Book Coach Spotlight: From Novelist to Book Coach

What is the path to becoming a book coach? Author Accelerator Certified book coaches answer 7 questions about their journey. Today, we feature Nicole Meier.

Nicole Meier

1. What did you do before becoming a book coach? 

I was a women’s fiction author with four published novels under my belt. The most recent is City of Books.

2. How did your background prepare you for book coaching? What skills/talents/experiences feel most relevant?

Well, being a writer for one thing. And I don’t just mean this from the angle of knowing some helpful things about craft. I’m talking about being a part of the writing community and understanding the deep need for less gatekeeping and more sharing of how to write a book that works in order to get published. The desire to help writers, so they won’t struggle in the way I did during my early days, is what fuels me. 

3. What is your relationship to reading, writing, and/or creativity? What kinds of books do you read? What other creative work do you do?

I’ve always been a reader. In fact, I remember volunteering in our local library as early as the fifth grade. Being around books is the closest thing I know to pure comfort. It’s that sense of being invited into someone else’s world and experiencing the story through their lens. In this regard, I suppose you could say that’s why I love character-driven stories the most. That’s what I read and it’s also what I write.

4. What is the last best book you read?

Gosh, that’s a hard one. Several! If I have to name one, it’s Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I couldn’t put it down. I’m in awe of her storytelling ability.

5. What is your favorite part about being a book coach?

Witnessing that ‘aha’ moment when craft and mindset converge and the writer understands how to strengthen not only their manuscript, but also their writing process as a whole. When that happens, I know I’ve done my job and it feels really good. But also the people. I’ve yet to work with a bad egg. They’re all so open and creative in their own ways. I feel lucky to work with writers.

6. What is your biggest challenge around being a book coach and what are you doing to address it? 

Trying to be all things to all people. Writers come to me in different stages, needing different kinds of support. My intention this year has been to be okay with saying no when I don’t have the bandwidth or if a project doesn’t feel like a good fit. I’ve also put all of my energy into creating a course for writers as well as a podcast. Shoutout to Savannah Gilbo (Fiction Writing Made Easy) for inspiring me! I’ve definitely learned from her!

Note from Jennie: Nicole’s new podcast is live! 

• You can hear me on one of the first episodes HERE.

• And this recent episode on beta readers vs. developmental editors is a great one.

7. Who is your ideal client and what is the first service you offer them? 

I serve fiction writers who are seeking craft, community, and coaching in order to follow their novel-writing dreams. The first service I offer is my freebie novel writing guide, Crafting Greatness. From there, they have the option of jumping into one of my self-paced courses or joining my seasonal small group program.

Nicole Meier: www.nicolemeier.com

---