from spark to publication

We’ll sit down in person at a coffee shop or other convenient location (or electronically over Zoom) to discuss your project. If you’re struggling with organizing your book or moving beyond an initial idea for it, this is a great time for us to look at that.

Whether you’re writing a novel, a nonfiction book, or a collection of poetry, we’ll look at the different parts of your manuscript and how they can be best organized. This will also help identify pieces that might not fit with your project or gaps that need to be filled.

This includes ongoing support and guidance throughout the writing process. If you’re three chapters in and need some feedback, I’m here for you. If you’ve hit a point where you feel blocked, we can meet and work through it together.

If you already have a finished manuscript, I can serve as your first reader to give overall feedback. This is a great time to bring up any concerns you might have had while you were writing—were you worried about whether or not a particular character was believable? Did you struggle with clarifying points within your plot? A beta reader will be able to answer these questions for you. Based on their feedback, you might want to go back to the book and make some changes. Please note, fees for beta reading are different than consultation fees. (Cost for beta reading with detailed feedback: $250/ manuscript up to 500 pages.)

It is highly inadvisable to send your book to self- or traditional publishers without having someone edit it first. We can discuss what kind of editing you’re looking for—including proofreading for typos and grammar issues or delving into things like plot holes or inconsistencies within your manuscript—and then I can provide you with those services. Please note, fees for editing are different than consultation fees. (Cost for editing prose: $40/hour, minimum 1 hour. Clock is rounded up to nearest quarter-hour after first hour. The cost for editing poetry varies based on length of manuscript or number of poems sent. Please contact me for pricing with the number of poems/pages you wish to have edited.)

There are two ways you can publish your book. Both come with their advantages and challenges, so it’s important to think about the vision you have for your project so you can choose the right route for you. We can sit down together and discuss your options to help you decide what’s best.

Depending on which route you’ve decided on, I’ll recommend traditional publishers and help you submit to them, or I’ll recommend ways to self-publish and assist you with them.

Whether you choose self-publishing or traditional publication, promoting yourself is crucial. I can provide web design services to create an author website for you and will connect you with my marketing expert who will ensure your book is seen by as many potential readers as possible.