Writing is a solitary endeavor. Most of the time, you are sitting somewhere by yourself with your computer, typing away…that is if you are actually writing the book.

Sometimes writers fall in love with the idea of writing their book but don’t really know how to get it down on paper. They may even spend a lot of time thinking, planning, and imagining how their book will be received by the world. This is great for visualization practice, but it’s not actually writing and getting it done. 

The best way to actually get that book written is to work with a book coach. A professional book coach is a reader, often a writer, knowledgeable about the publishing industry, and has experience with your topic or genre. They have been through it, and they are there to push you to the next level of your career and your life. A book coach can help you navigate through self-doubt, overcome challenges, press through creative blocks, and persevere through the unexpected. 

Keep reading to discover the six ways that a book coach can benefit your own journey as an author.

1. Increases Accountability & Productivity

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines! With a book coach, you will have deadlines that you have to meet. After your scheduled appointments with your book coach, you will be expected to turn in a set number of pages. This type of accountability will help you write your book. You will be investing in this time with your book coach, and there are no refunds if you don’t show up or do the work.

The added benefit of accountability is that it creates a cooperative relationship—one that should be valued and honored. You value your book coach’s time as well as your own, and this cooperative relationship will reflect in the completion of your book in a timely manner. 

Accountability is the first path toward completion.

2. Provides Honest Feedback

If you share your writing with your family and friends, they will tell you how wonderful it is—whether it is or not. Most likely, your idea is great, but writing a book is difficult. Even the best writers need help seeing where they’ve lost focus. 

Book coaches point out what’s working and not working and can discuss with you how to move forward. This feedback happens while you are writing your book—not after you’ve finished it. If your book starts to go down the wrong path, it’s better to know right away rather than after you finish writing 300 pages that have to be thrown out or rewritten to stay true to your vision.

A book coach will be honest with you about what is and is not working because they want your book to be the best it can be. When you produce a solid book, your coach celebrates as well!

The bottom line is, you can save yourself a lot of time by working with a coach from the very beginning.

3. Improves Content Through Collaboration

When you have a book coach, you have a person to collaborate with. As a writer, you have many tasks you have to do and ideas to keep straight. Unless you are constantly surrounded by other writers, it’s unlikely that you will have someone who understands how to navigate it all. 

Coaches are just as invested in your success as you are. They want to hear your struggles and questions because at the heart of every book coach is someone who understands the magic that happens during collaboration, which can be powerfully instrumental to the success of your book.

4. Gives Encouragement

We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s true: Writing is hard work! It also gets lonely. At times, writers get discouraged. They wonder why they are doing this to themselves. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been published before or not, the doubt creeps in. A book coach will give you the encouragement you need to keep going. 

Hearing, “You’ve got this!” can make all the difference in the world.

5. Keeps You Motivated 

Sometimes writers need a little more motivation to get their books out into the world. Investing in a book coach can be that motivation. When a writer sets a deadline for themselves, there’s not really a consequence if they don’t meet the deadline. They’ll just set another deadline…and another…and then a year has passed without meeting a single deadline. 

When you pay a book coach, you have skin in the game. If you miss a deadline, you just threw away your investment. Now that’s motivation.

6. Helps You Plan

Book coaches help writers with the big picture. Authors often get stuck in the writing of sentences and chapters and sometimes can’t see past the words in front of them. A book coach will help you write those words but also help you see the finish line. A coach will tell you where you are in the process—“You have a long way to go;” or, “You’re done with the first draft. Let’s work on the editing to make it the best it can be.” 

Remember, book coaches want you to be successful and will not let you settle. But they also won’t hold up the process if the book is ready to be published. 

Here’s What Book Coaches Can’t Do:

1. Write for You
Only you can write your book.

2. Tell Your Story
It’s your story, not the book coach’s. They are there to help you tell your story.

3. Decide for You
The bottom line is, it will always be your decision about what goes in the book. A coach can offer up suggestions, but you always make the final decision.

4. Make You Trust Yourself
A coach will encourage you, but you must take the necessary steps to believe in yourself. 

At Dream That Big Publishing, we recognize the importance and benefits of having a book coach, and we’ve created a nurturing system to help you get through each step of the process with a support team and a community at your side the entire time. In fact, every published author with Dream That Big Publishing works closely with a coach to navigate through self-doubt, overcome challenges, press through creative blocks, and persevere through the unexpected. We are ready to devote the time needed to your project and help you feel less alone and confused. And best of all, we will give you the motivation to dream big and accomplish your goals. 

Learn more about our book coaching services at www.dreamthatbigpublishing.com.