What is a book coach, and when is it a good time to consider hiring one? 

A book coach is… 

• Someone who knows story, loves books, and loves helping writers.

• They can step in at any point along the writing journey: drafting, revision, or pitching.

• Provide informed editorial feedback and clear steps on what to do next to strengthen the manuscript or book idea.

• Support and guide you through the emotional rollercoasters that come with writing a novel.

• Understands the publishing industry and can help guide you on how best to reach your publishing goals.

• Work with writers in the spirit of compassion and personal growth.

• 100% invested in your story and your growth as a writer.

• Provide accountability and structure, coach, teach, cheerlead, and will keep you away from matches and dumpsters.

There is no wrong time to hire a book coach. I know, I know. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. 

You might consider working with a book coach if you’ve written several novels, but you’re not getting any traction from agents, or your self-published books are not getting the reviews you want, or they’re not getting reviewed at all. 

You might work with a book coach if you are a new writer who’s just trying to figure things out or if you’ve been writing your first draft for a long time and can’t seem to move forward. 

Maybe you are a seasoned writer, but you haven’t finished a manuscript, even though you have a degree in writing or have been in the writing scene for a long time. 

Honest. There is no wrong time to have someone with informed eyeballs help you see what you can do to strengthen your story and finish it. Now make sure that set of eyeballs is a good fit for you. Working with a coach of any kind is a relationship. Both sides need to gel. This is what discovery calls are for :) 

What is the difference between working with an editor and a book coach?

An editor will provide you with editorial feedback, and they will tell you what is working and not working in your story. Some (the great ones) will suggest how to fix what is broken. *I’ve worked with those, and they are a dream. But once they return the feedback, you’re done. It’s a one-off unless they specifically agree to review any changes you make. 

Also, they don’t coach. They don’t give you accountability. They don’t give you a push when you need it or comfort when the words won’t come. They are not in the story with you all the way. 

A book coach is in it  ALL THE WAY. They are invested in the story, but they are more invested in you and your growth as a writer. They see your dream; they will fight for you to stick with it and make it happen. I will fight that fight for you and with you. It’s what I’m built for… to hold safe emotional space for people and push them when they need it, back off when they don’t. Help them realize nothing is in their way except their own internal story.

What type of feedback will you provide?

Honest and kind. Always.

You don’t need sugarcoating or smoke and mirrors. You need the truth wrapped in compassion. I am here to help you grow and give you the tools you need to write an amazing book. 

Specifically: I give big-picture editorial feedback. Think character development and characterization, story structure, scene structure, as well as plot and emotional logic. I evaluate the work for point, theme, and worldbuilding, as well as a cause-and-effect trajectory that makes sense and serves the story. I’m evaluating for conflict, tension, and pacing, and asking if the story has forward momentum. Is every word driving the narrative forward to a satisfying conclusion that proves the point of the story?

I also provide some line edits for prose and style if there are nitty-gritty craft issues that need to be addressed. I do not focus on grammar or spelling.

How long does it take to draft or revise a novel? 

Well … sometimes years, sometimes less. It just depends.

Generally speaking: drafting takes about 6 months, give or take. Revision- usually longer than drafting. 6-9 months, but working with a book coach will help you develop a very strong first draft that is more like a 2nd or 3rd draft. And because of the ongoing feedback, the latter half of the book will be much stronger than the first half. You learn to write better, stronger, and more efficiently as you go along.

This all, of course, depends on how much time you have to devote and what kind of story you are writing. An epic fantasy will take more time to write than a category romance. 

What is Author Accelerator?

Only the bee’s knees :)

It’s an extremely rigorous book coaching certification course. The only one of its kind.

When I got serious about my fiction writing, I hired an Author Accelerator-trained book coach. It was an amazing experience. It gave me confidence in my writing ability and taught me so much. It leveled up my writing exponentially. 

This is the certification course that I took which not only made me a much stronger writer but a better critique partner, beta reader, and human. It’s opened my eyes to many things and possibilities. I will be forever grateful for the skills I have learned under the program's guidance.

What type of writers do you work with?

Commercial fiction writers who write novels!

I work with writers at any stage in their writing journey, but I have a particular fondness for newer writers who have found their creative vein later in life and are trying to figure out “all the things” it takes to write a compelling novel.

If you are buying up all the craft books and listening to sooo many writing podcasts that require you to buy more data space… well, you and I… we’ve got a lot in common. That was me when I first began writing fiction, and I would love to help you!

What genres do you work with?

Speculative Fiction is my wheelhouse, and fantasy/ soft sci-fi is my jam. MG, YA, NA, or Adult, high or low, any setting, it’s all good.  Give me portals or alien invasions. Give me magic or speculative science. Give me swords and heroes or quirky robots and big stakes! And if it comes with a splash (or more) of romance … swoon! Those are my favorites.

But I also love heart-driven romance, women’s fiction, magical realism, mystery, and thrillers! 

What does industry-standard formatting mean?

This is publishing industry-speak for how your novel should be formatted.

I learned the hard way to set up my formatting from the get-go. It makes revision easier, and it’s less distracting for those reviewing and giving feedback.  

Please submit your documents to me in this format:

• font (12-point Times New Roman)

• margins (one inch)

• paragraph indents (0.3 inches)

• one space (not two) between sentences

• no space between paragraphs (spaced paragraphs are nonfiction style)

What if I need to stop working on my project or if book coaching is just not a good fit?

Life happens. My drafting packages are month-to-month. There’s no pressure if you need to take a break or if it’s just not the right fit for you. Do what is right for you and your writing. My revision package is a 4-month commitment with the option to roll into ongoing monthly coaching.

Do you make any guarantees?

I guarantee I will show up for you. I will fight for you to finish your book. I will bring you the best of my knowledge, compassion, and empathy as you do this incredibly hard thing. 

I cannot guarantee your literary success no matter how much I believe you deserve it. The publishing industry is an unpredictable beast. So is a story. Many things in life are outside our control.

So, I can’t promise you a book deal or self-publishing success. 

But if you are a writer intent on putting your story in the world, I promise to do my best to help you make that happen. 

If you are a writer with the intent to publish, then you are a risk-taker, whether you know it or not.

You put your guts on the page every day.

It is brave.

It is soul work.

Don’t let the possible outcome of not getting published stop you.

Write. Write. Write.

Your words will fall into others' hands and minds anyway… through your beta readers, your critique partners, editors, and through me. 

Your journey will touch people no matter what, AND IT WILL MATTER.

This, I promise.

Have more questions?

Send me an email at Stacy@writeitscared.co. I personally respond to every query!