The Price Tag of Book Coaching
As writers, we’ve all been there …
- plagued with a million ideas bouncing around in our heads with no clue how to stick the landing ;
- paralyzed in fear by a massive case of writer’s block with no end in sight;
- running the race with wide-open promise at the start but now losing steam at the mid-way point, unable to stay the course.
If you’ve written for any amount of time, you’ll run up against each of these at some point in your journey. And when you do, hiring a book coach can help you push through the daunting process of actually putting pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard) and writing and publishing your book.
But what exactly is a book coach? What do they do, and how much does will they cost? I’m here to help explain the different types of book coaches currently available in the market and the cost you can expect for their services.
What is a Book Coach?
A book coach is someone who helps aspiring authors bring their book ideas to life. This is someone with professional industry experience or background who can assist you with everything from brainstorming and outlining, to editing and publishing your book. While book coaches are similar in some ways to writing coaches, they specialize specifically in the book-writing process.
Types of Book Coaches
There are many different types of book coaches to choose from, depending on where you are in your writing process—and each comes with their own set of skills and services. For now, we’ll focus on the main three:
- Developmental Book Coach—A developmental book coach will help you develop your book idea into a structured format. They can help you with outlining and storyboarding your book, character development, and many other aspects of the early writing process.
- Editing Book Coach—Different from an actual book editor, an editing book coach focuses on helping you refine and edit your manuscript in process. They do so by providing feedback on your rough draft during the writing process, suggesting revisions to tighten your work, and helping you improve its overall quality before submitting it to an editor for finalizing and professional editorial work.
- Publishing Book Coach—Navigating the complex world of book publishing can be daunting for even the most seasoned writer. This is where a publishing book coach can prove invaluable as you prepare your manuscript for publication. From advising you on the best publishing options for your book, to assisting you in your search for a literary agent, to helping you with the submission process, a publishing book coach can help streamline the process and help pave a clear way through for you to publication.
Cost of Hiring a Book Coach
The cost of hiring a book coach can vary widely, depending on your coach’s experience and available services. While some book coaches charge by the hour, others will charge a flat fee for their services. And the cost for their experience and services can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
Hourly Rates—Some book coaches will charge you an hourly rate from $50 to $200 per hour. If your payment is based on an hourly rate, make sure you have a clear understanding up front of how many hours the coach expects to work with you and what their hourly rate will include.
Flat Fees—Many book coaches will charge a flat fee for their services. For the flat fee rate, many coaches do offer payment plans or discounts for upfront payment.
Finding the Right Book Coach
When you begin your book coach search, it’s important to do plenty of research upfront to help you find someone who’ll be a good fit for your needs and budget range. Remember to …
- Ask for referrals—Ask other authors or writing professionals for recommendations.
- Check online reviews—Look for reviews of book coaches on many different platforms, like Google, Yelp, or Reedsy.
- Schedule a consultation—Many book coaches do offer a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project and see if they’re a good fit for you.
Whether you’re looking for help with outlining, editing, or publishing your book, there’s a book coach out there who can help you bring your book to life! And when you choose the right book coach for you, it will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make in your journey to become a published author.
