Why a Book is Like a Shark and How a Book Coach Keeps it Moving

Photo by Mateusz Górecki on Unsplash

"A relationship, I think, is like a shark.  You know? It has to constantly move forward or it dies. And I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark." – Annie Hall

Whether you’re in a relationship or writing a book you need to keep things moving forward. When it comes to writing a book, that’s tough to do if you’re not sure where you’re going.

Often, the process of writing a book gets derailed or comes to a halt. In fact, according to stats 97 percent of the time people start writing a book that they never finish.   

In the beginning, it’s exciting to pin a book idea to the page but over time, the process can became so complex, frustrating, time-consuming and stressful that people just give up. They stop moving forward. The book that could have been is DOA. 

No Shame, No Blame

There’s no shame in this or at least, there shouldn’t be. How can you know how to do something if you’ve never done it before? Or even if you’ve done it before and want to replicate that process or do it better? Writing a book, any book, is complex and difficult.

Here are just some of the ingredients you need to write a natural health self-help book:  

1.   ​A solid idea, one that only you can write from your unique point-of-view.

2. A problem you know how to solve.

3. A good idea of who your ideal reader is.

4. A method, plan or approach that helps a reader feel better, mentally, emotionally or physically or maybe all three. 

5. A structure or Table of Contents using this method so that this can happen and your reader is transformed in a meaningful way.   

   
   

​​​ Not to mention that you also need to:

Create content that’s reader-focused and engaging and full of actionable information.  

That’s a lot.

So how do you figure all of this stuff out and write a book that you’ll love and that will have an impact?

1. You get help from a book coach, so you’re no longer in it alone. As a book coach I’m a combination editor-cheerleader-project manager. In these roles, I provide things like editorial advice, emotional support, and constructive feedback.

I ask good questions like “Why are you the best person to write this book?” but I’m also an active listener. Think Tim Gunn on Project Runway. He asks good questions, actively listens and helps the designers find solutions.   

2. Together, we make a plan. With my writers, I establish a foundation first, before they start writing or return to this step if they come to me later in the process and are having problems mid-book. Creating a foundation is the best way to get from where you are to where you want to go. To this this, you need to do some deep thinking and answer some important questions.  

My new favorite tool is the Blueprint for A Book worksheet which was created by Jennie Nash, author of Blueprint for a Book and founder of Author Accelerator, the premiere training program for book coaches. Recently, I was certified as a nonfiction book coach by Author Accelerator (yeah!) which means I can now use these tools with my clients. This is a genius tool.

It gives you clarity and momentum.

The Blueprint asks questions like:

Why do you want to write this book?

What problem with you’ll solve?

Who is your ideal reader?

Who is your audience?

Where will your book sit on the shelf?

When you take the time to establish a strong foundation, you have a roadmap for writing which makes it faster and easier. Knowing you have a plan also frees you up to focus on your message, not the mess that comes when you try to DIY. Once you have a foundation, you'll also have clarity and revising becomes much easier too.

Sign-Up for a Mini Blueprint Session to Move Forward with Your Book

The Mini Blueprint is a bite-size way to move forward with your book. This incredibly effective tool helps you to capture your book idea on just one page. 

You submit up to 15 pages of your book or book proposal and fill out the Mini Blueprint and I give you personalized, detailed written feedback about your idea, audience, vision, content and more and we discuss it all in a 60-minute call. Right now, the cost is just $299.

This process will give you clarity and confidence about your book and you’ll be ready to move forward and start writing/revising or into month-to-month coaching. Email me at info@thenaturalhealthbookcoach.com to get started.

​​Or 📅 to book your FREE 30-minute book strategy session: https://calendly.com/thenaturalhealthbookcoach-info/30min?month=2026- We’ll talk about your idea, see if we’re a good fit, and make a solid plan so that you can move forward!