What to look for when selecting a partner
in your journey to publishing success
A book coach can help you make faster progress in your journey to becoming published by providing you with the resources and support you need to get published as quickly as possible. Here are some of the things you may want to evaluate when choosing a book coach.
1. Publishing experience
Look for a coach with a successful publishing track record planning, writing, promoting, and profiting from multiple successful books. Unless a coach has had extensive experience on their own, they’re unlikely to share your perspective.
2. System
Contrary to what you may have heard, there are no “silver bullets” to getting your book successfully published. Getting published today is a process, not an event. The process involves 4 major stages, with questions and tasks that you must address at each stage.
3. Perspective
Book publishing is in the midst of a major changes. Last year’s recommendations may not be appropriate this year. Look for a book coach whose activities include interviewing a wide variety of authors, editors, and book marketing professionals.
4. Tools
A book coach should offer access to the resources and tools you need to plan, write, promote, and profit from your book. Tools should include assessments, templates, and worksheets to jumpstart your progress.
5. Hidden agendas
Be alert to hidden agendas. Many use coaching to identify prospects for their self-publishing services or to locate prospects for their book marketing, printing, or promotion services. These agendas may influence their recommendations at critical points.
6. Online consultations
Look for a book coach who conducts calls using a “screen sharing,” or webinar, format. This permits you both to see the same thing while talking. After the call, you should receive a follow-up that reviews what was discussed and specifies the next steps to be taken.
7. Empathy
Search for a book coach who asks questions and takes the time to listen. There are no universal “formulas” for publishing success. Instead, success comes from finding a match between your goals, what the market wants, and how you want to spend your time.
8. Details
Your coach should be familiar with the major software programs and be able to help you master your software tools and be able to suggest shortcuts and new applications. You should expect to be taught how to maximize your software by using features like keyboard shortcuts and styles to work as efficiently as possible.
