We Ask a Book Coach: Part One

In many ways, my role as an editor sometimes seems similar to coaching writers toward a manuscript they can feel proud of. But formally offering book coaching is, of course, distinct from editing. 

I have teamed up with Yuxuan Francis Liu, my fellow Editors Canada career builder committee member, to ask successful book coaches about their work. The breadth and quality of responses we received have inspired us to make a three-part series. We hope this will provide useful information to editors thinking about a career as a book coach. 

In this post, our questions focus on understanding the role of a book coach. 

We sought insights from the following four experts: 

Anne Bokma (she/her) is a Hamilton-based journalist, author and memoir coach. 

Tanya Gold (they/them) is a book editor, French-to-English translator, educator and literary omnivore.

Dinah Laprairie (she/her) is an Author Accelerator–certified book coach, writer and editor. 

Suzy Vadori (she/her) teaches writers with big dreams the actions they can take to get their books written. 

Responses have been edited for length. 

How do you define book coaching? What makes it different from developmental or substantive editing?

Anne Bokma: While editing focuses on improving the text, book coaching involves guiding the author through the entire writing process. Coaches help with structure, creativity, motivation and discipline. I am both cheerleader and deadline enforcer — most people need both, someone to help them stay on track and someone to provide honest and helpful feedback.

Tanya Gold: Book coaching is about meeting writers where they’re at and guiding them through the steps they find challenging. One of the many things I love about coaching is how expansive it can be! What I do is different from developmental or substantive editing, where you’re providing solutions for authors. Book coaching is about guiding them through their own ideas, giving them the knowledge and skills to find their own solutions. 

Dinah Laprairie: It’s a new term for a role that many of us have been performing already. If I were to offer a simple definition, a book coach is a publishing support professional, someone who supports a writer through all stages of preparing their book. Unlike editing, book coaching is about supporting the writer as a whole person. I see it as a complement to editing rather than as a replacement. 

Suzy Vadori: Developmental or substantive editing takes place after a writer has completed a draft. Book coaching can start at any stage of writing and is an ongoing process that can include accountability and deadlines, a focus on editorial and writing craft, and emotional support. Writing a book can be a rollercoaster ride of emotions. While this is completely normal, it can feel overwhelming. As a coach, I believe in my writers’ books as much as they do and am there to cheer them on so that they get to “the end” without giving up.  

What types of authors benefit the most from book coaching?

Bokma: Absolutely anyone and everyone, from first-time writers to published authors. A coach is especially helpful for anyone who is having trouble getting words on the page. There’s nothing like a deadline from a writing coach to get you to produce! I know I would have benefited from the services of a coach when I wrote my memoir, because putting that book together was often a lonely road. I am at work on a second memoir, and this time I have hired a coach, which has been immensely helpful.

Gold: I think any writer can benefit from support — especially support that’s tailored to their needs — whether they’re getting that from their writing community or a coach. For the kind of coaching I provide, the authors who tend to get the most out of it are those with a growth mindset — authors who want to nurture their skills and keep developing as writers.  

Laprairie: Some writers move through a book project with discipline, clear vision and the right support network, but others need more guidance to stay motivated and on track. Then there are others who need a sounding board for the million-and-one decisions a book requires — and others still who are new to writing and need feedback on their latest pages. And moral support — that’s huge. When writing becomes hard, or life interrupts writing plans, we’re here to coach writers forward.

Vadori: Coached writers finish books. Book coaching can help many kinds of writers, including:

• Writers who want to skip the learning curve of writing their first book. They don’t know what they don’t know, and a coach can light the way. 
• Writers who lead busy lives and have trouble prioritizing their writing. 
• Writers who have specific publishing goals. A coach makes sure that their every decision takes them in the right direction. 

Coming up

In parts two and three, Yuxuan and I ask Anne, Tanya, Dinah, and Suzy about their transitions into book coaching, how they chose to formalize their service packages, the challenges they’ve faced and what helpful tips they can offer. 

About the co-author

Yuxuan Francis Liu is a Toronto-based writer and policy consultant. He has studied and worked in research institutions and the consulting industry in the US and China. He has degrees in political science and public policy. He can be reached at yuxuanliu0317@gmail.com.

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