FAQ
Nonfiction book coach and publishing FAQ
Last updated: Published by Defining Moments Press
Here are 46 plain answers about nonfiction book coaching, what it costs, and how to self-publish your book.
Answers come from Defining Moments Press's published program details and from named, published market sources. For the full picture, start with the nonfiction writing coach guide.
On this page
01What a nonfiction writing coach does
- What does a nonfiction writing coach do?
- A nonfiction writing coach helps you turn your expertise, story, or life lesson into a finished book by giving you structure, feedback, and accountability. At Defining Moments Press, that support runs through an 8-week course with a step-by-step process, templates, and tools, and its done-with-you option adds a full year of book coaching.
- What is a nonfiction book coach?
- A nonfiction book coach guides you as you plan, write, and finish a true book, such as a memoir, a how-to book, or a book built on your professional expertise. Unlike an editor, who mostly works on finished pages, a book coach starts with you at the outline stage, where Defining Moments Press says lack of clarity stops most people from finishing.
- What is a creative nonfiction writing coach?
- A creative nonfiction writing coach helps you tell true stories with the tools of fiction: scenes, voice, and a clear arc. If your book centers on a personal turning point, a life lesson, or a hard season you came through, this kind of coaching fits. Defining Moments Press focuses on stories and life lessons that can help others and helps authors find their voice and audience.
- Is a book coach the same as an editor or a ghostwriter?
- No. A book coach helps you write the book yourself, an editor improves pages you have already written, and a ghostwriter writes the book for you. Defining Moments Press offers each path in some form: the Author Blueprint course for writing it yourself, Author Launch for authors who already wrote a book, and Author Premium, where its ghostwriters write the book.
- Do I need a writing coach to write a nonfiction book?
- You do not need one, but structure helps most first-time authors finish. Bestseller Publishing, in its 2026 guide, estimates that a book that would take 18 months alone might be compressed to 6 to 9 months with a coach. If you prefer to work on your own, a self-paced course with templates, like the Author Blueprint, offers structure without one-on-one sessions.
- What is the Defining Moments Author Guide?
- The Defining Moments Author Guide is a free resource site published by Defining Moments Press. It explains how people with a nonfiction story or life lesson can write and self-publish a book, what coaching costs, and how the free course and the 8-week Author Blueprint work. It is one of a small number of websites Defining Moments Press publishes.
02Pricing and costs
- How much does a book writing coach cost?
- Most nonfiction book writing coaches charge about $100 to $300 per hour, according to Scribe Media. Longer engagements often run as monthly retainers; Bestseller Publishing gives an example of $6,000 for a 6-month retainer at $1,000 per month. Defining Moments Press lists its self-paced Author Blueprint 8 Week Challenge at a one-time payment of $1,997 on its checkout page.
- How much do coaches charge per hour?
- Writing coaches typically charge $100 to $300 per hour, according to Scribe Media's guide to choosing a nonfiction writing coach. Rates vary with the coach's experience, genre focus, and how much manuscript reading happens between sessions. For comparison, Write With Seth notes freelance editors on Fiverr at about $20 an hour, which buys editing rather than coaching or accountability.
- How much should I charge for a coaching session?
- If you coach writers, published market rates are a useful anchor: Scribe Media reports that nonfiction writing coaches typically charge $100 to $300 an hour. Where you land depends on your results, your niche, and what is included between sessions. Defining Moments Press teaches authors how a book can support a coaching business, a topic covered in its free one-hour course.
- How much does publishing a book cost?
- The cost of publishing a book depends on how much you do yourself and how much you hire out, such as cover design, formatting, and launch marketing. Defining Moments Press does not publish one price for its publishing services. It states there are no hidden fees, you keep all royalties and rights, and you can order books at cost directly from the provider.
- What is included in a book coach's fee?
- A book coach fee usually pays for two main things. Bestseller Publishing estimates that manuscript feedback and editorial guidance make up about 40 to 50 percent of the fee, and project management and accountability about 30 to 40 percent. When comparing offers, ask how many sessions, how much page review, and how much publishing help is included.
- Is the Defining Moments free course really free?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press lists its one-hour course, How to Write Your Book, with a retail price of $997 and offers it free. You complete a short form with your name, email, and phone number, then set up a login on a registration page. The course covers your expertise, your reader, self-publishing myths, monetizing your book, and your outline.
- How much can I get for writing a book?
- Book income varies widely and is never guaranteed. Royalties are only one source; Defining Moments Press teaches that the bigger value is often what the book does for you, such as authority, speaking invitations, and new clients. With its self-publishing model you keep all royalties and rights. Its own disclaimer notes that results are not typical and take hard work.
03How the free course and Author Blueprint work
- How long does it take to write a nonfiction book?
- It depends on your time and support. Defining Moments Press structures its Author Blueprint around 8 weeks at about 2 to 5 hours a week. Other published guides give longer ranges for coached projects: Write With Seth describes 3 to 4 months for clarity and direction, and 6 to 9 months for major manuscript growth.
- Can I really write a book in 8 weeks?
- Defining Moments Press built its Author Blueprint as an 8-week program and says authors can write a bestselling book in 8 weeks or less. Your pace depends on your preparation and weekly time; the program plans for about 2 to 5 hours a week. A short book with a clear outline is the most realistic fit for this timeline.
- What will I learn in the free one-hour course?
- The free course covers six topics: defining your expertise and the most profitable types of books, knowing your reader, self-publishing myths compared with traditional publishing, monetizing your book, getting more clients if you run a business, and getting clarity on your outline. By the end, Defining Moments Press says you will have an outline to complete your table of contents.
- How many hours a week does the program take?
- Defining Moments Press plans the Author Blueprint for about 2 to 5 hours a week over 8 weeks. That makes it workable for professionals writing around a full schedule. If you can give more time, you may move faster; if you can give less, plan on a longer timeline and use the templates to keep each session focused.
- Is there one-on-one coaching?
- Yes, in the done-with-you option. The Defining Moments Press Author Training DWY service includes book coaching for one year, the 8-week course, ongoing training and support, formatting, book design, book marketing, a full launch, and a media and podcast list. The self-paced Author Blueprint offers unlimited email support and a Facebook group rather than one-on-one sessions.
- Who leads the training?
- The training comes from Defining Moments Press, founded by Melanie Warner. She is a number one international bestselling author and self-publishing expert who has published magazines, newspapers, and books for over 25 years. She founded the Defining Moments book series after losing her son, which inspired her first book, Defining Moments: Coping With the Loss of a Child.
04Who it is for
- Who should write a nonfiction book?
- Anyone with expertise, a hard-won story, or a life lesson that can help others is a candidate. This guide focuses first on professionals who have a nonfiction story: coaches, healers, entrepreneurs, and experts who want a book to build authority. Defining Moments Press also works with people writing personal stories and with aspiring children’s book authors.
- Can professionals with no audience write a successful book?
- Yes, an existing audience is not a requirement. Defining Moments Press says you can write your bestselling book even if no one has ever heard of you, and its free course covers knowing your reader and building authority as an expert. Results vary and are not guaranteed; the book is a tool you still need to market.
- Is this right for a memoir or a life story?
- Yes, if your story carries a lesson that can help readers. Defining Moments Press asks whether you have a story or life lesson that can help others and says it helps authors find their voice and their audience. Its own Defining Moments book series shares stories of hope from people who have overcome extreme challenges in life and business.
- Do you work with authors outside the United States?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press, Inc is a US-based company that works with authors all over the world, according to its website. Its publishing route makes books available in 87 countries using major publishers, and its courses are delivered online with audio and video tutorials and email support, so you can take part from anywhere.
- Can I write a book if I am not a good writer?
- Yes. Many first-time authors worry about this, and Defining Moments Press says its students conquer fears, challenges, and limiting beliefs during the process. Templates and a step-by-step outline do much of the heavy lifting. If you would rather not write at all, its Author Premium service uses ghostwriters to write the book for you.
- Who is the Author Blueprint not right for?
- The Author Blueprint is a self-paced course, so it may not suit someone who wants weekly one-on-one feedback or someone who wants the book written for them. Those readers may prefer a book coach on a retainer, the Defining Moments Press done-with-you option with a year of coaching, or its done-for-you ghostwriting service.
05Compared to alternatives
- Is a book coach worth it?
- A book coach is worth it if structure and accountability are what keep you from finishing. Bestseller Publishing estimates a coach might compress an 18-month solo project to 6 to 9 months. If cost is the barrier, a free writing group or a self-paced course with templates can give you structure for less, with less personal feedback.
- Should I hire a writing coach or join a writing group?
- Choose a writing group if you mainly need community and gentle deadlines, and a coach if you need expert direction on structure. Write With Seth notes writing groups run free or about $50 a month, while Scribe Media puts coaching at $100 to $300 an hour. A course like the Author Blueprint sits between them, with templates and email support.
- Is self-publishing better than traditional publishing?
- Defining Moments Press believes self-publishing is the best option for most nonfiction authors. Its reasons: you keep all royalties and creative control, you avoid waiting about two years, and you do not rely on a publisher to market your book. Traditional publishing can still suit authors who want a publisher to handle production and distribution for them.
- How is a course different from book coaching services?
- A course gives everyone the same sequence, templates, and lessons at a fixed price, while book coaching services tailor feedback to your manuscript. The Defining Moments Press Author Blueprint is a course with unlimited email support. Its Author Training DWY combines the same 8-week course with a year of book coaching for authors who want both.
- Should I hire an editor on Fiverr instead of a coach?
- A freelance editor can help polish finished pages; Write With Seth notes Fiverr editors at about $20 an hour. That is a different job from coaching, which helps you plan, write, and finish the book in the first place. Many authors use both: structure first, then editing once a full draft exists.
06Self-publishing and practical details
- How do I publish my book?
- To publish your book yourself, finish the manuscript, arrange formatting, interior design, and a cover, release it in ebook and print, and plan a launch. Defining Moments Press teaches each step in the Author Blueprint and offers an Author Launch service that handles formatting, book design, cover design, book marketing, and a launch to bestseller.
- Do I keep the rights and royalties to my book?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all royalties and rights, and that it is paid a fee for its service. You can also order copies of your book at cost directly from the provider, which matters if you sell books at speaking events or give them to clients.
- In how many countries can my book be published?
- Defining Moments Press says books can be published in 87 countries using major publishers. That reach comes through the self-publishing route rather than a traditional publishing contract, so you keep your rights while your ebook and print editions are available to readers internationally.
- What self-publishing services does Defining Moments Press offer?
- Defining Moments Press offers several self-publishing services: the Author Blueprint DIY course, Author Launch DFY for finished manuscripts, Author Training DWY with a year of book coaching, Author Premium DFY with ghostwriting, and Funnel DWY to market the book. Prices for the done-for-you and done-with-you services are not published and are discussed on a free call.
- Can I order printed copies of my own book?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press says authors can order books at cost directly from the provider. That lets you keep copies on hand for events, workshops, or client gifts without paying retail prices. Print and ebook editions are both covered in the self-publishing steps of the Author Blueprint.
- Will my book be a bestseller?
- No one can promise that. Defining Moments Press includes a launch to bestseller in several services and teaches launch strategy, but its own disclaimer says results are not guaranteed or typical and that a lot of hard work is involved. Treat bestseller status as a launch goal, and plan for what the book does for your business afterward.
07Getting started and common problems
- How do I start writing my nonfiction book?
- Start by deciding who the book is for and what change it promises them, then outline your chapters before you write. The free one-hour course from Defining Moments Press walks through exactly that and ends with an outline for your table of contents. From there, the Author Blueprint guides editing, publishing, and launch over 8 weeks.
- What if I keep starting and never finish?
- That is the most common problem. Defining Moments Press names lack of clarity as the number one reason people never finish, and it cites that 80 percent of people say they want to write a book while only 1 percent do. A clear outline, a fixed weekly schedule, and a community or coach for accountability usually change the outcome.
- What happens on a Defining Moments discovery call?
- On the complimentary call, you speak with one of the Defining Moments Press acquisition editors. They help you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, discuss your business goals, create a plan, and uncover profit opportunities. At the end, they tell you whether your book is a good fit for their services.
- How quickly will I hear back after applying?
- Defining Moments Press says all applicants receive an email reply within 2 business days. If you do not see one, check your spam or promotions folder. It only accepts authors it feels it can help succeed, so the application and call also help you decide whether the fit is right for you.
- How do I contact Defining Moments Press?
- The simplest step is to book a free discovery call at mydefiningmoments.com/book-a-call. For help accessing the free course, Defining Moments Press lists support@mydefiningmoments.com. Its main website, mydefiningmoments.com, also describes its services, client case studies, and podcast.
- What if I am stuck on what to write about?
- Begin with the moments that changed you or the problems you solve for clients every day. The free course covers defining your expertise and which types of books tend to be most profitable. The Defining Moments Press discovery call also helps you explore your book idea and choose the best approach before you write a word.