You only write your first book once. The right guide turns that draft in your head into a finished manuscript. The wrong one leaves you frustrated and stuck. Before you sign a contract with a potential nonfiction book coach, you need clear, practical questions that show you how this person works, how they think, and whether they’ll actually support you. This guide gives you the key questions to ask when hiring a book coach who understands thought leaders, speakers, and business professionals.
Why the Right Book Coach Matters
A writing coach is part strategist, part editor, and part accountability partner. For a thought leader or business owner, that means the coach should care about more than clean sentences. They should care about your message, your audience, and how the book fits your larger platform.
A strong nonfiction book coach sets you up for success by helping you clarify your big idea so it’s focused but still rich with stories. They shape a structure that supports speaking engagements, workshops, or consulting services. They build a steady writing schedule as part of a realistic writing process that respects your real life and business load.
When you work with me, we follow a “talk, plan, then create” process. First, I learn your goals and audience. Then we map out the book and the timeline. Then we work together as you draft. That kind of clear path is what you want from any book coach you hire.
Core Questions to Ask
Think of your first call as a mutual interview. You’re not just answering their questions about your topic; you’re addressing their concerns. You’re also listening for how they think and whether you feel safe sharing hard, sometimes messy stories.
Questions About Experience and Fit
Ask about their background first. You want to know if they’re the right expert for your book.
- What genres of books do you coach, and do you focus on nonfiction?
- Have you worked with authors who are also speakers, consultants, or business owners?
- Can you share examples of client results, like books published?
Listen for answers that show they understand experts who use a book to support a brand, not just hobby writers. If you’re writing a memoir with a business message, ask how they balance personal story with practical takeaways.
You want to hire a book coach who has seen the full arc, from messy idea to launch, and who respects your voice.
Questions About Your Coaching Process and Support
Get clear on how you’ll work together week by week.
- What does your coaching process look like from our first call through a finished draft?
- How will you help me set and protect a realistic writing schedule?
- What happens if I fall behind on my pages?
- Do you offer writing tips and feedback, or mostly accountability and planning?
A strong writing coach will talk about flexible plans, not rigid rules. Many writers fall out of habit after travel, busy seasons, or health events. Writing coaches who have helped clients reset a stalled project usually mention tools like check-ins, smaller milestones, or brief “re-entry” sessions to reset your writing habit.
You should walk away with a sense of how they’ll keep you moving even when work or life gets loud.
Questions About Scope: Coaching, Editing, or Ghostwriting
Not every book needs the same support. Some writers want strategy and accountability. Others want heavy editing, and some need a book ghostwriter for parts or the entire book project.
- Where does your work stop and an editor’s work begin? Check out my article Book Coach vs. Editor.
- Do you give big-picture feedback only, like on the book outline, or do you also comment at the sentence level?
- If my draft needs more help, can you step in as a book ghostwriter or refer one? I can act as ghostwriter, but that shift will change the scope of the project and likely change the cost of the project as I will be doing the writing, not you.
- Do you help with things like formatting, back-cover copy, or self-publishing steps?
Good coaches are clear about what they do and what they don’t do. That kind of clarity keeps expectations clean and avoids surprises later.
Questions About Communication and Expectations
How you work together matters as much as what you work on.
- How often will we meet, and for how long?
- Do you review what I’ve written before each session?
- How do you give feedback, and in what format?
- What do you expect from me between sessions?
Look for answers that match your work style. Thought leaders often need assistance and coaching to organize the structure and ideas of their book, as well as light editing. That’s where I can help you. We will set clear expectations on both sides so we can plan your calendar and energy.
Money, Contracts, and Boundaries
Talking about money and scope doesn’t have to feel awkward. Treat it like any other business investment.
- How do you determine the cost of your services, per month, per package, or per project? Projects start at 90-days $9,000 for book coaching with the details and scope to be determined as we move through our conversation about your project.
- What’s included in your coaching program fee?
- How long does the engagement last, and what happens when we reach the end?
- What’s your policy on refunds, rescheduling, or pausing the work?
Ask about rights and confidentiality.
- Do I own all rights to the material we develop together? Yes, you own the work.
- Do you work under a non-disclosure agreement for sensitive topics? Always, whether it is official in a co-signed document or not, I operate under strict confidentiality to protect both of us and your project.
Thought leaders often share stories about a client, teams, or personal struggles. You want a coach who takes privacy seriously and has a simple, written agreement that protects both of you.
Red Flags When Interviewing a Book Coach
Sometimes it’s easier to spot what you don’t want.
Watch for these warning signs when interviewing a freelance writing coach:
- They promise bestseller status or say they can guarantee media coverage or #1 Amazon status.
- They talk about themselves the whole time and ask a few questions about you and your reader.
- They’re vague about the process, the timeline, and what’s included in their fee.
- They seem eager to rewrite your voice instead of drawing it out and sharpening it.
A trustworthy coach tells the truth about the work. They know a book is a long project with ups and downs, and they respect your limits while still holding you to your goals.
How a Book Coach Supports Your Bigger Platform
For many speakers and business authors, the book sits at the center of a wider message. It feeds talks, workshops, podcasts, and client work.
A strong coach sees that whole picture, overseeing project development from idea to finished book. During early sessions, they should ask about:
- Your core audience and how they find you now
- Services or offers you want the book to point toward
- Stories you already tell from the stage or in client meetings
When you work with me as both a nonfiction writing coach, I understand that your book needs to sound like you. The best coaches motivate you, share practical writing prompts and tips, build a flexible writing schedule around travel and speaking, and stay with you until completion.
The goal is a finished book that feels honest, useful, and aligned with the way you already serve people, fueling your overall business success.
Bringing Your Questions Into the Call
You don’t need to ask every one of these questions word for word. Treat them like a menu. Pick the ones that matter most to you and add a few of your own.
The main goal is simple. You want a book coach who understands your voice, your reader, and your business, and who has a clear plan to help you move from idea to finished manuscript.
If you’re ready to explore your book idea, schedule a consultation and talk through these questions in real time. That first honest conversation can set clear expectations and see if we’re a good fit to turn your ideas into a finished book.