Skip to content
Author Blueprint

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Last updated:

Here are 42 plain answers about nonfiction book coaching, what coaching and publishing cost, and how the Defining Moments Press Author Blueprint works.

What is nonfiction book coaching?

Nonfiction book coaching is guided help to plan, write, publish, and launch a factual book. Defining Moments Press pairs coaching with an 8 week course so professionals can publish in 8 weeks or less. More detail is on the nonfiction book coaching overview.

What nonfiction book coaching is

What is nonfiction book coaching?

Nonfiction book coaching is guided help to plan, write, publish, and launch a factual book such as a business book, memoir, or life lesson book. At Defining Moments Press, coaching is paired with a structured course, templates, and launch support so authors move from idea to published book on a set schedule of 8 weeks or less.

What does a nonfiction book coach do?

A nonfiction book coach helps you clarify your idea, define your reader, outline the book, keep writing, and prepare to publish. The Defining Moments Press Author Training program includes book coaching for 1 year alongside an 8 week writing course, formatting, book design, book marketing, and a full launch to bestseller.

What is the Author Blueprint?

The Author Blueprint is the 8 week program from Defining Moments Press that helps you write, publish, launch, and market a nonfiction book. It includes an 8 week course with audio and video tutorials, a step-by-step process, templates and tools, a free Facebook group, and unlimited email support.

Who created the Author Blueprint?

Melanie Warner, founder of Defining Moments Press, created the Author Blueprint. The company describes her as a #1 international bestselling author, a 7x bestselling author and book mentor, and a self-publishing expert who has published magazines, newspapers, and books for over 25 years.

Is Defining Moments Press a traditional publisher?

No. Defining Moments Press describes itself as an online education company that teaches people how to write, market, and publish their first book, and it champions self-publishing. Authors keep all rights and royalties, and the company is paid a fee for its service rather than taking a share of book income.

What is the difference between a book coach and a ghostwriter?

A book coach guides you while you write your own book, and a ghostwriter writes it for you. Defining Moments Press offers both. Author Training pairs you with 1 year of book coaching, while Author Premium uses the company ghostwriters to write your book and then handles cover design, formatting, and launch.

Pricing and costs

How much does a book writing coach cost?

It depends on the format, so compare what is included. As of November 2026, the Defining Moments Press checkout page lists the Author Blueprint 8 Week Challenge at one payment of $1,997. Prices for its coaching, done-with-you, and done-for-you services are not published, so you get them on a discovery call.

How much does publishing a book cost?

The cost of publishing a book depends on who handles editing, formatting, cover design, and marketing. Defining Moments Press states there are no hidden fees, that authors keep all royalties and rights, and that authors can order printed books at cost direct from the provider. Ask on a call for a quote for your project.

Is there a free way to start?

Yes. Defining Moments Press offers a free one hour course on how to write your book, which it lists at a retail price of $997. The course covers defining your expertise, knowing your reader, self-publishing myths, monetizing your book, getting more clients, and building an outline for your table of contents.

Can I pay for book coaching in installments?

Possibly. The Author Blueprint checkout page lists a single payment of $1,997 and also points to more payment options. Defining Moments Press links to third-party financing options for some programs too. Confirm the current payment terms for your chosen service on a discovery call before you enroll.

Are there hidden fees?

Defining Moments Press states there are no hidden fees. Its publishing model charges a fee for the service while you keep all rights and royalties. You can also order copies of your book at cost direct from the provider, which matters for authors who sell books at speaking events or give them to clients.

Do I keep my book royalties?

Yes. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all royalties and all rights to their book, and the company gets paid a fee for its service instead. This is one reason it argues that self-publishing is the best option for nonfiction authors who want their book to support a business.

Is a book writing coach worth the money?

It is worth it when coaching gets you to a finished, published book you would not finish alone. Defining Moments Press says 80% of people say they want to write a book and only 1% actually do. Structure, deadlines, and feedback are what coaching adds. Results are not guaranteed and take real work.

How the Author Blueprint works

How long does it take to write a book with the Author Blueprint?

The Author Blueprint is built around 8 weeks. The core promise of Defining Moments Press is to help you write and publish a bestselling book in 8 weeks or less. The company describes the commitment as about 2 to 5 hours a week to edit, self-publish in ebook and print, and launch.

How many hours a week do I need to write my book?

Plan for about 2 to 5 hours a week. That is how Defining Moments Press describes the Author Blueprint workload for editing, self-publishing in ebook and print, and launching. Over the 8 weeks of the program, that adds up to roughly 16 to 40 hours in total, which fits around a full-time career.

What is included in the Author Blueprint?

The Author Blueprint DIY program includes an 8 week course with audio and video tutorials, a step-by-step process, templates and tools, a free Facebook group, and unlimited email support. It is designed to take you through writing, publishing, launching, and marketing your book without hiring separate vendors for each stage.

How does the Author Blueprint relate to How to Write Your Book in a Weekend?

The Author Blueprint picks up where How to Write Your Book in a Weekend ends. Once you know your book, your reader, and your outline, the Blueprint takes you through editing, self-publishing in ebook and print, and launching over 8 weeks at about 2 to 5 hours a week.

Where will my book be available?

Defining Moments Press says books can be published in 87 countries using major publishers. Self-publishing in both ebook and print is part of the Author Blueprint process, so readers can find your book in more than one format. Ask on a call which channels apply to your specific book.

What does launch to bestseller mean?

Launch to bestseller is a service listed in several Defining Moments Press packages, including Author Launch, Author Training, and Author Premium. It is a coordinated book launch aimed at bestseller status. Defining Moments Press notes that results are not guaranteed or typical and that a lot of hard work is involved.

What happens on the discovery call?

On the complimentary call, you speak with a Defining Moments Press acquisition editor who helps you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, discuss your business goals, create a clear plan, and uncover profit opportunities from your book. At the end, they tell you whether your book is a good fit.

How quickly will I hear back after applying?

Defining Moments Press says all applicants receive an email reply within 2 business days. If you do not see one, check your spam or promotions folder, since replies sometimes land there. The company only accepts authors it believes it can help succeed in reaching their goals.

Who it is for

Is nonfiction book coaching right for professionals?

Yes. Professionals are the first audience Defining Moments Press serves. Its homepage invites experts who want to be respected as the authority in their field, and its publishing model is built around books that grow a business, open the door to paid speaking opportunities, and attract clients.

Do I need a big audience before I write a book?

No. Defining Moments Press promotes writing your bestselling book in 8 weeks or less even if no one has ever heard of you. Its approach treats the book as the tool that builds your authority and audience, rather than something you earn only after you already have a following.

Can I write a memoir or life lesson book?

Yes. Defining Moments Press works with people who have a story or life lesson that can help others, and says it helps them find their voice and their audience. Founder Melanie Warner wrote her first book, Defining Moments: Coping With the Loss of a Child, after losing her son.

Do you help with children’s books?

The Defining Moments Press homepage invites aspiring children’s book authors to get started too. This site focuses on nonfiction books for professionals, so ask about children’s book support on a discovery call to learn which service fits your project and timeline.

Is it a fit for coaches and speakers?

Yes. Defining Moments Press helps entrepreneurs, professionals, coaches, healers, and people with powerful stories write, publish, and sell nonfiction books. It also runs a Speaker Certification program, because a book and a speaking platform often support each other when you build a business around your expertise.

I have never written anything. Can I still write a book?

Yes. Defining Moments Press teaches people how to write, market, and publish their first book. The Author Blueprint gives you a step-by-step process, templates, and tools, and the free one hour course aims to leave you with an outline, since the company says lack of clarity is the top reason people never finish.

Do you work with authors outside the United States?

Yes. Defining Moments Press, Inc. is a US-based company that works with authors all over the world. It says books can be published in 87 countries using major publishers, and its course materials, tutorials, and email support are delivered online, so location is not a barrier.

I already wrote my book. What should I do next?

Look at Author Launch, the done-for-you Defining Moments Press service for authors who already wrote a book and need help publishing and launching. It includes formatting, book design, cover design, book marketing, a launch to bestseller, and access to the author Facebook group.

Compared to alternatives

Is self-publishing better than traditional publishing?

Defining Moments Press argues that self-publishing is the best option for nonfiction authors who want their book to serve a business, because you avoid long waits, keep creative control, and keep your royalties. Traditional publishing can still suit authors who want an advance and a publisher team and are willing to wait.

What are the best book publishing companies for new authors?

The best fit depends on how much help you want and whether you keep your rights. Compare what is included, who owns the royalties, and the timeline. Defining Moments Press is built for nonfiction professionals who want coaching, want to keep all rights and royalties, and want to publish in about 8 weeks.

Should I self-publish on my own or hire a coach?

Self-publishing alone costs less in fees but leaves every step to you. A coach or program adds structure, accountability, and launch know-how. If you already write consistently and enjoy learning publishing tools, going solo can work. If you have started and stalled before, a guided program like the Author Blueprint is usually the better fit.

How is this different from a vanity press?

Ask any publishing service who keeps the rights and royalties. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all rights and royalties, that there are no hidden fees, and that authors can order books at cost direct from the provider. The company gets paid a fee for its service, and the book stays yours.

What is the difference between Author Blueprint and Author Training?

Author Blueprint is the do-it-yourself 8 week course with tutorials, templates, a Facebook group, and email support. Author Training is done-with-you: it adds book coaching for 1 year, ongoing training and support, formatting, book design, book marketing, a full launch to bestseller, and a media and podcast list to promote your book.

Do I need an editor or a writing coach?

A writing coach helps before and during drafting, and an editor improves a finished draft. Many first-time nonfiction authors need the coach first, because the hardest part is reaching a finished draft at all. The Author Blueprint covers editing as one stage of its 8 week path to a published book.

Getting started and common problems

What is the first step to publish my book?

Book a free discovery call with Defining Moments Press. An acquisition editor will help you explore your idea, clarify your ideal reader, and create a clear plan. If you are not ready for a call yet, the free one hour course helps you define your expertise and build an outline first.

What should I prepare before the discovery call?

Bring a one-sentence version of your book idea, a description of the reader you want to help, and what you want the book to do for your business. Defining Moments Press uses the call to clarify those three things, map your next step, and tell you whether your book is a good fit.

What if I get stuck halfway through my book?

Getting stuck is common and is a major reason books go unfinished. The Author Blueprint includes unlimited email support and a free Facebook group, and Author Training adds book coaching for 1 year. Founder Melanie Warner has hosted small-group training aimed at helping authors break through keyboard paralysis.

I am too busy to write a book. Is that realistic?

The Author Blueprint is planned at about 2 to 5 hours a week over 8 weeks, which many working professionals can fit in. If you have less time than that, the Author Premium service uses Defining Moments Press ghostwriters to write your book for you, then handles design, formatting, and launch.

Are results guaranteed?

No. Defining Moments Press states that results are not guaranteed or typical, and that a lot of hard work is involved. Case studies on its website show what some clients achieved, such as one client who sold over 10,000 books, but your results depend on your effort, your book, and your business.

Can a book actually grow my business?

It can when the book connects to a clear business offer. Defining Moments Press shares a client case study in which a book led to over 10,000 books sold, a TED Talk, paid corporate speaking, 7 streams of income, and an 8-figure business. The company stresses that such results are not typical.

What if my book is not a good fit?

You still leave with clarity. Defining Moments Press says that no matter what happens on the discovery call, you will gain clarity around your book project and know what your next step should be. The company only accepts authors it believes it can help reach their goals.

Still have a question?

Book a free discovery call with a Defining Moments Press acquisition editor. You will explore your book idea, your ideal reader, and your business goals, and leave with a clear next step.

Book a free call

Published by Defining Moments Press