When it comes to book coaching, the process will look different for each author. This is particularly true with nonfiction and memoir book coaching, which has certain requirements that don’t apply to fiction writers—things like confidentiality, fact-checking, and trauma-informed support.
At Invisible Ink Editing, we coach both fiction authors and creative nonfiction writers, including memoirists, personally essayists, and people who aren’t certain what form their work will take, but who know it includes an element of nonfiction.
Here’s a breakdown of how book coaching is different for nonfiction writers, and what you can expect if you work with a member of the Invisible Ink Editing team.
For a broad overview of what book coaching is, how it works, and how we price services, check out this page:
What makes nonfiction book coaching different
Even among creative nonfiction writers, there is no one-size-fits-all book coaching approach. The story you’re telling and how it relates to you and your community will inform the book coaching experience, which is why we use an onboarding questionnaire and interview before beginning. We want to know not only the details of the project you’re working on, but also your own personal preferences—how you like to communicate, what roadblocks you’re facing, what energizes you.
Here’s what your book coach will be thinking about as they get to know you and your project:
Trust and confidentiality
Nonfiction writers deal with the truth, which makes the need for trust and confidentiality even more important. We take this very seriously at Invisible Ink, which is why we never put your work into an AI tool, and we don’t ever discuss the details of your work with anyone but other Invisible Ink editors, and even then, only with your stated approval.
We do this to protect your story, but more importantly we want you to feel comfortable sharing the details of your project-in-progress with your book coach. We may need to work with you on things like changing character names and identities or altering details of the story (while still maintaining its veracity). It would be impossible to support you with these essential parts of the nonfiction writing process if you weren’t fully assured of your confidentiality.
If you prefer us to sign an NDA or draw up a confidentiality contract for you, we are happy to do that as well. This is something we’ll discuss with you at the outset.
Judgement-free and trauma informed
There is no room for judgement in the nonfiction book coaching process. Vulnerability is what makes creative nonfiction so compelling. Authors often share intimate details and stories that come with their own complex emotions.
Book coaching creates a space for you to talk openly about these issues and feelings, so you can write about them in a way that honors your story and protects your identity.
While none of the Invisible Ink editors are certified mental health specialists, we do take a trauma-informed approach to memoir and personal-essay writing. We understand that writing about personal history, if not done with care and support, risks re-traumatization.
As we write in our DEI statement, we accept authors from all backgrounds, and are here to discuss things like systemic racism, homophobia, misogyny, and other societal prejudices, and how they impact both you and your story. A big part of book coaching is assisting you as you hone the messaging of your book. You are the expert of your story, and we will listen to you, then help you find the right ways to communicate your message on every page.
A good book coach is a member of your support team, but we highly recommend working with a professional mental health counselor while writing about trauma.
Fact checking
Truth is at the core of every good piece of nonfiction, so part of book coaching for memoirists and essayists is finding and maintaining that truth throughout the manuscript.
Nonfiction authors have to make decisions about how to best capture or recreate the essential scenes of their stories. The lens of memory colors the truth. It is not uncommon for memoirists to take liberties like:
- altering timelines to tell a more compelling story
- creating composite characters for a more precise cast.
- changing names and details to protect real identities.
It’s important to be upfront with readers about what changes you’ve made. A book coach can help you maintain the deeper reality of the story, even with altered details.
A book coach can even help you with scientific or historical facts—to an extent. We are not experts on every subject, but we do have a knack at asking questions and pointing out scenes that need a deeper review. And we can certainly help you contextualize your research.
If your book involves a topic we can’t help with, we’ll either recommend you to a different editor or bring on a professional fact-checker to work with as part of your contract.
How book-coaching fundamentals apply to nonfiction
Creative nonfiction contains many of the same elements of fiction, so it’s unsurprising that there are aspects to book coaching that apply to all authors, whether or not they work in nonfiction.
Accountability and partnership
Accountability is essential to book coaching, regardless of genre. Invisible Ink editors will check in regularly to assess your progress and schedule face-to-face meetings to review your writing and your long-term goals. We’ve even helped clients build custom trackers and other simple tools to assist with organization.
Authentic and developed voice
Our motto is Lose Your Errors, Keep Your Voice. This applies to all levels of editing across all genres, including nonfiction book coaching. An author’s voice is developed over time and through careful revision. Who better to help you hone and tighten your voice than your Invisible Ink book coach?
Realistic and interesting characters
Just like a good novel, the cast of characters in your memoir or your personal essays should be fully fleshed out. Often, nonfiction writers struggle to make their characters realistic, even when they’re based on real people. Your book editor will help you strengthen dialogue and character descriptions, while also ensuring the on-page representation is true to life.
A compelling and meaningful plot
Just like fiction, a good plot is essential in creative nonfiction. That doesn’t mean you should fill your memoir with police chases, love triangles, and near-death situations. Rather, your story should move at a good clip, and the movements of your plot should underscore the themes of your narrative—two things a book coach can help you with. If you are writing a collection of essays, we’ll locate the connective threads among them and strengthen the qualities that will stick with readers.
Traditional editing services
We often fold traditional editing services into book coaching. Some authors might prefer to have a book coach separate from their book editor, or they simply may not be ready to commit to traditional editing services at the outset. However, if that changes over time, all our editing services are available to book coaching clients:
Platform and publication preparation
No matter whether you’re planning on self-publishing or querying a traditional publisher, book coaching can prepare you to share your final draft with the world. We’ll guide you through writing exercises, , planning your marketing approach, and building a platform that will sustain you as a writer. We also partner with professional book publicists and marketers, who we can bring into the book coaching process and connect you with when the time is right.
Book coaching for nonfiction authors is a unique service, one that requires empathy, confidentiality, and trust. If you’re interested in book coaching, check out our landing page, or use the form below to tell us more about your project. We hope to read your work soon.
Apply for Book Coaching
If you’re interested in book coaching, or want more information about how it works, use this form to get in touch. Once you submit, one of our editors will reach out for further discussions.
