- Totally reorganized and reconstructed, significiantly tightened and trimmed: 9 nonfiction or business, 1 memoir, 7 novels
- Expanded, embellished, enhanced: 1 therapeutic nonfiction, 1 self-help nonfiction, 1 memoir, 1 tips business booklet, 1 screenplay
In addition, 59 client books were heavy edited, including creative rewriting: twenty-eight nonfiction and business, and thirty-one memoirs.
FINISHING YOUR BOOK
Memoirs and Inspiring Nonfiction
Develop your unfinished book manuscript
Includes: (1) Planning session; questions/answers with you via email (and/or phone) as I need more information (need answers within the week if you can); (2) integrate and shape materials you provide. First draft is generally at 2/3 done; this may vary with a prolonged work schedule). Final (second) draft is honed down.
Additional services: (1) taped personal interviews with you to draw out your story; (2) travel to you, local; (3) transcribe; (4) research. To save on cost, provide all of these materials to me.
Developing raw manuscript and transcription pages entails:
Gleaning the best of what you say, illuminating your vision and your passion, organizing for compelling reading, capturing a positive and encouraging tone that inspires and motivates; with mainstream language and emotional resonance.
You provide all of the content materials: drafts from your computer files (MS Word, PC, emailed or on flash drive you provide), additional papers (from which I must type). You permit me to glean the best of the writing to suit your primary theme (see column right for description). I bring the contents into shape, organize, create a reading flow that is dynamic and enthralling. I refine the structure and concepts for absorbing reading. I distill the best of your writing, delete the repetitions, and creatively enhance whatever you have already drafted.
Additional materials you may provide: appendices, exercises, tips, techniques, modules, steps, directions, recommendations, theories, answers, remedies).
First a work plan and outline. The main thing is that the book needs a single focus or theme that ties everything together. We start with an initial plan, but it can evolve creatively.
From this work plan and outline, I shape a structure for the writing. This begins with materials you provide, including your printed tape transcripts and/or my interviews with you to gather your story and the details.
Whether you provide them, or I interview you: Taped transcripts provide your personal voice, perspective, and story (who, what, when, where, why, how).
Two drafts. Typically three to six months for first draft, entire writing estimate 6-12 months). Can adjust work timeline (faster or longer) to meet your needs.
Work with your budget plan. Average .75 to 1.25 hours per your original 100 pages (or 27,000 words) in materials provided, including your transcription pages of your taped notes and/or interviews. Time also determined by if I am keeping close to your original content, or distilling down from a very large volume of materials to a dominant theme (the latter may increase work time, considering time to review your materials and select to fit book).
Additional services if you wish: personal interviews with you to draw out your story, then shape it (includes interview time, travel to/from local, transcription). Research (rather than you provide all needed materials).
Book Proposal: Plus about 20 hours to write book proposal (during the work): Outline (paragraph summary of each chapter, first phase of synopsis), synopsis (2 pages, distilled from outline), query letter (1 page, includes one paragraph condensed from synopsis), book description (distilled from synopsis and query letter). (Additional variations and lengths on marketing copy, estimate 5 hours, if desired.)
Personal payment arrangements. Work with your budget plan (a sum deposited monthly).
Other additional services include: (1) select agents/publishers, type lists (about 5 hours); (2) research POD, ebook publishers and printers; (3) help with self-publishing; (4) post-production (proofread galleys, help with cover designer, file copyright, file writers guild); (5) book layout in Word or Publisher for self-publishing: (6) PR, book marketing, press releases; (7) project management, support as needed.
Additional costs (authorized): out of pocket expenses, if any (e.g. printing, postage, long distance).
Personal payment arrangements. Credit cards through PayPal online. Project time can be extended.
Simple work-for-hire ghostwriter contract, with Acknowledge book doctor for writing assistance.
Completed projects are included in website counts. Book title and author name are listed with your testimonial and a brief task description to show other writers work that has been completed. Ghostwritten projects are listed as writing assistance (ghostwriter, e.g., Your Name with my name); or if you prefer, as developed work. When you publish or receive awards, with your notification your testimonial is linked to your publication website...and submit a national press release for your book.
FINISHING YOUR BOOK
Memoirs and Inspiring Nonfiction
Possible format: Part I: the problem. Part II: anecdotes (stories, examples). Part III: solutions, steps, treatments, resolutions, answers, remedies, strategies, etc.
Possible structure: (1) Opening presents the challenge (dilemma, struggle). (2) As story unfolds, readers go along through your thoughts and feelings, experience your journey (ideas, emotions, what happened, how you felt about it). The book evolves through experiences that impacted you, how you made decisions and why, what you did about it. So readers experience the resolutions and revelations. Readers cheer for the accomplishments. Readers learn from your observations and insights and how you drew your conclusions. Your ongoing program (and how to participate, contact you, etc.).
Developing your book includes: (1) integrate and shape materials you provide, (2) questions/answers with you via email (and/or phone) as I need more information (need answers within the week if you can), (3) drafts (generally first draft is 2/3 done; this may vary with a prolonged work schedule), (4) hone it all down (e.g., second and final draft).
Book elements include: front matter (title page, copyright page, introduction, dedication, table of contents, foreword (from one of your professional peers or supporters), back matter (epilogue, resources, bibliography).
Following is information you will provide to me, to get things started (or we may meet to work this out together):
- Theme (single “message” that underlies everything, threads all components into a single whole).
- Thesis (what the book is about).
- What shaped and formulated this topic.
- Your goal for the book, what you want readers to get out of it.
- What makes it unique, why you feel it matters.
- Your readers (helps me to shape the book).
SHORT Develop Your Draft
.Expand, enhance. Microsoft Word.
- Letters (rewrite, polish, enhance) $80/pg (e.g. approximately $40 per handwritten page) Times New Roman 12, 1" margins, block paragraphs
- Between 6000 and 30,000 original words: $345 per 1000 original words.
- Additional support $60/hr (160 wds/hr)
SHORT Write It For You
Letters, business pieces, etc.
To 5 pages (1500 words)
- Letters 1 page $125 (Times New Roman 12, 1" margins, block paragraphs)
- Press releases: first $125 (you email press and promo materials with photo), subsequent $50, setup account at PR.com $50
BLOG Writing Life Professional tips on the process of writing and editing: nonfiction, business, novels, screenplays, spiritual.
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