What Does a Nonfiction Book Coach Do? (As Explained by the TV Series Younger)
What Liza Miller and I have in common.
Recently, I hit play on another episode of Younger.
This show first aired in 2015 but it’s had a resurgence after Netflix started promoting it again—and I’m one of the recent bingers.
I love following the life of Liza Miller.
(Spoiler: she’s a 40-year-old mom who gets divorced and, in order to re-enter the workforce, lies about her age to land a job at a publishing house in NYC.)
The show is fun for the relationships, the glamour of bopping around the city, and the likability of Liza’s character. But what it does unusually well is follow the projects they take on at work.
In almost every episode, the characters on the editorial team are working with a new author or book project. They’re evaluating manuscripts, spotting stories with potential, and helping writers work through challenges to bring their books to life.
As an independent book coach, this element of the show really hooked me.
Watching the episodes unfold, I realized there are a lot of similarities between what I do as a nonfiction book coach and what Liza Miller does as an associate editor.
Then I wondered, Do people really get what I offer?
So I thought this would be a fun, digestible way to explain what a book coach does (whether or not you’ve seen the series).
What Is a Book Coach?
If you’re thinking about writing a book, you’ve probably already run into a lot of hurdles and questions: What should I do first? How do I pick a publishing path? Can someone give me feedback on my writing?
A book coach answers these questions and so much more.
They’re a guide who offers editorial feedback, accountability, support, and clarity on your publishing and marketing plan. This kind of guidance helps you get your book out of your head and into the world with a smoother, faster process.
In some ways, the role of a book coach is similar to that of an in-house editor at a publishing house. We help you hone your idea, map out your story arc, navigate the launch process, and work through writing challenges along the way.
The big difference? You typically work with an in-house editor (someone like Liza Miller) after you’ve landed a traditional book deal. Book coaches, on the other hand, work independently and directly with writers on a contract basis.
We can help you craft a strong book proposal to pitch to traditional publishers—or guide you through developing your full manuscript and entering the marketplace if self-publishing is the route you choose.
The exact work you’ll do with a book coach depends on your publishing path (and that’s something we can help you figure out, too).
4 Ways a Nonfiction Book Coach Can Help You
Book coaches often specialize in different genres—some focus on fiction, others on memoir or business books. I won’t pretend to be an expert in every category, so for the rest of this article, I’ll just focus on the kind of support I do offer.
As a nonfiction book coach, I primarily work with writers and entrepreneurs who are developing books to grow their thought leadership and their business.
Most of these books fall into the categories of health and wellness, personal development, leadership, or entrepreneurship.
Here are the four core areas that we tend to focus on:
1. Develop Your Nonfiction Book Outline
Writing a book without an outline is like setting off on a cross-country journey without a map. You might reach your destination eventually, but it will take longer, feel more frustrating, and you may not be happy with the final result.
A strong outline keeps you focused as you write and and ensures the book you’re writing actually supports your business or brand goals.
During the book mapping process, we define your:
Book’s objective
Core message, philosophy, and method(s)
Ideal reader and their transformation
Chapter outlines and story structure
…and more.
This is one of the most important steps in the entire writing journey. With this foundation in place, writing becomes more efficient, less overwhelming, and a lot more enjoyable.
2. Guide You Through the Book Writing Process
Once your outline is in place, your next steps depend on the publishing path you choose. If you're aiming to get your nonfiction book traditionally published, we would focus on developing your book proposal in most cases (outlined in the next section).
If you’re planning to self-publish, the next step is writing the full manuscript.
In this case, we’d work together through monthly writing coaching—complete with deadlines, feedback, and accountability.
Stick to consistent writing deadlines
Review your drafts and offer constructive, actionable feedback
Keep your writing aligned with your reader’s needs and your overall goal
Prepare your manuscript for professional line editing or publishing submission
Even with a clear roadmap, it’s completely normal to hit roadblocks—writer’s block, self-doubt, perfectionism, or just the realities of a busy life. We work through these challenges together, so you can remain confident and stick to your deadlines.
(If you’re unsure which publishing path is right for you and want to find out quickly, you can schedule a free consultation.)
3. Develop a Nonfiction Book Proposal
If you're hoping to land a traditional publishing deal, you’ll need to develop your nonfiction book proposal before you write the full manuscript. (This applies to nonfiction books excluding memoirs.)
This document is essentially the business plan and sales pitch for your book. You submit it to literary agents to secure representation and they use it to pitch your book to traditional publishers.
Together, we work through the 8 elements of book proposal:
Guidance, feedback and edits on all proposal sections
Development of your book’s positioning, structure, and competitive edge
Support with market research and comp titles
Coaching on your author platform and marketing plan
Final polish and formatting guidance to prepare your proposal for submission
We’ll work together to develop a compelling, market-ready proposal that showcases the value of your idea and your credibility as an author. Then, I can also support you with your query letter and list of agents to pitch.
4. Navigate Your Book Launch and Marketing Plan
One of the first things I ask my clients is: What’s your plan for marketing your book?
If you're self-publishing, your book’s success will largely depend on how well you promote it. And if you’re pursuing traditional publishing, your platform and marketing potential will play a big role in whether or not you land a deal.
Through this process, I help you:
Grow your audience while you write your book
Explore launch strategies (whether both paid or organic)
Understand distribution options and best-seller tactics if self-publishing
Marketing is a critical part of the publishing puzzle, and I hate to see authors wait until the last minute to think about it. This is an area I’m especially passionate about supporting since I started my career as a copywriter and marketing strategist before pivoting into book coaching.
Know this: It’s never too early to start building your audience.
If you’re a writer or entrepreneur who wants to publish a book but don’t know where to start—you no longer have to wait for a book deal to have someone like Liza Miller in your corner.
A book coach can light your path and come alongside you to bring your book to life.
I hope this helped clarify what an independent book coach actually does. Or at the very least, gave you a great new show to watch (because we’re all looking for our next binge, right?).
If this sparked any questions about writing your book or getting the publishing support you need, I’d love to hear them. What can I help you with?
To your next chapter,
Allegra
PS: While it’s fun to romanticize Liza’s life, I’m really glad I traded my corporate NYC days for a cozy home office and the ability to support authors independently. 🫶
Want to Work With a Nonfiction Book Coach?
💭 If you found this article helpful and want personalized and direct support on your book – I’d love to help. Together, we can hone your book idea, develop your outline, and/or craft a nonfiction book proposal.
The first step is the Book Blueprint Incubator.
In this 1:1 coaching package, we work together to clarify the foundational elements of your book – including your objectives, core message, audience transformation, and chapter outlines.
You’ll receive a signature workbook to organize and clarify all of your ideas. By the end of this process, you’ll have total clarity on your book plan, so you can begin writing with confidence (or craft a nonfiction book proposal).
Our coaching calls are structured as 1 kick-off call to review the workbook followed by four, 75-minute sessions for feedback and accountability.
Ready to take action on your book? Schedule a free consultation.
