Writing a book can be a lonely, frustrating, and time-consuming endeavor. A lot of writers finish their manuscript and think all the hard work is over before realizing that publishing a book can be just as lonely, frustrating, and time-consuming.
But neither writing nor publishing have to be any of those things!
A good editor can help, as can a good author coach.
Not sure what an author coach is or how they can help you? Read on to find out!
What is author coaching?
An author coach can provide support and assistance through every step of the way–from initial writing to revision to the submission process. Author coaching usually involves regular meetings between the client and the author (which can be in-person or via phone or Zoom/Skype).
How is author coaching different from editing?
Some author coaches are also editors, so this can sometimes be a little confusing. The biggest difference is that the author coach is not providing editorial feedback on a manuscript as part of author coaching. An author coach can work with you much earlier than an editor and help you with getting started and finishing the manuscript as they provide advice and, well, coaching and guidance through the process. They don’t need a manuscript to work with, and the way they interact with your manuscript is going to be different from an editor.
An editor, meanwhile, is often not going to get involved with a manuscript until there is a completed manuscript or at least portions of it are completed and is going to be focused more on providing concrete suggestions about the manuscript as opposed to the process.
As an example of how this interplay between author coach, writer, and editor can work—quite a few of my independent authors in recent years have hired me as a copyeditor specifically because their author coach they’ve been working with encouraged them to find an editor in their specific subgenre as a next step after they’ve finished a first draft. The author coach often continues working with them even after I’ve completed my work and am no longer involved.
Do I need an author coach?
I think hiring an author coach can be an excellent step, especially for first-time writers who are inexperienced writers and/or unsure of the publishing process. Many of my editing clients who’ve had author coaches are professionals in another field who have a story they are compelled to tell but do not consider themselves writers. An author coach can be invaluable in these situations. Authors who benefit from a more structured routine may also find an author coach helpful, regardless of their level of experience with writing and publishing.
As with many things, though, I think it varies by author and manuscript. If you’re reading this description of an author coach and thinking it’s exactly what you need, then you should definitely look into hiring one. If, however, you’re reading it and thinking that doesn’t seem like a service you would benefit from, then I don’t think you should feel like you need to hire one.
When should I hire an author coach?
As noted earlier, you can hire an author coach very early in the process, before you even have a manuscript. You can also hire one later to help shepherd you through the publishing process. If at any stage, you feel like you’re in over your head and need assistance with the actual process itself—whether it is writing, revising, submitting—versus just the manuscript, then an author coach may be exactly what you need. If your concern is primarily rooted in the manuscript itself, however, then an editor is likely the solution to your problems.
What kind of author coaching do you offer?
I’m more than happy to draw on my editing, writing, teaching, tutoring, and publishing background to provide author coaching services. That being said, most of the author coaching I’ve provided is for previous clients whom I’ve either done developmental editing and/or copyediting for—they trust my judgment and are looking for advice on the submissions process. I’m most comfortable doing this for clients who are pursuing self-publishing or publishing through small or medium-sized publishers because that is what I know. However, I have assisted some clients with submitting to agents. I’m certainly open to doing more work in this realm but also readily admit that you should seriously consider using someone with more experience with agent submissions.
And that concludes my “What Is Editing” series. I hope that you’ve find it a useful breakdown of the various editing services that can aid you in selecting which service is best for you and your manuscript.
Read the whole “What Is Editing” series:
