Services

Ghostwriting

The core of what I do. You have a great idea, I help turn it into a great book. I identify what’s unique/special and important about what you want to say. I run that through the book industry marketplace categories and trends to identify your target readers. Then I get down to the nitty gritty, heavy lifting of turning your manuscript, notes, or interviews into a manuscript with your voice shining through. You’re with me every step of the way, providing insights, giving feedback, making sure you’re happy with the project. You come away with a professionally edited and formatted manuscript, ready for presentation to agents and publishers.

Coaching

If you prefer to do the writing, I can coach you along in biweekly Zoom sessions, going over what you’ve written with a clear eye and ear for your overall project. I’ll identify gaps, excesses, leaps of logic, changes in tone, etc., ensuring your manuscript is a fluid, continuous read.

Consulting

Great news—I offer every client a free 30-minute consultation in which we discuss your vision for your project and what kind of help you will need. I also do more extended consultations on the Big Picture and close-up issues that every author encounters on the road to publication and beyond. Consults can be one-off events or ongoing series, all conducted via phone or  Zoom

Brainstorming

Kind of like a consultation, but with an emphasis on giving shape to your idea. Sorting through:
•what’s central
•what’s better saved for another project
•whether you have enough content for a book if not, how we can flesh it out
•if you have lots of ideas, how they can fit into several books

Fine Line Editing

None of us can see or hear ourselves clearly. And the more time you’ve put in on a book, the less perspective you have on it. You’re just too far down in the weeds to see the light.Even professional writers rely on great editors to make their words pop, their sentences sing, and their ideas flow from line to line. Known in the industry as “line editing,” this close refining of what you put on paper can make the difference between a bestseller and a book that never gets to print.I bring years of experience to the art of making you sound like your best self. You owe the world nothing less!

Products

Analysis & Recommendations

The A&R maps out how we’ll turn your dream into a marketable book, including:
•a concise assessment of what makes your book unique and valuable
•simple adjustments to transform your book into a true page-turner
•your book’s broadest possible readership across industry categories
•the industry pitch: how you present your book to agents and publishers 

Proposal

Once you have a completed manuscript, you’ll need to present your work to agents and publishers. Your Proposal is your one shot at getting your book read, so it needs to meet the highest industry standards in format and content—otherwise most publishing professionals will toss it away without a second glance.I’ll craft a Proposal that shows that you know your work’s value, that you understand where it fits in the marketplace (including a candid assessment of competing current and upcoming titles), and what you’ll do to promote your book. I’ll also include a bio that proves your authority in your subject area, concrete details like word length, graphics, etc.; a summary of contents (nonfiction) or plot synopsis (fiction); and sample chapters.

Bestseller Strategy Plan

While I’d love to see all of my authors go with a traditional or hybrid publisher, self-publishing is becoming increasingly popular for authors (1) who want to see their book in print quickly and (2) want to maintain control over the content, production, and marketing of their work. The Bestseller Strategy Plan maps out how you can turn your manuscript into a bestseller, selling thousands or tens of thousands of copies—far above the dozens or hundreds the average self-publisher manages. Think of it as a fusion of marketing plan and press kit: everything you need to present and sell your book to wholesalers and distributors, as well as the bloggers, website affiliates, and talk-show and webinar interviewers who’ll boost sales of your book. The BSP of course includes:
•an outline and pithy summary of your book
•specific avenues for marketing your book
•a quick recap of how your book differs from competing titles
•an author bio that introduces you to live and virtual audiences
•sample interview questions you can distribute to interviewers—and rehearse answering ahead of time!

Short Book, E-Book, Report

Have a document that’s shorter than a full-length book, but longer than an article? I can apply my ghostwriting skills to polishing your prose with the same care I do on longer projects.