Read Books All Day and Get Paid For It: The Business of Book Coaching

by Jennie Nash

There's a new player in the gig economy that's perfect for people who love books. It's called book coaching, and you really do get to read books all day and get paid for it. A book coach is a strategic professional who guides a writer through the creative process of developing a book — helping them define the project, design the best narrative structure to tell their tale, and build both their confidence and their editorial skills as they write forward. Part project manager, part editor, part cheerleader, being a book coach is intellectually stimulating, soulful, satisfying work that you can do on your own time from the comfort of your own home. In Read Books All Day and Get Paid For The Business of Being a Book Coach, Jennie Nash, a multiple six-figure book coach and the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, shares the nuts and bolts of the book coaching business — touching on everything from pricing and processes to marketing and mindset. Jennie has trained more than 50 book coaches in how to coach fiction and nonfiction writers, and now she is sharing her secrets about how to run a successful side hustle or full-time book coaching business.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Business, Entrepreneurship

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2019

About the author

Jennie Nash is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company that trains book coaches to help writers bring their books to life. For twelve years, writers serious about reaching readers have trusted Jennie to coach their projects from inspiration to publication. Her clients have landed top New York agents, national book awards, and deals with houses such as Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette. Jennie is the author of 9 books in 3 genres. She taught for 13 years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, is an instructor at CreativeLive.com and speaks on podcasts and at writing conferences all over the country. Learn more about being coached or becoming a coach at bookcoaches.com or authoraccelerator.com

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book coaching industry isn’t huge so it’s hard to find a lot of info on how to start a book coaching business. But this book was very helpful in covering many topics and gave me a clearer view on how to run a book coaching business. I highly recommend this if you’re considering this kind of business for yourself as well.

[Shayla Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t get to this book until recently, and boy am I kicking myself for waiting so long.

Yes, this book is about starting your book-coaching business and getting clients. But it’s so much more than that. Jennie told me everything I’ve needed someone to say to me for years. That’s why I’m kicking myself: because of this book, I’ve updated my policies and my methods as an editor, coach, and marketer.

Perhaps the most invaluable advice was: “Clients tend to think that once they have paid to work with you, they get to have you on call forever.” Wow. She nailed it! Now I know what to do (and what not to do) when this happens.

I'm working on my manifesto as a book coach, my mission statement, my policies, and so much more. Please, please read this book if you have anything to do with the writing world.

[trishajennreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a freelance editor, I've been looking at ways to expand my business and I love the concept of book coaching. This book is full of useful, actionable steps on how to plan and organize my book coaching business. It is also loaded with suggestions of other helpful resources. I have a lot more reading to do. :)

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend tells me all the time that I should be a book editor, and I disagree; editing is not my thing. I do not know grammar rules well enough to get the commas in the right place in my own work, there is no way I'd charge someone to move the commas in their work. But book coaching? Pay me to read your stuff and let you know what isn't working? That I could do.

And if you think the same way, this is the book for you.

The rise of self publishing has meant that all the services offered in-house with your trad book contract now have to be bought and paid for by the would be author in the marketplace. Jennie is very open about income and business figures.

Note #1: This is a book about making money as a book coach. I am a fan of making money, and I personally have made a lot of money as a book coach, but I would be remiss if I didn’t make a strong plea for doing this work with integrity. In addition to making money, your goal should be to serve writers—to help them improve their craft, overcome their doubts, finish the books they start, and connect with readers. Our industry does not need any more people preying on the desperation of writers, offering get-rich-quick schemes, or write-an-instant-bestseller promises.

She says she makes a multiple six figure income from book coaching. And she also offers training at Author Accelerator on how to be a book coach yourself.

So if that sounds like you, pick this up or go look at their website.

4 stars

[Heidi Ostergaard]

I love books that reference lots of other books! It gives you so many resources to learn more

[Rhea Wessel]

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I got a bit emotional after watching Jennie’s webinar on the business of book coaching. I was not expecting that, since I usually reserve such moments for a good film. But in that hour, Jennie showed me a vision for a new future for my business. I will be forever grateful.

After reading her book, I got one step closer to pivoting my writing business in the direction of book coaching. I consumed her book in only two sittings and made lots of lists and notes.

At the beginning, Jennie outlines why people are willing to invest so much in writing a book and points out that the book coach helps clients complete a transformation. I’m on board for that! I appreciate the pricing advice, as well as that about which clients to accept and reject.

As a sum total, this book charts a path for an emerging line of work. It is chock full of practical advice for becoming a book coach.

What’s more, I now know I can turn to Jennie and her community as I make the transition. I’m in good hands.

Thanks Jennie.

[Daniel Willcocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came recommended through a podcast I listened to, and it led me on a journey of self-discovery.

Jennie Nash lays out more than just the fundamentals of running a successful book coaching business. She weaves her own experiences and shares the years of hard work that's gone into the creation of her successful business, and passes on the lessons with no reserve.

This book is great for more than those interested in reading books all day (although perfect for those who are looking to sit on their couch and lose themselves in books). Read Books All Day & Get Paid For It is a step-by-step guide to getting your mindset and your feet moving.

[Kimberly Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful and overwhelming all at once. I am grateful for Jennie and her passion for the authors who give us amazing books. I will be rereading this one again later in the year after I finish Jennie's accelerated book coaching course.

[Amy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent basic guide on getting started as a book coach. I am excited to put some of these processes and strategies into practice!

[Jacqueline (Jackie) Akosua Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennie provides practical and actionable advise. Her sections on pricing suits any entrepreneur and it came right at the time I was experiencing what she describes: a kind of burn out based on always being busy and giving away too much for free. She is helping me form boundaries which I cannot wait to implement.

I have updated my mission statement and her book helped me to change my mindset about the value I bring to writers and thus the way to set my prices. It is nice and short so you can read it in one sitting, but it was my excitement that kept me reading. It is so satisfying to have such great information directed to our small but growing industry. I have also joined her coaching community which is awesome! It is so cool to be amongst other book coaches; just like sales people and other industries have their conventions, now we can too! Through the book and her community, I feel a giant increase in my confidence and I'm looking forward to how I can grow my business in 2021.

Thank you, Jennie!

[Kyle Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some great tidbits in here, but I felt slightly misled. There is nothing in the synopsis (and nothing on the cover) that would make me think this was only about how to run the logistics of a coaching business. It isn't about how to book coach at all, and she explains why at the end of chapter one: she sells a very expensive course for that. And I am sure that course is worth it, but I felt a bit let down by the fact I bought a book to learn more about book coaching, and instead I get a book about how to add the skill (a skill I didn't learn how to do) to my business. So aside from a couple of chapters that were a good starting point to determine what kind of book coaching you'd want to learn how to do, the book felt like a generic business start-up book (how to invoice, schedule, and raise prices).

[Mandi with Red Quill Editorial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennie Nash has been called the "gold standard of book coaching" and this book proves her worth. She offers a certified book coaching course that goes way more in depth, but this short book still holds some truly valuable nuggets of information. If you are considering becoming a book coach, start with this book! Then look up Jennie's webinar recording, sign up for her newsletter, and consider her certified book coaching course. This book has gotten me excited to launch a new service alongside my existing editorial business (Red Quill Editorial LLC).

[Susan Joy Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is required reading as part of the Author Accelerator Book Coaching certification. Chock full of ideas, resources, and actions to get your business off the ground and running smoothly, the compact guide covers all the important bases for a new coach looking to turn her skills into a profitable career.

[Diane Bator · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, there is finished reading then there is "Now I want to go back and do the work!"
Jennie has inspired me to become a book coach and doing the work is KEY!
Easy read with LOTS of information. My copy is already highlighted to death.

[Sharon Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Great resource for setting up and running your Book Coaching business.

[Stephen David Munley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re going to become a boom coach, this is a great start up guide and reference as you and your business grow.

[Pauline Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for becoming a book coach!

[Patrick Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re trying to be a book coach, or already established as one, this is a great book to help in your coaching journey.

[Kaino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiivis, mutta keskeiset asiat hyvin kokoava kirja. En ole kirjavalmentaja, mutta tämä kirja sai aikaan halun tutustua aiheeseen lisää.

[Lori Puma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m already a book coach and was hoping that this book would give me some ideas for how to grow from where I am now.

I found the first several chapters on the industry and the practical aspects of making money and managing clients informative. I appreciated the author sharing what she did in the past vs what she does now. I got a few ideas on how to tweak my internal systems to be more efficient.

I was disappointed with the marketing chapter. While I agree that doing good work is very important to attracting clients, you’ve still got to get the word out. I wish that she would have shared more about what she did in the early days for marketing. She shared how her services evolved over time and I would’ve appreciated a description of the evolution of her marketing strategy too.

[Alise Matilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even before starting this book, I knew that it would probably not be for me, since I'm neither a writer nor involved in publishing in any way or form. But I'm interested in books and writing, and it was interesting to see (read) what is behind the process. There is more advice than advertised in the title. I believe that this book would, surely, be a valuable read for writers and other book coaches. What I noticed was that this book can possibly be helpful, in some way, to anyone who is thinking about having a side hustle (even if it is not book coaching), for example. Jennie writes about business, organization, communication, valuing yourself, and marketing yourself and, in my opinion, gives useful advice that can be applied in multiple scenarios.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is exactly what it says it is: a book on the business aspects of book coaching. I was hoping that I would learn more about the techniques of coaching others even if it's for just a little bit (Jennie Nash founded and currently runs the certification program that she mentions in the book). I admit that I got to about the half-way mark and started skimming, so I'd recommend to take my review with a grain of salt.

Otherwise, this is a good overview of those who want to start thinking about creating a book coaching business. It's got good book recommendations, exercises, and salient points about entrepreneurial mindset.

[Natasha Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely valuable information for budding book coaches and authors.

This is an excellent book that has solidified my decision to become both an author and book coach. I have always been a bookworm. My happy place is in book stores and libraries so I look forward to learning how to be a part of the book coaching world.

[Jarm Boccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Advice for Those Considering a Career as a Book Coach!

Jennie Nash has laid out the business in easy steps to be consumed and digested a bit at a time. She offers great advice, resources, and insights into the many faceted career of book coaching. You will know for sure if it's for you after reading Jennie’s helpful book!

[Tango Jordan]

Game Changer

Since reading this book I am singularly focused on becoming a book coach. If Jennie is as good at coaching as she is at writing, she can change your life. Highly recommend.

[LaToya Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennie does a good job explaining what a book coach is. Whether the reader is curious or interesting in starting a book coaching business, this is a good introduction.

[Darby Rand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love It

This book is a must have if you're interested in becoming a book coach. She outlines everything you need to do and focuses on explaining each step.

[Cianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compact but High Impact

What a great introductory book into all the major aspects needed to start you book coaching business or take your existing business to the next level!