Book coaching
Editing
Indexing
Publishing
This will suit you if you want to write a nonfiction book proposal, whether you plan to seek traditional publication or to publish independently (self-publish). Maybe you are starting from scratch. Or maybe you began with a lot of brilliant ideas but now those ideas have got all tangled up and you need help sorting them all out.
A Book Proposal gets you clear on what you will write about, to whom and how you will write it. It helps you to work out who your readers will be and how you will market to them. You learn the art of beautifully describing your whole book in a few sentences, so attracting the attention of readers, publishers or agents.
The outcome of the work we do together is a well-researched, deeply thought-out and polished book proposal. You will use it to submit to publishers, if you seek traditional publication, or, if you are going to publish independently, you will use it as your project plan to write the book in the most efficient and effective way.
I guide you through a clear process to write the book proposal from start to finish, underpinned by the back and forth of questioning and answering to help you find the way you want to write your book.
My support is given in a series of coaching cycles (face-to-face calls over Zoom, guidance materials and feedback on your written work) that take you from idea to finished book proposal.
To get your book proposal written, I help you to:
- Get clear on your book idea and develop a detailed outline for the content, identifying alternative ways to present the content so that it makes for a smooth flow and a compelling read.
- Get clear on who the book is meant for and research the data on your market
- Find a robust title
- Create a table of contents that shows how the book’s ideas flow from start to finish
- Write the formal outline, or synopsis
- Find your comparable titles and clarify the market differentiation of the book
- Design a ‘no-fear’ marketing plan and talking points to convey the book’s unique message
- Write your first two chapters.
Once you have done this, you are in the best position to make enquiries of direct-submission publishers, or to agents.
Drop me a line to enquire about my availability so that you can find out what are the next best steps for your book.
When is ‘done’, so far as your book project goes? How do you decide if it’s safe to lay your pen down now and to send your work out into the world? The answers lies in getting a second opinion from a trained professional: a book audit will tell you what you need to know as to how your book is likely to be received in the market place in its current state.
In Line Editing, the main objective is to ensure that the style, word choice and tone is right for your work. I will look for contradictions, repetitions and factual errors.
Be prepared for some significant rewriting and rephrasing, all in the service of making your writing shine.
To get started, message me so that you can find out what are the next best steps for your book.
I will not correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. That comes at the Copyediting stage.
Nor is the function of a Line Edit to assess:
- The point and purpose of your book
- The narrative drive and flow, nor
- The internal logic of the book.
If you would like to work on those points, please ask me about my Book Audit.
If I copyedit your work, I will ensure the grammar is correct and I will attend to the accuracy of the spelling and punctuation, line-by-line.
There is more detail about my copyediting service here.
Message me to find out my availability to help you.
I will help you decide which editing you need at this stage of your writing, but if you would like to read some detail on the differences, see Different types of Editing.
An index puts the finishing touch on a nonfiction, factual book. Its a valuable tool for the reader. The lack of an index can lead to negative reviews.
When I design indexes, I don’t just look at the text and list key words. I read the text as its ideal reader might. I think of the questions they might have and help them to find the right part of your book even though the text might not have used their exact words. Adopting their mindset, I use my creative and technical skills to create an attractive and useful index for your book.
Drop me a line to enquire about my availability to index your manuscript in MS Word.
In one cycle of book coaching, you tell me what are your publishing goals for your book and I walk you through the different routes for achieving them.
This is not a download of everything there is to know about publishing. It’s a strategic planning session that takes into account how you want to get your particular book out into the world and gives you an actionable plan to pursue those goals.
I have no affiliation with, or vested interest in, any publisher or agent or book producer. I can give no guarantee that you will secure a publisher or agent. My goal is to give you the best advice I can, with options tailored to your needs, for which I receive no further remuneration.
Message me to find out more.
For nonfiction writers seeking either traditional or hybrid publication.
The requirement before starting this work is for an edited, submission-ready book proposal.
This work may take two, or three, coaching cycles. We discuss your publishing goals in detail on a call, and I draw up a long-list of publishers that may be interested in your book. Together we review it, and whittle it down to a shortlist.
If you and I have not already worked together on your book proposal, or on your manuscript, then I will need to review the proposal or manuscript so as to advise you as to whether, in my opinion, it is submission-ready. Otherwise, you could waste your money on paying for a pitch plan. See here for details of my Book Audit.