What the heck is an author coach? Settle in and I'll tell you. But first…
Let's talk about fear. It can be crippling.
It can stop us from taking a step in the right direction in fulfilling our dreams.
It can kill our author dreams and it can keep us comfortable and stuck in no-mans-land.
Fears like:
“I won't get results if I work with an author coach because I'm not a good writer.”
“I don't have the time to fit coaching in. Plus, being an author is just a pipe dream… isn't it?”
“I'm so overwhelmed. I don't know where to start. How can I know if working with an author coach is right for me?”
“I'll have no free time to do the things I enjoy, like watching Netflix, spending time with family, brushing Larry the cat's silky hair…”
I get it.
What you're really saying is: “I don't have faith in myself that this will work for ME.”
And I've been there.
I don't have any formal writing training. Heck, my degree is in business management, it's about as far away from a writing degree as you can get (ok, not really, if I was a dentist, that would be further away… ;-)).
I never learned how to write as an author in school other than the compulsory English subjects I had to take in high school.
Yet I'm a successful full-time author.
Do you wonder why that is or how?
Table of Contents
Here's where most authors fall down:
- They don't take action on the right steps
- They don't know the right questions to ask
- The don't follow-through on the momentum they have after launching a book
- They slack off after a book launch and rest on their laurels, thinking that they've done enough, Amazon will take care of the rest (#realtalk, no they won't)
- They don't know how to put on their “business hat” and market and plan out their author business
Investing in an Author Coach
When I invested in myself and got one-on-one coaching to become an author, I had no idea it would lead to a full-time career.
I mean, I knew that I wanted to write a book (at some stage), but I had no idea it would lead to an addiction to writing.
Totally off-topic, but OMG, how much do you love The Minions? They are my go-to pick-me-up 😉
The feeling I get after launching a book to a #1 bestseller is amazing.
The sense of achievement and accomplishment is out of this world.
It's kinda like winning a race, or achieving something really cool even though the odds were stacked against you.
I find that Neville (my negative inner voice) is pretty quiet during this time, lol. He's got nothing to say because I'm busy proving all his nay-saying and negative-Nelly chatter wrong.
So, you might still be wondering, what does an actual author coach do? What is their role?
What does the author coaching process look like?
Let me break it down for you:
- We'll start with an intake questionnaire. This is my getting to know you phase and is super important to make sure that I cover everything you need help with
- The next step is booking in our one-on-one coaching calls. I'm a Zoom gal and love video chats. Coffee, cocktails, champagne… your beverage of choice is always welcome 🙂
- Once the initial coaching calls are booked in, we'll be connected via a private Trello board, where I'll have laid out the foundations of our coaching time together. This is where you'll access resources, ask questions, and where we'll communicate 95% of the time. Anything shared here is confidential, I guarantee it.
- As we work through our coaching calls, there will be specific tasks that I'll get you to do. Don't let me pretty smile fool you — there are deadlines for tasks and I'll hold you accountable. I WILL track you down and make sure you get something done. There is absolutely no slacking off allowed. Breaks, yes. But no mindless scrolling on Facebook or Instagram. We've got author empires to build people!
- There will be weekly email check-ins just to make sure you're doing ok and that I've got your back. I'm your support system, your cheerleader. No matter where you are in the world, you will always feel like you have someone to turn to when it comes to your author business.
- I have a structure in place, but there is flexibility built in, so should you decide to pivot and change focus, we can do that together.
- Need feedback on your book draft? I'm your gal. A lot of my clients love it when I take my virtual red pen and write notes and suggestions all over their book drafts. Sometimes we can be too close to a book project, so this is definitely beneficial if you need it.
The point of hiring an author coach is to get that one-on-one assistance you need when you need it.
When I invested in author coaching for myself, I was amazed at just how much of a difference it made.
Now, I never hesitate to invest in myself when I feel something is right.
The reason my coaching process is structured is so that you always have something to work towards, to focus on.
Inevitably, other questions and challenges will come up during this process, and that's great. We can deal with them together.
But in my experience as an author coach, the structure I have in place for my author coaching takes budding authors from ‘oh-no' to ‘woah' in just a few short sessions.
Without the structure?
Our calls can end up being a chat-feast about our fav episode of Gilmore Girls or Sex and The City, or how ridiculous Family Guy is (I mean, come on. Seriously?! hehe).
Without structure — you will walk away with nothing accomplished, wondering why you wasted all that money on yourself.
I don't want that for you!
So my friend. It's time.
Time to invest in yourself and finally achieve what you've been wanting to achieve in your author business.
There are no more excuses to hide behind.
It's all down to one decision…
Invest in yourself or not. It's that simple.
If you're ready, I have 3 2 spots available for this round of “I AM An Author” (Starting Nov 2017). Click here to secure your spot and achieve a profitable author business in the next 180 days!”
40 replies to "Work With an Author Coach & Feel More Like Hemingway!"
I had no idea that author coaches were a thing. This was super informative and definitely something to consider.
LOL, they definitely are a thing 😉
Whoah…great informatio…I haven’t thought there is a job for coaching authors as well! Sounds pretty interesting! but it is a cool idea…another good thing to consider for me in the future…thank you for sharing!
You’re so welcome!
I didn’t know this was even a thing! Another great idea for side hustles or jobs for WAHM’s!
It is a thing LeeAnn! And yes, a great side hustle idea
I’ll have to save this away for my daughter. She is a freshman in college, and is majoring in journalism. She wants to be a published author.
Good luck for your daughter, I’m sure she’ll do great!
Investing in a coach is a good idea. We as authors know this but pride ond/ procastination is keep us from making that vital step.
Agree Ingrid, procrastination and pride can get in the way sometimes, but I’ve never not had a great experience when I invested in myself 😉
I think that having a coach can be really helpful and this would be a great investment. This is something I would definitely consider if I wanted to publish a book.
It is helpful Paula! That’s why I love being an author coach 🙂
I had never heard of this before! Thank you for sharing. I am writing a book so I’ll have to keep this in mind for sure.
Good luck with your book project Amber! And if you need author coaching, I’d be happy to help 🙂
I have never heard of an author coach before. I think it would be a good thing to have. I will have to share this with a friend who could really use this.
Thanks for sharing Claudia, I appreciate it!
I didn’t realize being a uthor coach was a thing. It certainly sounds like a great option to have on hand if you want to be a full time author!
It totes is a thing Jen 😉
It’s the first time I hear about this but it makes so much sense. I need and art coach to help me keep me on track with my art. This is a great article.
Yes Cristina! An art coach would be a great asset to you. Someone who understands what you need because they’ve been there and done that is exactly why an art or an author coach is essential to ongoing success.
I have never even heard of an author coach before! This sounds like an awesome idea!
I think so Jessica 😉
I had no idea a author coach was a career. I have always written, but never knew how to take that extra step forward to publish my work. As a mom, I feel it is so hard to spend the extra time and money on yourself. Finding a balance between motherhood, adulthood and dreams is a hard one. You are an inspiration to take a step forward.
Hi Kelly, you’ll get there. When the time is right, you’ll know and you’ll take the steps you need to take. In the meantime, keep writing and being an awesome momma!
This looks like a awesome idea.. I didn’t hear about Author coach before
Thanks for commenting, I appreciate you 🙂
Author coaching seems to be a brilliant aspect. You have portrayed its importance so beautifully. I think it’s pretty relevant for budding authors (myself included). Will take some cues from here for sure. 🙂 Cheers!!
Hi Aditi, thanks for your encouraging comments, it means a lot. Good luck with your budding author career!
I seriously need this in my life! A coach would give me the push to get out there and to start being serious about my book.
Yes Jennifer! You owe it to yourself to do this! You got this 🙂
This sounds like it would be extremely beneficial to aspiring authors.
I think so Christina 🙂
I’ve never really thought about this but it actually sounds incredibly helpful for those wanting to write a book!
Thanks Hannah, this is about helping author’s who have written a book and are ready to take it to the next level and get serious about their author BUSINESS. That’s the hardest part 😉
This is very foreign to me. I didn’t know that author coach is a thing. Saving this in case am writing my own book!
This is pretty cool. I’ve always wanted to write a book but I have no idea how.
Hey Jess, if you want to know HOW to write a book, check out this blog post I wrote about it: Write a Book
Coaching is definitely an awesome tool to help us grow in many aspects of our lives and careers! I can certainly see how beneficial it is to have a coach to help me write a book. You have great info.
Thanks Meryland, I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
Good informative post i never knew this information