A book coach is like a critique group, professional mentor, and personal cheerleader all rolled into one. It’s one of the best ways to build your confidence and writing skills while working on a project you’re passionate about.
A great book coach can…
- Guide you to brainstorm and design a strong foundation for your novel
- Set deadlines to keep you on track (especially helpful for novel-length projects)
- Evaluate your manuscript for strengths and flaws
- Provide actionable feedback to make your novel stronger
Book coaching is a relatively new profession. In the past, editors had the time and capacity to nurture writers, helping them polish their manuscripts into memorable masterpieces. Just look at Harper Lee and her editor Tay Hohoff, who revised To Kill a Mockingbird into publishable shape over the course of two years!
Today, literary agents and editors are swamped, and publishing is incredibly competitive. By working with a book coach, you have a better chance of presenting a polished, professional manuscript when you query.*
*Note that in traditional publishing, you should still expect to make revisions when working with an agent or editor.
FAQ’s
While you might already have a critique group/beta readers, it can be tough to find the right critique group, and beta readers may not give you the constructive feedback you need to make your book stronger. A book coach is trained to provide this feedback and has extensive experience evaluating manuscripts on a level that most beta readers can’t match.
Or, you just have a book idea, not a full manuscript. You might not think you’re ready for a book coach. But actually, this is a great time to develop your story with a trusted partner!
My reading tastes are eclectic, and so are the projects I coach. My favorite books offer immersive stories about strong girls, women, and female-identifying characters, preferably with some history or fantasy (or both!) thrown in.
More generally, I read and coach the following genres in middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction:
- Historical fiction
- Historical fantasy
- Fantasy
- Mystery
- Romance
- Light horror
I am not a good fit for gory horror, hard sci-fi, or erotica, though I’m happy to help you find a coach in these genres.
- As an Author Accelerator certified book coach, I am qualified to coach using their methods, strategies, and materials, but I operate independently of Author Accelerator and am not affiliated with them. I completed a rigorous course of study, including hands-on practicums (sort of like student teaching for book coaching), to hone my skills.
- I’m an agented writer currently working on my fourth novel. I understand the challenges and joys of bringing a story to life through traditional publishing pathways; I’m with you in this journey.
- I’m an experienced teacher who leads with compassion and positivity. I earned my Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University, and I spent more than a decade teaching English and history in secondary classrooms. I bring these skills to my work as a book coach, guiding you to become a stronger writer.
- I’m an elementary school librarian and the parent of two voracious readers. I know what kinds of stories young readers are flying through these days, making me a great coach for middle grade and young adult projects.
Abby Murphy 