In the anthology Lead From Within: Entrepreneurs Share Proven Traits for Success, one of the contributors–Karen Kimsey-Sward, CEO of Dale Carnegie Chicago, certified coach and faculty coach with U of Buffalo School of Management—writes about how work with her coach led to game-changers for her when it comes to both inner and outer leadership and confidence.
“Too many times we can ‘get in our heads’ and it is so important to find someone whom you can trust, who truly has your back, who will not judge you, will speak the truth to you with love, whom you can be vulnerable with and you can bounce ideas off of. Too many times we just need someone to talk things through which can help us get another perspective.”
She’s talking about the qualities needed in a life or work coach, but those same qualities apply to a book coach.
People often assume that hiring a book coach or writing coach implies that you’re incapable of writing on your own and need someone to hold your hand. That may be true, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But a book coach relationship extends way beyond encouraging you, holding you accountable or even teaching you about the craft of writing. It’s like having a partner on your creative team who has managed to retain the perspective that can so easily be lost when immersed in a big project. As the writer, you’re in the trees by definition. Your book coach still has a sense of the forest as a whole.
Not all writing coaches or book coaches are created equal, however, and not all coaches and writers are a good match. So, how do you go about hiring a book coach who will work for you?
First, you want to find one who shares your vision. That’s why I always suggest that clients who have already been writing hire me to critique their work before they bring me on as their book coach. I read through their pages and write a memo detailing my sense of what works, what doesn’t and what needs to be done. If they agree with my analysis, we not only know we’re on the same page, but we also have a plan of action. If they don’t, they’ve saved themselves a lot of time and frustration.
Second, you want to find a book coach who fulfills your needs. Just as no two writers work the same way, book coaches have different styles. I’ve heard of some who don’t even read what their clients write, which puzzles me to no end. That’s like writing about food that you don’t taste.
I tend to treat my clients the way I do my friends, offering an ear, feedback, encouragement and an occasional reality check when absolutely necessary. And though each writer has their strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed in a manner befitting the person and the situation, there’s one piece of advice that I give each and every one of my clients: Quit judging yourself and your work so harshly.
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