“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished two bags of chips and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” 

— ReadBeach.com

If only it was that easy for a writer!

Many writers can finish a manuscript, but they just don’t wanna do a proposal — which is basically your sales pitch to get a book deal or agent. (I spoke about the importance of a book proposal here.)

Most all nonfiction writers need to have a proposal. Don’t worry — if you find writing a book proposal daunting, there are now numerous book coaches who can help you through this process.

I reached out to Book Coach Vanessa Sotto, who specializes in helping writers put together pitch-perfect book proposals. On her website, she writes, “I help aspiring nonfiction authors turn a ‘big idea’ into a polished and effective book proposal they feel confident pitching.

You can check out her website here to learn more about her services! In the meanwhile, keep reading to find out exactly what a book coach is (and what they can do for you)!

How to go from “I have this idea” to a pitch-ready proposal with Book Coach Vanessa Sotto

RE:BOOKS: Can you please describe in your own words what exactly is a book coach?

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: A book coach is a special combination of editor, mentor, and cheerleader who works with writers at whatever phase of the writing process they are in. My particular focus and expertise are in nonfiction book proposal development and pitching literary agents.

RE:BOOKS: Why did you decide to become a book coach and why? Did you see a niche for it? 

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: I have a deep background in marketing and advertising and I love books — I've always been a reader. The thing about the nonfiction book proposal is that it's really and truly a marketing document — it's a business plan for your book. And so many writers struggle to recognize that, putting together proposals that don't communicate to agents and publishers what they really want to see: that the author has a clear, marketable concept, knows their audience and how to reach them, AND can write. I became a book coach to help emerging authors develop book proposals that will actually get them noticed by agents and publishers.

RE:BOOKS: Can you tell us the top three reasons people ask you to be their book coach?

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: 

1. They have a book idea they have been working on, maybe already writing and it's going nowhere fast. They want help taking it seriously and have a goal to develop a proposal and pitch by a certain date.

2. They have a book idea and they want to get my opinion if it's worth pursuing.

3. The query and/or proposal they have written on their own is not getting any traction and they want help redoing it.

RE:BOOKS: What does an aspiring author, or any published author or aspiring writer, need a book coach? What are some of the benefits of hiring a book coach? And approximately how much does it cost to hire a book coach?

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: In my particular area, working with writers on nonfiction book proposals, one of the key benefits is the Blueprint process that I take every writer through. Rather than jumping straight into the book proposal itself, we work through a process that encourages deep thinking and brainstorming of many of the elements of the proposal. The Blueprint becomes our springboard for the book proposal itself and results in a much richer, more thoughtful proposal that stands out as such to agents. 

My fee for book proposal work ranges from $1,500 USD for a Blueprint only package, where we focus on the book concept, audience, marketing plan, etc. but do not develop the book proposal itself, to $8,900 USD for a 6-month engagement that covers the development of the book proposal and pitching agents.

RE:BOOKS: Do you equally spend as much time editing your client’s works as being their pep-talker or hand holder or cheerleader, giving them both kinds of support — sort of like being a girlfriend! (Or therapist?) 

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: Great question! It varies a lot based on the client — but I will say that with most projects, there are ebbs and flows. Most clients start out excited and raring to go, and then there is usually a point where I'm giving a lot of editorial feedback and they are feeling tired of rewrites, and there's more pep-talk needed. And this is just super common, and I will tell clients: this is normal! It's not you; everyone needs to rewrite, and it's important to get used to it because their agent will ask for more rewrites, and so will their editor. I really like to have close, personal relationships with my clients, so in general, the other thing I do a lot is to make sure I know what's going on in their lives. If they are feeling overwhelmed by their personal life, I am not going to ask them to turn around their pages in 24 hours. We will make up the time later instead. 

RE:BOOKS: What is the most challenging part of being a book coach? And the most fun and rewarding part!

VANESSA BOOK COACH: The most challenging part is probably that I tend to really feel the anxiety and disappointments with them! I try not to — but we develop close relationships, and when a client is excited about an agent’s interest in her proposal, and then the agent decides to decline — ouch, I feel it! The flip side of that is feeling their wins with them! When a client feels they just can't do another rewrite, or they can't come up with another title option, or they are feeling down because pitching isn't going well — and then something AMAZING happens, I feel it with them. 

RE:BOOKS: Can you share how book coaching works? And once you start working as a book coach, what are the top three things your writers ask you about/are worried about the most with regards to their writing?

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: Because I'm working with writers who are seeking agent representation, I am actually quite selective of the clients I take on. In other words, I only take on clients who I think have a chance of getting an agent. I cannot guarantee it — but I won't take a client on if I do not think they and their book idea are ready. But just because they are "ready" doesn't mean I can promise they will get an agent or that they won't be working REALLY hard to develop the proposal. Once we start working together, most clients ask if their work is going okay, if they are doing well. They want to feel like they are moving along and being successful. As we get further along towards finalizing the proposal and into developing their query letter and agent list, there is anxiety and questions about if they are good enough/will they get an agent. It's so hard — I don't have a crystal ball. All we can do is develop the absolute best possible package and then send it out.

RE:BOOKS: Book coaching seems to be gaining traction as a career. So many people are self-publishing these days. Have you ever had a client whose writing has been so brutal that you couldn’t take them on as a client? Or have you worked with any “challenging” clients? If so, spill the tea!

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: Book coaching is definitely growing, and I love to see it! It's a wonderful benefit to writers of all kinds. And yes, I have seen a lot of writing that was definitely not ready for publishing, and that is always hard. I believe it's important to be honest — but I want to do that with care. I will tell the writer that I don't see them being ready yet for publication and recommend writing classes as a next step for them. I don't personally see book coaching as helpful if you haven't devoted enough time to writing. And that's what writing classes at a community college or local writing centre can do — just get you writing. Book coaching can come later.

RE:BOOKS: What happens when a writer finishes a book that you helped coach them through? Obviously, you can’t promise them that they will get a book deal. Do you tell them this upfront?

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: In nonfiction, you actually don't write the book until after you land the book deal. Except for memoir — which I don't personally coach, but I do refer it out to colleagues. (With memoir, you write the book and develop a proposal as well.) So, for my authors, they are developing the proposal, pitching the idea along with a few chapters, and if they land a book deal, then they write the book. But it's still a big investment up front to work with a book coach on a proposal for a book when you don't know if you'll get an agent, let alone a book deal. I absolutely never promise anything, but I do see good success with my clients getting agents.

RE:BOOKS: Finally, can you hire a book coach at any stage of their manuscript? What can book coaches offer someone who’s in the middle of writing their book, and what do these groups of people usually come to you for (writer’s block, can’t think of a good plot twist, etc.)? And IS being a book coach much like being a therapist? If you believe this, can you share why?

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: Absolutely, you can hire a book coach at any point in your book project. For folks writing book proposals, I tend to get them either when they have yet to write a word of the proposal OR when they have already been pitching but are not seeing success and want help rethinking/rewriting the proposal. 

RE:BOOKS: Where can we find you?

VANESSA THE BOOK COACH: 

www.vanessasotobookcoach.com

www.instagram.com/vanessasotobookcoach

Next week, we will be back with another kind of book coach! 

xo,

Rebecca