My sister gave me this biography of playwright Wendy Wasserstein for Christmas. It is a masterfully told tale of a complex woman, and a fantastic profile of what it takes to make art. I'd recommend it for anyone interseted in theater, writing, creativity and women making their way in the world.
coaching services
I specialize in helping people conceptualize, execute and market both fiction and non-fiction books. Conceptualization happens at the very start of a project; execution is everything that happens in the middle; and marketing is the process of taking your work out into the world, first to agents, then to publishers and finally to the reading public. I'm proud of my ability to help people finish their books, which is why I sometimes think of myself as a book shepherd. I guide writers down the road when it's easy going and when it's steep, and I point them in the direction of the most fertile fields. The reason for my pride is simple: I don't believe there is any greater feeling than holding a completed manuscript in your hands. Seeing in on the shelves of a bookstore is fantastic, and seeing it in the hands of strangers is moving, and seeing it in on the coffee table of a nationally syndicated talk show will make you smile from ear to ear, but finishing? Knowing that you actually really did it? That's the best.
blueprint for a book :: $800
I will send you assignments to help you wrap your mind around a brand-new book idea, and will review them as you go, suggesting revisions and tweaks that will lead to greater clarity. You will end up with a catchy and descriptive book title; a one-sentence description of your book to be used in talking about it, thinking about it and pitching it; a one paragraph description to be used to guide you as you write; a map of the entire project so you know what the whole thing looks like; a sense of where your book fits into the marketplace (which is to say, a sense of the audience and the competition); and a written plan for how you will write it, given the constraints of your regular life. This "Blueprint for a Book" is everything most people need to get their book project off the ground -- and another benefit is that it's a big chunk of the work you need to do to write a good agent query and/or book proposal, so by the time you finish your book, you'll be well on your way to selling it. Suitable for fiction and non-fiction projects.
"What you have taught me has turned the structure of my work from a semi-whiny journal/diary to that of a novel. And like the magician's apprentice who has just been taught how to pull a rabbit out of the hat by the wise master, I have you to thank for this." -- Clif T., after working through "Blueprint for a Book."
book coaching :: $120 per hour, once or twice per month
This service is for writers who want the gently prodding of a bi-weekly deadline, and the reassurance of a regular, professional reader in order to write a book that is commercially viable. This is my premium service; I take no more than ten clients for book coaching at a time, so tend to only take people who are serious and committed.
"My life feels so great right now it's easily worth the year of work." -- Sam P., upon finish his first draft
manuscript editing :: $120/hour
For clients with a completed manuscript who are ready to either self publish or prepare their manuscript for submission to literary agents. It takes me a full week to read thorugh most manuscripts. I will return the manuscript to you with very detailed, line-by-line notes on everything from spelling and grammar to dialogue and scene structure to overall payoff. Total price depends on page length and how clean the writing is. A typical 250-page manuscript will take me somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-7 hours.
A special note about manuscript editing: it can be really hard to hand over a beloved manuscript, only to have a reader poke holes in it. It can be particularly hard if you've paid for this priviledge. There's a fantastic essay about this reality -- and how to embrace it -- on Writer Unboxed. I urge you to read it.
book proposal review :: $120/hour
Is your non-fiction manuscript ready to pitch to agents? I will guide you through the process of evaluation the competition, tracking down suitable agents, understanding your role as an author, figuring out how and where to meet your public, and putting all this information in a powerful pitch package.
marketing consultation :: $120/hour
Knowing how to reach your audience is a key skill for authors today. I have developed cross-promotional deals for three of my own books, with companies such as Ford Motor Company and Benjamin Moore Paints, so I know how to think outside the box.
still have questions? :: email me and we'll set up a time to talk.