Book Coaching
Are you working on your next manuscript – or even just have the ideas for one – and you need some help? Book coaching might be right for you.
I help debut authors of psychological thrillers, fantasy, and memoirs transform their drafts into polished manuscripts they are proud of—ready to pitch to agents or self-publish. With a collaborative, structured approach, I provide multiple rounds of in-depth edits, personalized feedback, and accountability through regular meetings to guide my clients toward achieving their publishing dreams.
Are you here?
Idea Development
Drafting
Post Draft Revision
Polishing
Pre-Publishing
Do you need someone to:
- Hold you accountable
- Keep you organized
- Help you stick to your deadlines or manage deadlines
- Provide you with thoughtful and helpful feedback
- Be your biggest cheerleader
Then you are ready for a book coach! A coach will customize services to both you and your manuscript’s unique needs.
What is Book Coaching?
Book coaching is a combination of project management and developmental editing with teaching along the way. Before we begin we will have time to talk about your specific goals for your manuscript. We will develop a plan together to address your goals and help you reach them. We will set up a schedule that works for us both; I suggest twice monthly. You will have an assignment to work on before our next meeting and send me your work before we meet. That provides me time to read and give thoughtful feedback utilizing Word’s Track Changes and Comments features. During our hour long coaching calls we will discuss your writing, my feedback, as well as your goals and next steps.
Book coaching will help you navigate your story ideas. I will give expert feedback and practical advice to help you create your story and enjoy writing. Coaching can be utilized to help you plan and outline your book, write your book, and revise your book.
Book Coaching Services
Are you ready to commit to finishing this manuscript? Do you need someone to help hold you accountable to your deadlines? While helping you refine your story and craft along the way to a finished, polished manuscript that is ready to pitch to agents or self-publish? Then you have found the right place!
What Does a Book Coaching Session Include?
- One-hour long video call
- Feedback to include detailed and specific analysis on your draft
- Personalized assignments based upon your manuscript’s goals
- Accountability
- Deadlines
- Constructive feedback to guide you
- Unlimited email support between sessions
The fee is $200 per coaching session.
What Does Book Coaching Look Like?
Step 1: Initial Consultation Call: Let’s talk all about your manuscript! Where are you? Where do you want to go? Is there anything holding you back? Have you worked with beta readers, if so what feedback have they given?
Step 2: On-boarding: I will send you my questionnaire to get more details about your story and goals. You will have time to decide on how many coaching sessions you want to work with and the schedule for those sessions. Before we get started you will share with me your manuscript and any relevant documents that help me better understand it.
Step 3: Coaching Kick-Off Meeting: We meet to determine your goals and set a schedule for our meetings. We will make a plan for going forward and take the first steps.
Step 4: The coaching! You will work through assignments we decide upon at our coaching calls, and submit your writing to me before the next meeting. I will read and prepare feedback. During our coaching calls we will discuss my feedback, talk about how things are going so far, and adjust any goals for moving forward. I will send you off with your next assignment.
Step 5: You did it! We will hold one last meeting to make sure you have all of the materials you need to continue. You may be ready to go work with an editor, continue writing on your own, or might want to schedule more coaching sessions to tackle your next goal.
Ready to tell me about your project?
FAQ
Is book coaching the same as editing?
No. Editing involves a specific moment in time in your manuscript. An edit may have one to two rounds and we will meet after the round to discuss feedback – the goal is to improve a completed manuscript. With book coaching we will work together to take your manuscript from where it is to where you want it to be. Coaching can help you plan, draft, and revise while we develop your writing skills. It will be a process that takes several months and we will meet on a schedule to discuss feedback and change course to meet your goals. Editing will focus just on the type of editing requested while book coaching will be personalized to you and your manuscript’s needs.
What makes you a good book coach?
Book coaching combines two of my favorite things: editing and teaching. My background in education makes me uniquely qualified to be a book coach. I spent years working with students of various ages reach their goals. I have worked with many different people with diverse needs and am skilled at helping determine what the best next steps are to help them meet their goal. I love to learn new things and always give my best effort. I enjoy that when I teach, I also learn.
What genres does book coaching work for?
Book coaching is wonderful for any genre! Nonfiction, fiction, and memoirs can benefit from book coaching. I specialize in psychological thrillers, fantasy, and memoir. I love to help authors tell their stories. I am open to other genres and read widely.
How many sessions of book coaching will I need?
The number of sessions will depend on where your manuscript is and what your goals are. I suggest we meet twice a month for at least 3 months, 6 sessions.
*If you would prefer to communicate via email or phone call rather than video calls, just let me know! Phone calls or video calls are not required. You will have my support and feedback regardless of the form of communication we use.
What does a book coaching call look and sound like?
During a book coaching call we will meet virtually. We will talk about how things are going as you are working toward your goals. I will lead a discussion on my feedback from your last assignment. I will share my feedback in a kind, constructive way that helps you move forward toward your goals. You will have time to ask me questions about my feedback and we will talk about what we do next to help you along your journey towards your goals. You will leave feeling supported and knowing what to do next.
I’m interested, but I still have questions.
I am happy to hold a free 15 minute discovery call where I can answer your questions and see if we are a good match. Please fill out the mini contact form titled, “Have a question, click here” on my contact page, letting me know you want to talk about book coaching. You are also welcome to just send me your questions via email.
Testimonials
“I’m very grateful to know Mrs. Wheeless, she is my life savior from now on. I am the owner of a little bakery, English is not my first language which makes it difficult for me to communicate with people in an effective and clear way. My goal is to send a clear message through words to our customers so they can relate with us. Here is when Mrs. Wheeless comes to play such an important role, besides I am learning from her as well while working together. So grateful for her professionalism, knowledge, support and presence in my business communications journey if you will. Thank you very much, Claudia”
– Claudia Glazier, owner of Buttery Baking House