Best Writing Coach Certification Programs

Last updated on July 29, 2024

If you have a talent for writing, experience in this field, and a desire for guiding others, a writing coach career can fit like a glove. As a writing coach, you can earn extra money, build your own business, and pass on your knowledge to aspiring writers. 

Make the transition from writing to coaching seamlessly by gaining tools and resources for successful coaching. Read on to find out about the best writing coach certification programs and how they can help your career.

• Rackhouse Publishing – Best General Writing Coach Program
• Author Accelerator – Best for Specializing in Fiction or Nonfiction
• Master Book Coach – Best for Book Writing Coaches

What Is a Writing Coach?

A writing coach is usually an experienced writer or editor who helps other writers with their creative process. What does a writing coach do? The coaching process includes brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, reviewing drafts, and polishing the final piece. Another part is helping writers with ‘writer’s block,’ maintaining writing consistency, and making sure that they’re headed in the right direction. 

People can hire writing coaches for both personal reasons—such as needing help with their memoirs—or professional purposes—like learning how to compose engaging marketing emails. The coaching can be done individually or in groups, and can take place face-to-face or online.

How To Become a Writing Coach

What qualifications do you need to be a writing coach? You might be surprised to learn that there are no requirements for formal qualifications or degrees in English, Journalism, or Writing. However, having professional writing experiences such as writing, editing, or teaching writing is beneficial. 

In addition to relevant experience, what can also help you become a writing coach is writing coach training. A certification program can improve your writing, help you adopt new techniques, acquire coaching skills, and boost your credibility. 

Difference Between a Writing Coach, Book Coach, and Editor

Writing and book coaches are also editors, in terms of having a detail-oriented mind and the ability to assess cohesion, clarity,  tone, flow, and voice. The main difference is that writing coaches also embody the role of a guide and life coach as they provide emotional and motivational support. 

Now, writing coaches can also be book coaches, in addition to helping clients with blog writing, freelance writing, academic writing, or any other form of the written word. Book coaches, on the other hand, only work with clients who need help with writing a book. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Writing Coach Certification Program

If you’re considering a writing coach certification program, there are a few things you should keep in mind to make the best selection for your needs. 

Program Cost

Cost is always a significant factor. Some programs can be on the expensive side, so it’s important to set a budget to narrow down your options. What can also affect the price is whether the program is online or in-person. Searching for certification programs online can expand your options.

Course Length

​​The length of the course is another important decision to make. Courses can range from just a few days to over a year, so think about how quickly you want to develop your coaching business and choose a program accordingly. If you want more flexibility in your learning schedule, a self-paced certification course might be a good option for you.

Accreditation

Many life coaching programs are accredited by a reputable accrediting body in the coaching industry, like the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This gives aspiring coaches peace of mind that the program meets certain standards, but accreditation is by no means necessary in any coaching field. Writing coach certification programs mainly aren’t accredited since writing is a creative process, and it’s difficult to put this type of coaching within the frames of traditional coaching. 

Best Writing Coach Certification Programs

Best Overall: Rackhouse Publishing

Rackhouse Publishing was founded in 2018, and while they offer publishing services, their main preoccupation is helping writers through coaching and guidance. Their Writing Coach Certification Program is one of the few online certification programs that is specifically designed for writing and coaching rather than just improving your writing skills. 

Besides diving deep into the complexities of writing coaching through their guide and resource directory, you’ll get 40 hours of mentorship and training, so you can learn the trade from experienced coaches. You’ll also have lifetime access to their resource library, which offers helpful business templates like a service agreement template, book template, service cancellation templates, and more.

• Course Length: 3 months
• Program Cost: $650
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Specializing in Fiction or Nonfiction Option: Author Accelerator 

Do you want your niche to be fiction book coaching or nonfiction? Author Accelerator offers two comprehensive programs for both options—Book Coach Certification: Fiction program and Book Coach Certification: Nonfiction program.

No matter which one you choose, you’ll gain valuable knowledge and skills in effective client management and editing techniques. You will also get practical experience by working with actual clients and have access to proven tools and resources to assist your clients in achieving their goals. Additionally, you can continue to enhance your expertise through the Membership Circle, which offers opportunities for ongoing education and skill development.

They also offer monthly prep video calls with the editorial team to assist you in preparing for working with clients, completing the practicums, and applying for certification. 

• Course Length: Self-paced (typically it takes 6-10 months)
• Program Cost: $2,400 for one program; $3,850 for both (fiction and nonfiction); $600 per year for certification licensing fee (required)
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Book Writing Coaches Option: Master Book Coach by Amanda Filippelli

Master Book Coach is a program created by Amanda Filippelli, a writer, editor, and book coach. It is aimed at aspiring book coaches who want to improve their editing skills and learn the ins and outs of the book coaching business. 

The course is divided into three sections: industry knowledge, editorial, and pro coach. The first module gives you an overview of the publishing industry, the second one teaches you how to become a professional editor, and the pro coach module provides you with step-by-step guidance on building and launching your own book coaching business.

In addition to a database of reference materials, client resources, and powerful tools, you’ll get access to an exclusive community of book coaches where you can network, discuss common challenges, and support each other. Once you complete the course, you’ll get your professional Book Coach Certification©.

• Course Length: 12 weeks
• Program Cost: Available upon request
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Alternatives (non-niche)

Being a great writer or editor doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be a great writing coach. What can help you acquire coaching skills and learn how to support, motivate, and guide others are life coaching programs. They can be an addition to writing coach certification programs.

Our recommendations for the best life coaching certification programs are Transformation Academy and Coach Training Alliance. Both companies offer a variety of life coaching courses, and they are accredited and reputable. We’ve reviewed both TA and CTA in detail, so if you want to know more and how they compare to other life coaching courses, check that out. 

Special Offer: Get 50% off all certification programs at Transformation Academy by clicking our link or entering code LIFECOACHMAG at checkout.

FAQs

• How much does a writing coach make?

The average writing coach’s salary in the US is $52,666, according to Glassdoor. 

• Do you need a certification to be a writing coach?

You don’t need a certification, but a certification program can give your credibility and separate you from other writing and book coaches who don’t have this type of credential in their CV.

• How much does a writing coach certification cost?

The cost can range from a couple of hundred dollars to over $3,000. It all depends on how comprehensive the course is and what it includes. 

• Does accreditation matter in a writing coach certification program?

Writing coach programs typically aren’t accredited, but if accreditation matters to you, you can enroll in a life coaching program that does offer accreditation. 

• What is the most recognized coaching certification? 

To get the most widely recognized certification, prioritizing accreditation is more important than the name of the certification program. Since the majority of writing coach programs aren’t accredited, you can obtain a life coach ICF-accredited certification from Coach Training Alliance or CPD-accredited certification from Transformation Academy to get that recognition.

Conclusion

If you’re confident in your writing and editing abilities and you feel like you’re ready for the next step in your career, becoming a writing coach can get you there. By enrolling in a certification program, you can gain more confidence in your editorial skills, learn how to build a coaching business and get tips on working with clients. 

With the help of programs like Transformation Academy and Coach Training Alliance, you can enhance your coaching capabilities even more, and get ready to take over the writing coaching industry.

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