Author Accelerator trains and certifies book coaches to run successful, soulful coaching practices they love.

Becoming certified with Author Accelerator

ensures that you have the skills, expertise, and confidence
you need to help writers succeed.

It also means that you won't have to build your business alone.
As part of our community of certified fiction and nonfiction
coaches, you’ll be surrounded by peers doing the same work.

We encourage each coach to find their unique Zone of Genius
so you can confidently and effectively grow your book coaching business.

This training will give you…

Editorial expertise

Whether you’ve studied writing before, have an MFA, or just love words, the program will make sure you’re equipped to evaluate and coach a writer from a vague idea to a finished draft that is solid and strong.

Project-management prowess

The creative process is inherently chaotic, and a book coach’s job is to bring structure without squashing a writer’s creativity. You’ll be able to lead a book-length project with ease and guide writers to meet their goals.

Emotional intelligence

Writing can be a lot like therapy, but book coaches aren’t therapists. You will understand how to manage a writer’s emotions throughout the writing process to help them stay motivated and driven while maintaining healthy boundaries.

Entrepreneurial know-how

Starting a book coaching business may involve new skills, but it doesn’t have to be scary. Our certification process starts to train you in business fundamentals and when you earn certification and join our community, your education continues with a Book Coaching Business Start-Up Kit.

A supportive community

Throughout your book coach certification journey, you will never be alone. Our Certification Team is there to cheer you on, share best practices, and answer questions. We have a private membership area where you can meet other coaches in training and join certified coaches for special events.

Continual growth opportunities

Your book coaching education doesn’t stop when you earn certification. Your annual licensing fee includes membership in our Book Coaches Community. Take advantage of workshops, meet-ups, tools, and resources to continue leveling up your skills. Master classes are also available for an additional fee.

Confidence to succeed

More than anything else, the Book Coach Certification program will give you the confidence you need to do work you love and do it well. You will learn to help writers write their best books and run a successful, sustainable, soulful book coaching business.

See what being a book coach could look like for you

SHORT QUIZ

The Top 10 Characteristics of a Great Book Coach

We believe that the skills required to be a great book coach can be taught, but there are certain traits that our community of book coaches share that indicate whether someone is particularly well-suited to this work. Find out where you stand by taking this short quiz!

FAQ VIDEO SERIES

All About Book Coaching

Dive into our on-demand video FAQ series for a deep look at what it’s like to be a book coach and how you can become one yourself. Our founder and CEO Jennie Nash walks you through the seven most common questions people ask about our program.

5-DAY CHALLENGE

The One-Page Book Coaching Business Plan Challenge

In this 5-day course, Jennie Nash helps you identify your Zone of Genius—the place where what you love to do intersects with how you can best serve writers and how you can make the amount of money you want to make. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what your book coaching business could look like and a roadmap for how to get there. The course is $199 and comes with a chance to sign up to meet with Jennie 1:1.

9-MONTH & 12-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAMS

Book Coach Certification

This is the premier program for learning how to become a book coach and to launch, run, and grow a successful book coaching company. The Book Coach Certification program gives you hands-on training to support writers editorially, creatively, and emotionally. Our Certified Coaches’ Community gives you the tools and training you need to build your business.

What our coaches say…

  • “This is an excellent program providing the principles, terminology and practice work necessary to lead writers from point A to Z in the writing/publishing process.”

    Linda Williams

  • “This course has changed my life. I feel more confident than ever in my abilities to develop a manuscript, as both a writer and coach, that will attract the attention of an agent and publisher.”

    Trevor Brooks

  • “This course was exactly what I needed to take my writing business to the next level. The Author Accelerator community offered fabulous support. Overall a wonderful and worthy certification program.”

    Kim Hruba

  • “The investment is worth it exclusively for how it’s impacting my own writing process! If/as I’m able to parlay that into coaching? BONUS! I could go on and on.”

    Ronna Detrick

  • “I found the certification program thorough and rigorous! It made me happy to go through each practicum with my clients and it struck a deep chord within me that this is my avocation—my heartwork. The certification program gave me the foundation and tools I needed.”

    Jada Lightning

  • “As I’ve started working with some writers within the framework of the Blueprint, it’s all falling into place. I feel as if I can trust my instincts, but have a more organized way to explain what needs work.”

    Susanne Dunlap

  • “I love the Author Accelerator community. There is a place to ask questions and where everyone’s wins are celebrated.”

    Akosua Jackie Brown

  • “My heart is happy. This is the work I was meant to do, and I love it.”

    Suzette Mullen

  • “Book coaching [is] more than just imparting your opinion. You’re sharing your knowledge with other writers. And the feedback I got from my three clients really helped me overcome [my] lack of confidence.”

    Kathy Dodson

  • “I realized a few years back that I LOVE helping writers – almost more than writing myself. When I heard about book coaching and what it was, I realized that this was essentially my fantasy job. I could put my teaching skills to use, with adults that were passionate about writing and the power of story.”

    Sarah Krosschell

How It Works

GET CERTIFIED IN 4 STEPS

STEP 1

Enroll in the certification program for either fiction, nonfiction, or memoir (coming March 2024.) Through video lessons, case studies, expert interviews, and practice exercises, you’ll build the editorial and project-management skills you need to coach writers. Go through the material at your own pace and get accountability and support from our certification team, other coaches in training, and our CEO Jennie Nash.

Videos are captioned and there is a written transcript for each lesson.

Fiction and Nonfiction: $3,600 USD

Memoir: $4,800

STEP 2

Complete three practicums, in which you practice book coaching skills by actually coaching writers (volunteer clients you find). This experience tends to be transformational for you and your clients. It is through this practicum work that you cement your learning and begin to define your Zone of Genius.

You have nine months from the date you purchase the Book Coach Certification program in fiction and nonfiction to submit your practicum materials for certification.

For memoir, you have twelve months.

STEP 3

Submit your practicum work to apply for Author Accelerator Book Coach Certification.

We have high standards and a rigorous review process for evaluating certification applications. Part of what makes our community of coaches so strong and supportive is that all members have passed the same high bar.

Your first application review is complimentary, and you will have one chance to revise and resubmit your application, at no charge, if it does not meet the certification requirements.

If a second Revise & Resubmit is needed, you must pay a $500 review fee.

STEP 4

Celebrate your certification!

Join the Certified Coaches’ Community to access the benefits of certification, including the Business of Book Coaching Start-Up Kit. We recommend new coaches start in Tier 1 of the Community ($15 USD/month).

Opt in to Tier 2 of the Community when you are ready for more business support for an additional $35 USD/month and receive the Business of Book Coaching Level-Up Kit.

Certification is available in fiction, nonfiction, and memoir

Download the syllabus for each track to see what the program entails, including lesson topics, certification requirements, and pricing.

With certification, you get…

Accreditation from the premier book coaching company

Author Accelerator is the industry leader in training and certifying book coaches. As a student, you’ll be held to a rigorous set of editorial and coaching standards built on excellence, integrity, and compassion.

An action plan for launching your book coaching business

The Book Coaching Business Start-Up Kit guides you in designing a coaching business that allows you to do the work you want to do when you want to do it — and make the money you want to make.

An invitation to participate in business partnerships

We work with several publishers and writing organizations to provide book coaching to their clients. Certified book coaches are tapped to coach these clients in partnership with the publisher or organization.

(Available only to Tier 2 coaches: additional requirements may apply)

Master classes to expand your editorial and entrepreneurial skillset

Build on your knowledge from the certification program with a variety of exclusive master classes with CEO Jennie Nash and other industry experts.

(Optional/additional fee)

Exclusive, events, workshops, and webinars

Our monthly schedule of events gives you accountability, connection, and the ability to ask questions. Plus, you’ll get access to a library of past sessions.

An invitation to our annual Goal-Setting Retreat

Once a year we bring our entire community of certified book coaches together from around the world to meet, brainstorm, solve problems, and set goals for the coming year.

(Optional/additional fee)

A community of peers for support and guidance

Even though book coaches work from home, you are never doing this work alone. Our community is full of smart, compassionate industry leaders who have years of experience and insight to share.

Upon certification, you have the option of joining our membership community at Tier 1 ($15 USD/month) or Tier 2 ($50 USD/month), depending on the level of support you would like in launching and growing your business. Tier 1 is required to maintain your Author Accelerator Book Coach Certification.

Proven tools and resources to use with your clients

You won’t have to reinvent the wheel. We have put together a Knowledge Base of the methods, exercises, and writing prompts you’ll learn in the certification program so that you can use them with your writing clients.

A listing in our certified coach directory

Certified coaches can list themselves in our public certified coach directory. Our directory is flexible and robust, which makes it easy for your ideal clients to find you and see the programs and courses you offer.

Start your book coaching journey