Book Coaching versus Ghostwriting and the Merits of Both

Confession: I thought I would hate book coaching. Joke's on me, because I absolutely love it.

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Like many ghostwriters, I also offer book coaching services. The difference? A ghostwriter writes the book for you (based on interviews—Zoom or face to face), while a book coach guides you through the process of writing your own book. It's sort of like having a personal trainer for your manuscript: I help you develop your outline, work through structural challenges, provide feedback on drafts, hold you accountable to deadlines, and offer encouragement when the writing gets tough (which—real talk—it inevitably will).

When I first started book coaching, I thought it would be a frustrating experience, forcing me to take a back seat while someone else actually crafted the words on the page. However, I've found that removing myself slightly from the creative process allows me to lean into other roles: cheerleader, guide, editor, strategist, accountability partner. I can throw out ideas and explore varying creative paths—without the pressure of deciding which one to actually take. That's up to the author. And then I get to sit back and see what they come up with.

Getting chapters from the authors I work with feels like unwrapping a gift from a good friend—I have some idea of what to expect, but in the end, it's always a surprise. As a book coach, while I'm not creating the work myself, I know I'm helping to create the conditions for it to be borne into the world. And that has its own rewards.

Both ghostwriting and book coaching help people get their books written—they just serve different needs. Some people need someone to write it for them; others need someone to believe they can write it themselves. I'm grateful I get to do both.

Thank you for reading my blog! This is a space where I share personal thoughts — an opportunity for self-expression that has nothing to do with my professional writing. None of the thoughts or opinions expressed in this blog should be construed as anything but my own, nor should they be affiliated with any company or person I contract with or write for as a ghostwriter.

NOW that that's done... I'd love to hear from you about this blog post in the comments!