You have a great book idea, and you know that, with a little help, you could create something that would entertain your readers or help them with something.
And you’re thinking, “I want to write a book, but where do I start?”
You need book writing help. And just reading a stack of writing books or skimming through blog posts isn’t getting you past your messy first draft (or maybe even the first page).
You need an accessible human guide who knows what you don’t (yet) and who’s as invested in your book’s success as you are.
Welcome to our post on 13 solid reasons you should hire a writing coach.
What Is a Writing Coach?
Now you’re wondering, “What does a writing consultant do?” or “How do I know whether I need writing coaching if I don’t even know what a writing coach is?”
Depending on what you need, a writing coach can help in the following ways:
Whether you’re a nonfiction author in need of a book coach or a novelist in need of a fiction-writing coach, there’s someone out there with the skills, empathy, and experience to help you make the most of your creative gift.
And if you just need someone to help get your book out there in front of your ideal readers, a publishing coach can make all the difference in your book’s success.
- What Is a Writing Coach?
- 13 Reasons You Should Hire a Writing Coach
- 1. You need help getting some clarity about your writing goals.
- 2. You need help creating and implementing a plan for success.
- 3. You need accountability for your weekly action plan.
- 4. You need help recognizing and meeting challenges to your book’s success.
- 5. You need someone with experience and objectivity to assess your work.
- 6. You need someone who can make necessary adjustments to your plan.
- 7. You want someone to help you organize and develop your book.
- 8. You need help in crafting an effective book proposal.
- 9. You want a professional to help you create or expand your author platform.
- 10. You want an experienced professional who can help you get past writer’s block.
- 11. You need help with time management and getting the important stuff done.
- 12. You want a publishing coach to help you publish, launch, and market your book.
- 13. You want a mentor who’s learned all you need to know to succeed as an author.
- Should I Hire a Writing Coach?
- How Much Does a Writing Coach Charge?
13 Reasons You Should Hire a Writing Coach
Consider the following reasons to hire a novel writing coach or book writing consultant.
1. You need help getting some clarity about your writing goals.
You have some ideas on what you want to strive for as a writer, but you’re not sure how to put it into clear, compelling words that can help you stay motivated.
A good writing coach knows the importance of clear goals and can help you articulate your own.
2. You need help creating and implementing a plan for success.
You know what you want, but you’re not sure how to get it. This is where a plan comes in, but not everyone knows how to create one that will get you the results you want. A writing coach who is an experienced author and adept planner can help with this.
3. You need accountability for your weekly action plan.
Once you have a plan, you need someone to help yous tay on task. A plan isn’t worth much if you’re not implementing it with consistent daily action. A writing coach can provide the accountability you need so the rest of your life doesn’t eclipse your writing plan.
4. You need help recognizing and meeting challenges to your book’s success.
If you’re new to writing and publishing a book, you’re not familiar with all the challenges that can derail your progress or threaten your success as an author. Writing coaches who have this experience can light the path for you.
5. You need someone with experience and objectivity to assess your work.
Taking a break from your first draft before editing is always a good idea, but as the author of your work, you’re not objective enough to see all that you need to see. A writing coach can give you a fair assessment of your book, so you know what changes to make.
6. You need someone who can make necessary adjustments to your plan.
Maybe you have a plan, but it’s not working for you as well as you hoped. Or maybe, as you see other authors selling more books than you are, you’re wondering how to get the same results. In either case, a writing coach can help.
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7. You want someone to help you organize and develop your book.
If you’re still working on your first draft, and you’re feeling lost, a writing coach can help you organize your story and develop it into a well-written, cohesive novel, with no loose threads or surprise contradictions.
8. You need help in crafting an effective book proposal.
If you’re leaning toward traditional publishing, a writing coach with experience in this path can help you craft an effective book proposal, which will also help when it comes to marketing your finished book.
9. You want a professional to help you create or expand your author platform.
Every author needs an online platform, but not all of us know how to create one that will motivate our ideal readers to buy our books.
Writing coaches understand the importance of an effective platform and can help you create one you can be proud of.
10. You want an experienced professional who can help you get past writer’s block.
Every writer runs into a creative block now and then, and writing coaches know that because they’ve experienced it themselves. For that reason, they prioritize helping other writers get past those blocks so they can create books their readers will love.
11. You need help with time management and getting the important stuff done.
Maybe you know what to do, but you haven’t been great at managing your time or avoiding distractions. You’re not alone. Experienced writing coaches know this and can help you improve your time management skills, so you can get more writing done.
12. You want a publishing coach to help you publish, launch, and market your book.
Especially if you’re new to publishing, it’s worth looking into the services a publishing coach can offer. It takes more than one person to create, publish, and effectively promote a well-crafted book. A good coach in your corner can make all the difference.
13. You want a mentor who’s learned all you need to know to succeed as an author.
Maybe you’re not sure yet exactly what type of help you need as a writer, but a well-rounded writing coach can address most, if not all the challenges you run into. And if there’s something they can’t help you with, they probably know someone who can.
Should I Hire a Writing Coach?
Answering this question means considering the gap between what you need as a writer and what you can afford. Not only that, but you also need to identify precisely the kind of help you require to get your book written and published.
Whether you need a novel writing coach or you’re looking for someone to ensure your nonfiction book meets the needs of your target audience, you can’t avoid the question of whether you can afford to pay a writing coach what their services are worth.
If you can’t afford one-on-one consults with a professional writing coach, it’s still possible to find a writing coach online whose resources can help you get to where you want to be, with minimal social contact (and minimal expense).
How Much Does a Writing Coach Charge?
So, here we come to the question that’s probably foremost in your mind: what can you expect to pay for a good writing coach?
A brief internet search can yield a rough estimate of writing coach rates. But every coach is different. And each coach’s prices reflect the services they provide, as well as their breadth of experience and depth of knowledge.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay a qualified writing coach around $50 to $250 per hour, depending on the coach’s experience and your specific needs.
Many coaches offer a free 30-minute phone consultation to help you both determine whether they’re a good fit for you.
Are you ready to hire a writing coach?
Now that you know more about what a writing coach is and how you could benefit from hiring one, what services interest you most? And what will you do this week to find the right coach for you and your book?
If you don’t already have a list of potential writing coaches, create one today. Then you can either call them or craft an email introducing yourself and your book and detailing the kind of help you’re looking for.
Get those words out — this time to someone who can help you get the best results with your book.
May you find someone who cares as much about your book’s success as you do.