What Is a Book Coach? (And Do I Need One?)

Let’s start with the truth about book coaching (that you actually want to hear). 

You don’t need a book coach.

But you also don’t need:

• A gym membership to get fit.
• A business mentor to help you build your company.
• A mechanic to fix your car.
• A CPA to do your taxes.
• A school to teach your kids.

You get the point. You can write a book (or do anything) without help. Plenty of people do.

But are the books they’re writing going to be any good? Will they provide concrete solutions for their target market? Will anyone other than their authors’ mothers read them?

It’s these questions that might keep you up at night. And they should. 

But If you’re already:

• Knee-deep in a Google Doc graveyard of half-baked chapters…
• Not sure if your ideas make any sense…
• Doubting the entire venture…

Then yeah… a book coach might be exactly what you need.

Wait, so what does a book coach actually do?

A book coach is part strategist, part therapist. Part motivator, part cheerleader. Part consultant, part fire-starter. 

We don’t write your book for you. That’s what ghostwriters are for.

And we won’t edit your book. That’s what editors are for. 

But simply put, a book coach makes sure you start and finish your book with confidence. 

This is what my book coaching service offers specifically: (Other book coaching services will look different, of course, but I can only speak from what I offer.)

✅ Kickstart catalyst: A kickoff call to talk through your ideas, brainstorm together, and ensure you have a clear direction, a marketable book idea, and a path to get there. 

✅ Support for 1 year: A deep-dive strategy call 1x per month to make sure you never doubt your winning book idea.

✅ Ongoing support: Thorough email responses to questions/doubts that pop up as you write.

✅ Tested templates: Plug and play outline and drafting templates so you never get stuck.

✅ Alignment: Doubt-free alignment to your business and brand from day one. And realignment when doubts and struggles surface. 

✅ Writing progress: Measurable progress on your manuscript that feels good. 

✅ Empowered writing sessions: Every writing session will count because you know what you’re working on and why you’re working on it.

✅ A book that speak to a specific reader: Market-driven viability from day one.

When you work with a book coach, you’re still the author. 100%. You’re doing the heavy lifting of the writing, but you have support with the critical thinking, consistent direction, and a way to breakthrough the I-can’t-do-this-alone block that most authors slam into so hard it knocks them out of the game. 

But with a book coach in your corner, you’re not lifting blind. You’ve got a spotter. A guide. A nerdy co-pilot who’s seen the map a hundred times before and knows where most authors get lost. And this guide will lead you to finished book. 

“But I already know what I want to say…”

Cool. So did 97% of the would-be authors I’ve talked to.

And if you’re doubting the investment, nothing this post will say will change your mind. 

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t share what usually happens without coaching. (As evidenced by the swaths of not-so-great drafts I’ve seen in my decade in this business.)

(Hint: 4 out of 5 should scare you more than just a bit. I’ve seen all of them in various forms.)

• The meandering memoir: You start writing but the book turns into a meandering memoir that your audience doesn’t care about.
• The not-book: You work for 3 years on a draft that isn’t even close to finished product. And this ghostwriter has to tell you that you don’t need editing… You need to start over. 
• The random words in a document: You second-guess every sentence and rewrite your intro 14 times because you don’t know who you’re talking to or why. 
• The AI-written garbage dump: An entire book written with AI. No examples from the author’s life. No new methods. Just regurgitated Googleable trash. 
• The old college try: Some people are naturally talented writers and thinkers. They send me their books and blow me away. It still needs a developmental edit, because all drafts do, but they obviously didn’t need a book coach. 

Can you honestly afford the 80% chance you’ll write a draft that stinks? Don’t you have other things to worry about in your business? Hiring a book coach or a ghostwriter is a no-brainer for most people. 

A book coach makes sure you’re writing the right book for you. The one that aligns with your goals, speaks to the right people, and doesn’t take five years of hair-pulling to finish.

So, do you need a book coach?

• You’ve got great ideas, but no structure.
• You’re worried your message isn’t “book-worthy”, isn’t original, or isn’t polished enough.
• You’re busy running a business and don’t want to waste time writing all the “wrong” words. 
• You want to write a great book, but you want people to actually want to read it. 
• You know that greatness isn’t forged in isolation. 

If that’s you? Then yes, a book coach is worth it.

If you’re the type who thrives with a plan, feedback, and a nerdy cheerleader who actually knows what they’re doing… It’s the obvious choice. 

Writing a book is fun. It’s powerful. It will change your life. 

How you take the journey is up to you. 

Because as I said above, you don’t need a book coach to write a book.

But you might need one to finish the right book faster, smarter, better, and with 10x more impact.

If you’re ready to finally write the thing and decide to pursue book coaching or ghostwriting:

DM me on LinkedIn. Or email me at Jordan@jmring.com I’ll even send you a free copy of Nonfiction Alchemy. Just ask. 

–Jordan