Services for writers and authors
Advice, research and hands-on work.
Here’s everything I do, with prices. Some of it is conversation: an hour working out why the draft stalled, or whether the offer on the table is a good one. Some of it is work I take off your hands, like the agent research, the publicity plan or the website. Most writers end up with a bit of both.
If nothing below fits exactly, that’s normal. Bring me whatever’s in front of you and we’ll work out the right shape on the free call.
Talk to SeanThe first 20-minute call is free and confidential.
Writing & Publishing
The manuscript, and what happens to it next.
This is the part closest to the page. We can dig into a draft that’s lost its way, build a writing routine that survives the rest of your life, or talk through an offer before you sign anything. You’ll get my honest read on the manuscript and a plan for what comes next.
Advice and guidance
- Feedback on a manuscript or work in progress
- Working through problems of structure or voice
- Regular check-ins to keep you writing
- Comparing traditional, independent and small-press publishing
- Deciding what to write or publish next
- Getting ready for calls with agents, editors or publishers
- Using available tools for research and inspiration, keeping the creative flame pure
Research and hands-on work
- Creative brainstorming and idea development
- Finding agents who represent books like yours
- Keeping your agent and publisher research in order
- Planning who to query, and in what order
- Reviewing query letters, synopses and sample pages
- Writing a revision plan with dates on it
- Written notes after each session, so you know what to do next
- Introductions to editors, agents and others in the business, where it makes sense
Good for
You’ve got a draft underway, a project that’s stalled, or a publishing decision to make. Or you’d just like someone in your corner while you finish the book.
Marketing
Getting the book in front of readers.
Marketing starts with knowing what you want to say about the book and who you want to hear it. From there we pick the handful of things worth your time, given the book and the hours you actually have, and save the rest of your energy for the writing. You can find your readers without posting every day.
Advice and guidance
- A memorable story about you and your book
- Working out who your readers are
- Deciding what is worth your time
- Planning around your time and budget
- Talking points for interviews and events
- Getting your site, newsletter, events and social accounts working together
Research and hands-on work
- A publicity plan that won’t get in the way of your writing
- Finding the podcasts, reviewers, bookstores and festivals worth approaching
- Launch timelines that fit the rest of your life
- Pitch emails and outreach materials
- A press kit that makes it easy for people to say yes
- Helping run the launch itself
- New life for a book that didn’t get the support it needed the first time around
Good for
Your book comes out soon. Or it came out quietly and deserves another push. Or your online presence has grown in bits and pieces and needs pulling together.
Design
Author websites and visual identity.
This is how you and your books look to the world, and most of that happens on your website. I’ll tell you what your current site needs and, if you want, design and build a new one. Every site starts from scratch and starts with the books.
Advice and guidance
- Deciding who your site is for
- Deciding what goes on it
- Sorting out books, bios, events and press material
- Reviewing the site you have now
- A look that suits your books
- Moving what matters off social platforms and onto a site you own
Research and hands-on work
- Designing and building your site
- Designing your visual identity
- Editing and organizing your website text
- Book, event, press and contact pages
- Press kits and launch graphics
- Setting up your newsletter and archive so you can run them yourself
- Training so you can update the site yourself, without calling me every time
- Your own domain and email address, in your name
Good for
You need your first website, or the one you have stopped keeping up a book or two ago.
Connected work
Most projects spill across all three.
A launch usually needs a publicity plan and a website that’s ready for the attention. Agent research often begins with a hard conversation about the manuscript. And building a website has a way of showing that nobody has settled how to describe the books.
We’ll sort out the mix when we talk.
Sessions and prices
Where to start.
If you’re not sure which fits, we’ll work it out on the free call.
Orientation Session
Ninety minutes on whatever’s most pressing: the manuscript, a launch plan or your website. Send me up to 2,500 words beforehand, and you’ll leave with written priorities.
C$750
Accountability
Two 30-minute check-ins a month, with email in between, for writers who get more done when someone’s expecting pages. Three-month minimum.
C$450 a month
Manuscript Direction
Four sessions over 8 to 10 weeks. Enough time to get properly into a draft and come out with a revision plan you can follow.
C$2,400
Projects and ongoing support
Websites, publicity plans and longer work together. I’ll quote these once we’ve talked about what you need.
Prices in Canadian dollars, plus GST. For projects, you get a written estimate before any work starts.
Get in touch
Tell me what you’re working on.
It doesn’t have to fit neatly into any of the sections above. The most interesting projects usually don’t.
Talk to SeanThe first 20-minute call is free and confidential.
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