Book Coach. It’s a term I’d never heard before 2023 and one I didn’t think I’d need. What in the world was a Book Coach? And what did they do that I would need one? Well, let’s put it this way. Though I didn’t know I needed one, I’m glad I got one.

Book Coach is a relatively new term for a profession that developed along with changes in the publishing industry (Nash, 2023). As the publishing world changed, and self-publishing became a more viable option, aspiring authors needed a guide, someone to help show them the path that often seemed covered up by jargon and impossible tasks.

Now, does that mean that all aspiring authors MUST hire a Book Coach in order to successfully publish their novels? No, absolutely not.

That being said, I’m pretty glad I took the leap to hire a Book Coach prior to hitting the “publish” button on The Fence Between Us. Now that my first novel’s been out in the world for a few months and I’ve been actively working on book 2, I’m reflecting on the journey to publication and thought I might as well share a few thoughts.

When I scheduled my line editing video call with Erin P.T. Canning, I didn’t know I’d be hiring her to be my Book Coach as well. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize I was still vastly outside of my comfort zone when it came to actually taking the book I’d written and getting it into the hands of readers. And while I may not be an expert in publishing yet, I think I am definitely better off than I was before.

5 Reasons I’m Glad I Hired My Book Coach

Book Coaches Unveil Parts of Publishing & Yourself That You Didn’t Know Existed

By the time I found my Book Coach, I knew I needed developmental editing and line editing. I was also working on a pretty tight budget and scheduled an appointment to discuss line editing. What I didn’t know was that editing would be the simple part. I’m not sure why I never thought past what I would need to do once I got those edits back. I guess I just thought I’d have a few people read the story and then present it to the world.

My Book Coach not only helped to demystify the entire process of getting my book from my computer into the hands of readers, but she also helped me discover my strengths and weaknesses as a writer and worked with me to develop areas where I struggled. Apparently, there was a lot more to the publishing process than I originally thought. The process of just writing a compelling back blurb alone blew my mind. Fortunately, with my Book Coach guiding me, we worked out a strong back blurb, and I learned a few things that I can now apply to future publications.

Book Coaches Are Great Cheerleaders

Book Coaches aren’t necessarily there to hold your hand and coddle you when the going gets tough, but they definitely make great cheerleaders. Early on in my coaching experience, my coach and I discussed things that might cause me to freeze up in the publishing process, concerns I had as a writer, and hopes and dreams I had for my book. Throughout the process, Erin helped me stay on goal to complete my book in a way that remained true to my authentic author voice, and ultimately, I’m proud of the product I produced.

Now, as I worked on the second book, my Book Coach and the writing community I joined through meeting her continue to help keep me authentic and on track to complete this series and continue in my author journey.

Book Coaches WANT YOU To Succeed

One thing about Book Coaches is – they should want you to succeed! But that doesn’t mean they’ll do the hard work for you. Book Coaches are incredibly valuable in helping a new author stay organized and on track to reach their goals. For me, this meant a lot of “okay, next step” because I had a lot of the actual writing groundwork completed. Book Coaches guide new authors and help establish the tools and skills authors need to continue growing as writers, and, in theory, you should succeed!

This is where I will point out, if you decide to look for a Book Coach, make sure that you and the coach are on the same page! You and your Book Coach will work together closely over the course of your coaching. Make sure that you can be authentic and honest with your coach, and that you can follow along with their guidance. There is absolutely no sense in working with a coach who doesn’t fit the vibe you need for successful learning. Not only will you waste time and money, but you won’t learn nearly as much as you need to for future publication if that is your goal.

Book Coaches Can Save You Years Of Research & Doubt

I truly didn’t plan on hiring a Book Coach. That wasn’t on my radar at all. It was money I hadn’t set aside for publishing, and honestly, swallowing the cost scared the crud out of me. All of that to say, I’m so very glad that I took that leap.

Almost two years of attending free summits and conferences, reading articles, and watching videos led me to nearly pull my hair out in frustration. No matter how much research I did, it seemed that “experts” contradicted each other left and right, “complete guides” started in the middle of a process, and left huge chunks of information missing.

I was out of ideas and out of my league.

Enter Erin. Erin helped to take the guesswork out of the publication process and opened my eyes to parts of the process I’d never even heard of before. Does that mean I followed her blindly throughout coaching? Not necessarily. I’m sure if I asked her, there were probably times I got on her nerves, but she never once gave up on me and always, ALWAYS, helped me find my way to success.

Through open and honest communication, Erin and I worked to put my self-doubt and negative self-talk to the side so that I could achieve my goals, despite myself. Without her guidance, I’m sure The Fence Between Us would have been published … eventually. Definitely not anywhere near when it was, and certainly not to the quality that it is.

As I said before, is a Book Coach a requirement to successfully publish your first novel? Certainly not. Will hiring a Book Coach, the RIGHT Book Coach, help you reach and surpass goals and limits you thought you’d never see? ABSOLUTELY!

Finding the right Book Coach to help you navigate the self-publishing process can help you in your publication goals, and the investment is so worth it.

If you have any questions about my experience with my Book Coach, Erin P.T. Canning, feel free to contact me. I’m happy to chat! contact@sefisherauthor.com

Until next time, happy reading!

References

Nash, Jennie. “Book Coaching 101, Part 1: What’s a Book Coach?” Substack.com, The Art & Business of Book Coaching, 30 Dec. 2023, jennienash.substack.com/p/book-coaching-101-part-1-whats-a. Accessed 10 Sept. 2025.