This is a special service I don't offer very often, but there's never any harm in applying! In a book coaching relationship, the writer and I meet weekly for 60 minutes to essentially write the book together. We start with brainstorming sessions to organize and outline the chapters, direct the focus, identify the readers, and calibrate the workflow. Then, we start writing! Each session, I lead with prompts related to the outline to get the writer percolating, then write their words as they speak both in notes form and manuscript form (phrasing things with them to be as creative, efficient, and effective as possible). Once the full first draft is done, we read through it together to adjust areas that no longer match the evolved manuscript's message and style.

Applications

I offer book coaching for two clients at a time, and the process can take up to a full year to complete. For this reason, I require applications with the full manuscript, an interview, and a $25 trial session. Please reach out for more information on my availability!

The Process

  • The client and I usually meet weekly for one hour on Zoom, Facetime, or Google Meet with cameras on and shared screens. I’m limited to sixty minutes per session because after that amount of intense brain power, my ears start smoking, and we risk frying my frontal lobe. 
  • We use Google Drive for collaborative work. You have access to everything I do as it pertains to the book and billing. 
  • This service is billed hourly, and invoices are sent in one of three frequencies: after each session, every other week, or once a month. 
  • The exact rate depends on the needs and expectations of the client. There is no flat, always-the same rate for this service, but my starting hourly rate is $50 as of August 2023. 
  • Most clients require 50-75 sessions of sixty minutes (roughly a year) to complete the three stages. 
  • The cancellation policy per session for this service is very flexible. I ask clients to notify me at least twenty-four hours in advance if they cannot meet at the scheduled time. If done within that time, there is no cancellation charge or penalty. I do not guarantee time available elsewhere in my week, but if I do have the time, I am happy to reschedule.  
  • I reserve the right to charge a $25 fee for last-minute and no-show cancellations should it become a pattern.

Stage One 
First, the client and I establish the intended vision for the book, including the felt needs (Why is the reader opening the book? What are they looking to solve? What are they feeling that brought them to the book?), objective (What is this book going to do about it?), and execution (How are we going to accomplish that?). 

We prepare a thorough outline of the book with a general description and goal for each chapter or segment that clearly contributes to the felt need and objective of the book and relates both to the preceding chapter and the chapter that follows. Important components like demographics, appropriate tone and posture, boundaries, expectations, and marketing strategies are also discussed in this stage of the service. 

Stage Two 
Once the foundation has been laid, we write! Together. Some clients may have rough drafts to start with while others may start from scratch—it’s usually easier to start from scratch. Some clients may write in between sessions, while others choose to write only during sessions. This stage of the process is about getting words onto the paper that remain within the goals established. 

I offer helpful feedback on what to include or not to include that saves time and confusion as well as writing advice to cultivate a bond with the reader. Most clients choose to write in session, which means we are creating the content together. Basically, I provide prompts to get the client talking about the topic and what they want to say; while they speak, I write. 

It may be word-for-word, or slightly adjusted to match the established tone. After natural pauses or ten minutes, I read the words back to the client and ask them, “Does this sound like you? Is this what you meant?” We adjust as necessary. We calibrate if we’re moving along the path of the outline, or if the outline needs to be adjusted based on the information reviewed. For clients who choose to write independently between sessions, we use our time together to read the writing aloud and tweak it. I provide light copy edits and focus on suggestions, insight, and recommendations where needed. We chisel the work together. 

Stage Three 
After the words have been put on paper, we review. Even though the writing process includes a lot of review and adjustment time, it’s important to step back and look at the big picture after giving it some space to breathe. This stage involves “zooming out” to determine how we can improve the reader experience, accomplish the objective, and clarify any loose ends. We also review missing components that may have been added later in the process. This is not a copy editing or proofreading stage. This is a collaborative effort of review "from thirty-thousand feet," as they say.
Copyright © 2024 Abigail McLaughlin
​Abbey McLaughlin Editorial Services