we've got the experience
to help you share yours
Whether you’re working on a novel, a memoir, a short story, a query letter, prescriptive non-fiction, or anything else that involves words, here’s a list of ways we can help!
coaching
Are you working to develop an idea for a manuscript, or finding yourself mired in a first draft that isn’t cooperating with you? Book coaching helps you get organized and moving toward the finish line.
Phase I: Ideation
If you’re in the brainstorming phases we’ll jump into the fray with you, bringing our storytelling and industry expertise to help you shape your ideas and produce an outline for a book-length manuscript. Coaching packages get you four one-hour phone calls, with 5k words of content review prior to each call so we can review notes, preliminary outline drafts, or other materials. Expect homework between calls!
Phase II: Drafting
Once your outline is fully developed and you’re ready to start your first draft, we don’t abandon you in the deep end. Drafting coaching provides you with a collaborator to review and discuss your work as your produce it, guiding you along with feedback on your developing manuscript and helping you plan for the next section. You get 10k words of review and a one-hour discussion—we’ll repeat the process until you’re the proud owner of a complete draft.
Manuscript Evaluation
Who needs a manuscript evaluation?
This service is for writers who don’t require the thoroughness of a developmental edit but would like another set of eyes on their work. You’ve been looking at the same sentences for months, maybe years. Eventually you lose the ability to see what’s in front of you. Despite (and maybe because of) your familiarity with the work, it’s easy to miss little things and more significant issues. A manuscript evaluation is perfect for writers who are looking to query agents and publishers. Likewise, if you’re interested in self-publishing, a manuscript evaluation can catch the things your readers might notice after publication.
We will lightly markup things you might have missed and will give you constructive feedback on your manuscript. Our combination of written feedback and a one hour phone call will help you get clarity and brainstorm as you get ready to put your work into the world. Every manuscript is different, so we’ll select the most pressing topics and provide you with feedback and guidance for your revision. This service includes:
- A full read of your manuscript
- A three- to five-page editorial letter discussing the core elements of the book (plot, pacing, narrative arcs, characters, etc.)
- A lightly marked up manuscript to point out repeated writing issues.
- A one-hour phone call to discuss your project.
Turnaround time for a manuscript evaluation is typically 3-4 weeks but can be expedited in certain circumstances depending on availability. Our manuscript evaluations are performed by published authors, writing instructors, and publishing industry professionals.
Developmental edit
Who needs a developmental edit?
If you’re looking for more comprehensive feedback than a manuscript evaluation, whether fiction or nonfiction, this is the service for you. Also called “content editing” or “structural editing,” a developmental edit places your work in the hands of a storytelling expert, who will analyze your work and report back to you specifically on overarching issues such as structure, length, pace, voice, and a variety of other storytelling elements. Perhaps you’ve grown so close to your work that you’re unable to see the blemishes that you know must exist. We’ve got a magnifying glass. Working on a novel? In the case of fiction we’ll cover plot, characters and character arcs, tension, description, dialogue, etc.
A developmental edit will tell you what’s working in your manuscript and where you have opportunities to make the kind of changes that will make your work stand out to readers including agents and publishers. Additionally, we’ll roll up our sleeves and work alongside you as you begin the revision process. This service includes:
- A full read of your manuscript
- A six-page (or more) editorial letter
- A marked-up manuscript
- Two one-hour phone calls to discuss your project
Turnaround time for a developmental edit is typically 4-6 weeks but can be expedited in certain circumstances depending on availability. Our developmental edits are performed by published authors, writing instructors, and publishing industry professionals.
Line edit
If you’ve got your content right where you want it and would like to make sure that your prose is ready for a public audience, a line edit is the next step for you. We’ll polish your sentences, tracking all of our changes, making adjustments for grammar, syntax, rhythm, sentence structure, usage, and so on. This service includes:
- A fully edited manuscript
- Marginal notes to point out ambiguities or ask questions
- A half-hour phone call to discuss your project
ghost writing
Who needs ghost writing?
Have you lived an exciting life? Made a discovery? Want to leave a legacy for your family line? Some authors have a need for a more hands-on approach. With our collaborative writing services, we take on the responsibility of producing and polishing the manuscript for you. We use the content you provide, whether through conversations, recordings, and selected documents. Our work in this case could take the form of ghostwriting, when we write from scratch, or manuscript doctoring, when we re-write an existing draft. Some projects are a combination of the two. Our collaborative writing services include support with the development and refinement of your outline when needed.
Turnaround time for a ghost write is based on the complexity of the book, the availability of the client, and the Collaborist schedule, but can be expedited in certain circumstances depending on availability. Our ghost writing is performed by published authors, writing instructors, and publishing industry professionals.
In addition to individuals, our service is available for non-profits and other organizations engaged in community building work. We believe in helping clarify and amplify the stories that bind us all. Some charities and non-profits will qualify for reduced rates on ghost writing services.
Book Proposal Support
Do you have aspirations for a book contract for a nonfiction project? A book proposal is the place to start. We can help you develop and write it, and we can provide developmental and line editing once it’s complete so you can submit with confidence. Ghostwriting and proposal doctoring are also available. Rates vary, so please contact us for a custom quote.
- A full read of your manuscript
- A three- to five-page editorial letter discussing the core elements of the book (plot, pacing, narrative arcs, characters, etc.)
- A lightly marked up manuscript to point out repeated writing issues.
- A one-hour phone call to discuss your project.
Turnaround time for a manuscript evaluation is typically 3-4 weeks but can be expedited in certain circumstances depending on availability. Our manuscript evaluations are performed by published authors, writing instructors, and publishing industry professionals.
SUBMISSION REVIEW
You’ve done all the hard work, and now you’re ready to send your manuscript to agents or publishers. You only get one shot at this, so if you want to make sure you’re putting your best effort forward, consider a submission review. We’ll go over your materials with you to make sure they’re as professional as they can be. This service includes:
- A marked-up review of your query letter, with suggestions for revisions
- A marked-up review of your synopsis, with suggestions for revisions
- A full read and mark-up of the opening 5k words of your manuscript
- A 30-minute phone call
Query Letter Review
Who needs a query letter review?
You finished your novel! Yay! Immediately after typing the end on your last revision you decided that it was time to share the book with the world and that doing so means agents! and publishers! Because you wrote a whole book, a one page letter to introduce yourself and your manuscript can’t possibly be difficult. Right? Riiiight…
Over the last two decades, we’ve read a lot of query letters. Good ones. Bad ones. Query letters for books that have been published and query letters for books that were never requested. There are multiple factors that make a query letter get the attention a book deserves. Even though it can be overwhelming trying to understand these factors, sometimes all it takes is an expert. Adhering to best practices here will determine whether your submission goes in the digital dustbin or opens the door for an agent to plunge into your manuscript. With this service, we’ll read your query letter and mark it up, providing you with advice on your tone, content, and structure.
- Feedback and suggestions on your query letter
- A fifteen minute phone call to discuss.
Turnaround time for a query letter review is typically one week but can be expedited in certain circumstances depending on availability. Our query letter reviews are performed by current and former publishing industry professionals with direct experience reading query letters.