– What do Connor McDavid, Alexander Ovechkin, and Sidney Crosby have in common? No, it's not being the besthockey players in the NHL, although they arguably are.
They have the same thing in common with Nicole Kidman, Marilyn Monroe, Tiger Woods, many CEOs, and so many others that are at the top of their game.
It's that they have coaches.
And in fact many folkshave different coaches for different things.
These people are the best of the best, and they still have coaches.
So if you're doing somethingfor the first time, like writing a book, doesn't it make sense to work with a coach? But what is a book coachor a writing coach, and how do they help? If you're wondering that, this is video is for you.
(upbeat music) – Hey there, I'm Julie theBook Broad from Book Launchers.
We're your professionalself-publishing team helping you write, publish, and promo a nonfiction book that will impact yourreader, grow your business, and make you money.
Our superpower is caringmore about you and your book, and what we do differentlyis work incredibly hard to get your book intoreaders' hands when it's done.
And the best part? You get to keep all rights and royalties and have full control over your book.
So what is a writing coach or a book coach and how do they help you? At Book Launchers, we have writing coaches that work with our clients thatare writing their own books.
The role varies a littlebit client by client, because everybody has different needs, but they're alwaysoffering emotional support, accountability and writing guidance.
Specifically, here's what weexpect of writing coaches.
Number one, build audience clarity.
Work with the client to develop clarity around who their ideal reader is and what the problemsare that they're solving.
This is essential.
I like to think of thisas the goal the author has for impacting the reader.
Who are you helping and whatare you helping them with? My book, “More Than Cashflow, ” was focused on a new real estate investor who was starting to get all excited about buying a bunch of properties, and I wanted them to make smart decisions to help them make moneyand minimize the problems.
And I wanted to prevent peoplefrom getting into real estate if they weren't up forthe common challenges.
So get clear on who you're helping and how you're going to help them.
If you're writing a memoir, you still need to do this, and a writing coach will help.
You have to figure out whothe audience is for the book and what the emotional journey you're going to take them on is.
What lesson do you want themto derive from your story, 'cause a great story isn't quite enough.
There needs to be a reasonor an underlying benefit to consuming that story.
Second, hook development.
Once you have the clarity, you then begin developingthe hook of the book.
This is where I find thevast majority of authors need a lot of help but don't even realize it.
Because this hook is your elevator pitch, and when you get it rightyour book will sell well if it's connected to theaudience that wants that solution or the lesson from your story.
One of the best examples of a hook is also a great example of a book that sold really, really well, and that's “Rich Dad Poor Dad.
” The hook is in the subtitle: “What the Rich Teach Their Children “the Poor and Middle Class Do Not.
” What middle class parentdoesn't want to read that? Creating a great hook is so important, and rarely does it happen in one phone call with a writing coach.
Sometimes it does, butusually it takes a few calls because that's the juicy thing that you are uniquely suited to be offering a very specific reader.
So it has to be benefit-driven, create curiosity, and make your ideal reader pay attention.
That takes more work thanyou probably realize.
Number three, create an outline.
Usually we get an author to brainstorm everythingthey can think of, and then with the writingcoach they organize it into major points andsubpoints to be covered, evaluating each one under the premise of does this fit with my hook.
Number four, agree on a writing plan.
Once you have an outline, create a writing plan.
Are you gonna write a chapter a week? That's harder than itsounds for some people.
Or maybe you are going toplan to talk to your coach every single week and writefor three hours in between.
Our writing coaches have to have contact with our clients every single week, whether that's by email, text, or a phone call.
So some authors set weekly calls while others commit toemailing something every week.
Some vanish for a month despitemany efforts to reach them, but they come back withthe book half-written.
It's different for everyone, but the rule of the writing coach is to find a plan thatworks for you in your life and then holds you accountableto your commitments.
Number five, develop a chapter template.
Essentially this is something we do to support the author having clarity about how their book willflow and be laid out.
The writing coach will work closely with the author on chapter one so they can clearly see howto structure the chapter.
Bonus points for having a writing coach that will make sureyou start every chapter in a way that engages your reader.
And the sixth thing we wantour writing coaches to do is read your work, offersupport, guidance, suggestions, and sometimes simple rewritesfor demonstrative purposes.
Not all writing coaches will rewrite, but our authors are notprofessional writers and often don't understandwhat tell a story or expand on the emotionshere actually means.
So our writing coaches willrewrite it at least a few times so our clients can see what that means and then use that going forward.
Number seven, provide emotional support when you doubt your concept or you're just getting overwhelmed.
Eight, kick your butt! Pew! (laughing) Now you can see I'm wearingsandals, not shoes, with socks.
That's awesome.
A great writing coach can sense when you're doubting yourself or you're afraid of your book.
Number nine, ask your questionsto uncover ideas or stories that you may not have thought of, or that you've just forgotten.
Number 10, keep your bookon track with your hook.
Most authors start off strongbut then veer off (laughs), and you will think of a bunch of details that are far more importantthan they really are.
Or you'll just throw something in there because it interests you, but it doesn't actually fitwith the hook of your book.
A great writing coach is watching for this and is going to keepyou close to your hook to deliver the maximumimpact for your reader in the minimum amount of pages required.
Whew, I bet you had no idea how much work a writing coachdoes to make your book great.
Did you notice what a writingcoach does not do, though? A writing coach does not edit your book, and while they may write outsome example sections for you so you understand how to craftcertain things in your book, they are not writing your book either.
Your coach is there tomake sure your first draft is the best possible first draft.
And the value in that is enormous.
I have a perfect example.
One of our clients spoke to me a year before engaging with us, and he said he was gonna write his book and then bring it to us for editing.
I said sure, go ahead, but it's gonna be better if you work with ussooner rather than later.
He said, “I'm very confidentwith what I'm writing “and that it will be marketable.
“I just need to get the draftdone so you can edit it.
” A year later he brought us the draft, and while there was somegreat content in there, there was not a clear hook, some of the content was irrelevant to the hook that did getdeveloped after the fact, and the entire book needed to be reworked.
He said, “I guess this isa little like calling you “into fix a house that wasn'tbuilt right to begin with.
“We now have to take down somewalls, pull up some flooring, “and make a mess of itin order to fix it.
” And in doing that, becausewe didn't have it built right from the start, it'snever gonna be as good as if we had built itright from the start.
It's been a hard lesson for him to learn and emotionally painfulto have to go backwards before he can go forwards.
But he did save money nothiring a coach (laughing).
Not everyone needs a bookcoach or a writing coach, but almost all authorswould benefit from one.
It's a lonely process writing a book, and it's nice to knowyou're not in it alone.
And many times you'regonna save time and pain by having someone there to guide you to do it better from the start.
Have you worked with a writing coach? How did that go? Let's chat about it in the comments below, and when you comment theday a video is released, you'll be entered to win somesweet #noboringbooks swag like this mug or this oh so soft journal.
New videos every Tuesday and Friday, so make sure you have subscribed and turned those notifications on so you can be there to hang out after the new video comes out.
And when you do that, you'll be one step closer to being one of mybeloved YouTube besties, like the one, the onlyKevin Maguire, Alan George, and Self Publishing with Dale.
And Studio 38, you may not have a mug yet, but your efforts have not goneunnoticed or unappreciated.
Seriously, thank you to each of you for your comments, likes, and shares.
You guys make my day.
Now, there's something every person writing a nonfiction book should know, and that is how to start your chapters so it's more interesting.
That video's right here.
And maybe you're thinking, “Oh, heck no, “I'm not gonna write this book.
“I need someone else to do it.
” Well, this is a playlist about hiring ghostwritersto write your book for you.
I love to spend more time with you.
I think you're kind of cool.
So go ahead, click on one of those videos, and we'll keep on hanging out.
I'll put the coffee on.
(upbeat music).
