Book Writing Coach

You begin by getting to know the author's book: the concept, their vision, the readers they have in mind, their writing style and what they want from publishing. Then you read what they bring, whether that is an outline, a summary, sample chapters or a full draft, and tell them what needs work. You help them turn loose ideas into a well-organised manuscript, plan it chapter by chapter, and hold individual sessions with them as the writing goes on.

Feedback covers grammar, clarity, flow, storytelling, structure, tone and readability. You help with drafting, rewriting and editing while keeping the author's own voice, and you keep language, tone and structure consistent across the manuscript. Your advice shifts with the genre and the intended readership. Where needed, you also give input on titles, subtitles, chapter titles, book descriptions and author bios.

You stay in regular, professional contact with authors, answer their questions and keep them updated. You track chapter submissions, revisions and deadlines, and follow up when things slip. You also coordinate with the editorial, design, production, marketing and sales teams so the author's vision carries through. Several authors and projects run in parallel, and you are expected to follow bestsellers, publishing trends, reader preferences and emerging genres.

• Education: a bachelor's degree in English, Literature, Journalism, Mass Communication or a related field.
• Experience: none required. Earlier work in writing, editing, proofreading, publishing, content development or author coaching counts as an added advantage.
• Language and craft: strong spoken and written English, a firm grip on grammar and vocabulary, and solid proofreading, editing, content development and storytelling skills.
• Working with people: confidence dealing with authors over calls, emails and meetings, a client-first approach, and the ability to give constructive feedback.
• Reading habits: a keen reader across several genres, with real interest in books, bestsellers and the publishing industry.
• Work style: creative, curious, detail-oriented and commercially aware, able to handle multiple authors within deadlines.

The job is onsite in Delhi. Perks listed are an informal dress code and free snacks and beverages.

• Pick a few books from different genres and be ready to explain, in plain words, why their structure and voice work or fall short. This is the same kind of judgement you would be giving authors.
• Bring a small sample of your own editing: a passage before and after, with a short note on what you changed and why. It shows that you can give feedback and not just fix errors.
• Practise giving feedback that is kind but specific. Saying what to change, and why, is more useful to an author than saying a chapter is weak.
• Read up on what is selling and which genres are growing, so you can talk about publishing trends without sounding rehearsed.
• Think of an example of handling several deadlines at once, such as coursework, a college magazine or freelance writing, since this role involves following up with many authors.