Do You Need a Book Coach or a Developmental Editor? Here’s How to Tell

Many writers reach a point where they know they need support but feel stuck trying to decide between book coaching and developmental editing, unsure which will actually help them move forward. Both services are valuable, and both can play an important role in the writing journey, yet they’re designed to help writers in different ways. But when you choose support that doesn’t match where you are in the writing process, it can leave you feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or even questioning whether you’re cut out to write a novel at all. The truth is, feeling stuck even after getting help usually isn’t a sign that you’ve failed, it’s a sign that the support wasn’t the right support for what you needed at that moment.

Because book coaching and developmental editing share some similarities, it can be easy to either assume they accomplish the same goals or to be confused about which service is right for you in the moment. But there are key differences in both the processes of book coaching and developmental editing as well as the results they’re attempting to achieve that set them apart, and having a solid understanding of those differences will help you determine which service is best for where you are right now in your writing journey.

The Big Picture

Book coaching and developmental editing do share one big overarching goal: to help you strengthen your story. These services are both concerned with the big picture of your manuscript rather than the nitty-gritty details other types of editing look at, such as sentence structure or grammar.

(Read More: The Different Types of Editing)

The difference is how these services work toward that goal. Book coaching is process-focused support, guiding you as you write the manuscript to not only strengthen the story but to increase your confidence as a writer as well. Developmental editing is manuscript-focused support, looking almost entirely at the story itself rather than your writing habits or mindset that might be affecting that story.

So, while knowing you need support in making your story stronger is a great first step, determining where that support needs to be directed will help you determine which type of support will be most beneficial.

What is Book Coaching?

Overarchingly, book coaching is about supporting the process of writing your story, not just evaluating the story itself. Book coaching focuses on how you show up for your writing—your habits, your mindset, and the obstacles that make it difficult to sit down and write consistently. It involves helping you develop a realistic writing routine, work through common mindset blocks, such as perfectionism, self-doubt, fear of failure, or the belief that you don’t have enough time, and clarify your why for writing.

Rather than waiting until a manuscript is finished, book coaching supports you while you’re writing. This means you’re not left to navigate uncertainty, resistance, or overwhelm on your own. Coaching helps you move through those moments when motivation dips, confidence wavers, or progress feels slower than you’d like so those challenges don’t turn into excuses to quit.

Book coaching also acknowledges that writing a novel isn’t just a technical skill; it’s an emotional and mental process. Many writers know what they want to write but struggle to follow through because their inner critic gets the better of them, their expectations were unrealistic, or other obligations keep crowding out their creative work. Coaching provides accountability and emotional support alongside practical  guidance, helping you stay connected to your writing goals and moving forward even when the process gets hard.

Book coaching may be right for you if you’re struggling to finish your draft, feel stuck or overwhelmed, find yourself constantly second-guessing your decisions, want accountability or encouragement to stay consistent, or recognize that mindset is the main thing holding you back from making progress.

What is Developmental Editing?

Developmental editing, on the other hand, is about strengthening the manuscript itself and is less concerned with the process of writing it. Developmental editing focuses on the big-picture elements of your story, such as plot, structure, pacing, character development, and theme, to help you see what’s working, what isn’t, and where revisions are needed. Rather than guiding you through the act of writing, a developmental editor steps back and evaluates the story as a whole.

Developmental editing typically takes place after a draft is finished, when you’re ready to receive in-depth, professional feedback on the story you’ve written. This feedback is designed to help you revise more effectively by identifying strengths to build on and areas that need clarity, expansion, or restructuring. The goal is not to rewrite the book for you, but to give you a clear overview of the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript so you can make confident, informed decisions about how to improve the manuscript.

Unlike book coaching, developmental editing does not address your writing habits, motivation, or mindset. It assumes that you’re able to work independently and apply feedback on your own. Because of this, developmental editing is often best suited for writers who feel emotionally ready for critique and who want focused, manuscript-level guidance rather than ongoing support during the writing process. While a developmental edit can then be followed up with book coaching for the actual revision work to incorporate these elements, a developmental edit in and of itself does not concern itself with them.

Developmental editing may be right for you if you have a complete or nearly complete draft, want detailed feedback on story structure and craft, feel prepared to receive constructive criticism, and are looking for clear direction on how to revise your manuscript to make it stronger.

Common Mismatches (And Why They Feel So Discouraging)

One of the most frustrating experiences a writer can have is investing in support and still feeling stuck afterward. Often, this isn’t because the support was bad or because you “did it wrong,” but because the support didn’t match where you were in the writing process.

A common mismatch happens when a writer hires a developmental editor before they’re emotionally ready for feedback. Instead of feeling empowered, they feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure how to move forward. Another mismatch occurs when a writer seeks motivation or accountability, when the real issue is a lack of clarity around story structure or direction. In both cases, the result is the same: the writer is left feeling frustrated that the investment they made into the support didn’t address their issues.

These experiences can make writers question their abilities or wonder if they’re cut out to write a novel at all. But struggling after receiving help is rarely a sign that a writer should give up writing. Usually, it’s a sign that the type of support didn’t properly address what you needed at that moment.

How to Tell What You Need Right Now

If you’re unsure which type of support would be most helpful, it can be useful to step back and assess where you’re currently feeling stuck.

You may benefit most from book coaching if you’re struggling to write consistently, feel overwhelmed by the process, second-guess your decisions, or notice that mindset issues like perfectionism, self-doubt, or lack of time are keeping you from making progress.

You may benefit most from developmental editing if you have a finished or nearly finished draft, want professional feedback on story structure and craft, feel ready to receive and apply critique, and are able to work independently through revisions.

Neither option is “better” than the other. They simply serve different purposes at different stages of the writing process. The key is choosing support that meets you where you’re at rather than where you think you should be.

Keep in mind that the type of support you need may change over time. You might benefit from book coaching while drafting, then move into developmental editing once the manuscript is complete. Or you may start with developmental feedback and later realize you need mindset or accountability support as well to follow through with revisions. Needing different kinds of help at different points of the process doesn’t mean you were wrong before. It simply means your needs have evolved along with your project.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Writing Journey

If you’re still feeling unsure about which type of support is right for you, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Part of my work is helping writers gain clarity on where they are in their process and what kind of support will best serve them right now.

The goal isn’t to rush into the “right” service or force progress before you’re ready. It’s to choose support that aligns with where you currently are as a writer, support that helps you feel capable and confident as you work toward finishing your novel.

If you’re ready to explore what that support might look like for you, I invite you to reach out and start a conversation. You don’t need to have all the answers yet. That’s part of what support is for.