mess, and you don’t even know what you don’t know. A good book coach should offer a free consultation to discuss your project and goals to determine if you are a good fit.
For those of you writing romantasy: look for a coach who is well-versed in what is trending right now in the genre, as well as someone that is well-read in traditional fantasy, historical and/or paranormal romance, and is familiar with world mythology. Ask them about their coaching background (are they certified?), and see if they have any testimonials they can share. Newer coaches are usually hungry for business, and may go the extra mile to support you through your writing process. Established coaches have more experience, and you should expect to pay accordingly.
The path to publishing success is long and winding. A book coach is the light that guides you to achieving your author dreams. One of my biggest regrets as an author is that I didn’t hire a book coach to assist me though my first novel when I started brainstorming ideas in late 2015. Perhaps I would have gotten it into the world sooner than 2023. If this sounds familiar, I’m running a sale at www.bookboundcoaching.com for my Substack subscribers!
What are you looking for most in a book coach? Comment below!