I'm thrilled to introduce this week's guest blog post by agented author Annie Cathryn who interviewed successful author and professional coach, Camille Pagán. THIS IS AMAZING! So let's get started; don't let this boring editor steal any more of the limelight from where it truly belongs—shining on these two brilliant people. 

Camille Pagán is a certified coach and the #1 Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of eight novels, including Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around and Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, which has been optioned for film. A journalist and former editor, she has written more than 1,000 reported articles for outlets including Forbes, Health, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, O: The Oprah Magazine, Time, and WebMD.com. You can learn more about her writing at camillepagan.com, and about her coaching at evenbetter.co.  

Tell us what book coaching entails.

Although people often ID me that way, I’m not really a book coach. I’m a career and money coach for aspiring to established authors. I help writers set bigger goals and achieve them in order to create even better careers. 

Why did you become a coach for authors?

I hired my first coach about two and a half years ago to work through some issues I was having in my career. It was truly transformational (and in fact, I still work with a coach today). Not only did I develop an unshakeable confidence in my writing career, I ended up improving the rest of my life, too. It was so transformational that in 2020, I made a spontaneous decision (which isn’t like me!) to get certified as a life coach. I was already working with writers to help them do things like build their brands and write better query letters, but I knew deep down that the most important part of the equation was missing. 

There are tons of book coaches out there—that is, people who can give you the nuts and bolts of how to tell a story, write a query, find an agent, etc. But if that was all the advice we needed, we’d all be bestsellers! I really believe—based on my own experience and having worked with numerous writers—that the most important work we do is around mindset. Publishing is filled with ups and downs. Although I’m a big fan of systems and strategy, developing a sustainable, fulfilling, and financially rewarding career requires deep self-confidence and better beliefs about what’s possible for you. Otherwise, it’s too easy to throw in the towel or get swayed by others (including well-meaning industry players) or end up creating a career that isn’t actually what you truly want. That’s why—although I do cover topics like plot and querying—my primary focus as a coach is around mindset. 

What training did you receive to become an author coach?

I combine twenty-one years of experience in the publishing industry with my training as a life coach. (I’m certified through The Life Coach School, which is where I first started receiving training. I’m a big fan, obviously, but I also recommend iPEC-certified coaches.) 

What experience do you have that has contributed to your success as an author coach?

I’ve been an author for ten years and have published eight books (my ninth comes out next May) during that time. That experience is helpful, but I really think my coach training is most beneficial. Most of my clients come to me through recommendations from other authors who’ve had results, which is the highest compliment! 

What can a writer expect in a coaching session with you?

Currently, I work with a small number of writers each quarter. I meet with each client one-on-one weekly via Zoom and also coach them via Slack. My coaching combines specific coaching modules (like how to build better beliefs and set higher financial goals) with a personalized roadmap based on the client’s goals and needs. 

How often do you meet with your clients?

We meet weekly for four months. There’s good research showing that weekly coaching leads to the fastest and most sustainable growth, and I’ve come to see that clients who meet with me weekly do have the best results.  

Why do you think coaching is important for writers/authors? 

Writing can be a very solitary business, and it’s incredibly helpful to have someone help you think through your decisions, strategize about how you can go bigger in your career, and uncover thoughts and beliefs that aren’t serving you. That’s difficult to do alone—which is why even though I’m a certified coach myself, I work with a coach each week, too.  

What do you think is a misconception of author coaching?

I can only speak to my own practice, but writers often come to me thinking that if they just pick the right plot or type of book, they’ll succeed. But that’s not how it works. Success comes from figuring out what only you can do as a writer, doing that really well instead of focusing on your deficits—and then believing in yourself even when you don’t have evidence that it’s going to work out for you. And that last part is the secret ingredient. Lots of “amazing” writers don’t end up getting published because they don’t really believe in themselves, self-sabotage (often without realizing it), or don’t know how to get through the tough parts of this business.  

What do you enjoy most about author coaching?

I truly love my clients and am so inspired by our coaching sessions. These are incredible people with great ideas and exciting careers ahead of them, and that’s contagious! There’s nothing more exciting to me than seeing a client meet their big goals. 

What do you want clients to take away from your sessions? 

The belief that anything they truly want for their writing career and life is absolutely possible. Because it’s true. One of the benefits of coaching is that a good coach believes in you so much that you can’t help but start to, too. And that’s when the magic happens. 

Where can we find out more about your author coaching? 

Visit EvenBetter.co 

Also, check out Annie Cathryn's experience working with Camille Pagán as a coach!

Annie Cathryn is in the process of editing her debut novel. She has a degree in journalism and master’s in communications from Marquette University. For eleven years, she worked in corporate marketing for a Fortune 500 company before starting a marketing consulting agency. She lives with her husband and daughter outside of Chicago. Connect with her on Instagram or visit her website at anniecathryn.com.