FLESH OUT YOUR BOOK
for non-fiction or memoir
A monthly retainer for editorial feedback as you write your book, chapter by chapter, based on the preparatory work we have done together.
This package includes PER MONTH:
2 x SUBMISSION DEADLINES
2 X EDITORIAL FEEDBACK
1 x 90 min COACHING CALL
Congratulations!
You have created your book skeleton, and possibly even your book proposal, doing the heavy lifting ahead of the writing... and it was a lot of work.
Now you're ready to craft your long-form manuscript, chapter by chapter, following the unique 'road map' you have created for your flow of contents.
You're nervous and excited about crossing the threshold into this next stage. It's been a long time coming.
You recognise that having accountability will sustain your creative momentum at those difficult or sticky moments which will inevitably arise.
You understand that having an objective eye on your work can prevent you from going off track along the way - because this can take a lot of work to fix once it gets 'solidified' on the page, and is best avoided from the start.
This is unlikely to happen in terms of structure, because we've worked on that, but it can happen in terms of voice, pacing, reader engagement, the more detailed content.
You've enjoyed our exchanges and our process of creative brainstorming. You value objective feedback from an 'ideal reader and editor in one.' This has stimulated your creative process and your sense of engagement with your own material, and you would like to continue in this vein.
This package offers month-by-month support to help you and your book stay on track.
You'll receive guidance in the following ways.
Presence. This is how this service differs from a standard developmental edit. Rather than simply pointing out what needs attention in your manuscript, and presenting this to you in the form of notes that you then take away and work on alone, I'm there alongside you.
I am here to see that your manuscript progresses according to a plan and a schedule. I'll create a container for what has to unfold, and I'll here to guide you as you move through your writing. This is the power of the book coach.
Prioritisation. I will order what needs to be addressed in your manuscript each month, in order of importance. This means I will prioritise the issues that need to be addressed before anything else, until they are finished and resolved.
I'll simultaneously point out what's less urgent, the issues that can be addressed later on. This way, you can work with your manuscript with a sytematic approach that is orderly and clear, and which circumvents overwhelm.
I will use a 'stoplight' method to achieve this, flagging red (urgent), yellow (less urgent) and green (least urgent) issues in my feedback notes. I'll always suggest your next best steps, so you can move your project forward successfully.
You will receive:
2 x SUBMISSION DEADLINES PER MONTH
You agree to submit 3000 words (max) of fresh work each fortnight, based on the work we've already done together in mapping out your narrative. (This means you'll be writing approx. one page per day, 6 days a week.)
2 x ROUNDS OF EDITORIAL FEEDBACK
You will submit your Microsoft Word working document to me on a pre-agreed monthly schedule, and I will return it to you with detailed in-line notes and an accompanying editorial letter that addresses the big-picture issues.
I will keep your book's point and purpose in mind when addressing each submission. This is more than about editing discrete parts: my editorial feedback will consider the full sweep of your narrative, as per the book skeleton or proposal you have already set up.
1 x COACHING CALL:
Your monthly coaching call will be up to 90 minutes long and is for discussing your progress, addressing any questions you have, brainstorming where needed, and planning your next steps.
PRICING
(on a monthly basis)
MONTHLY INVOICING
I'll send you an invoice at the start of each month, ahead of the work we're doing together.
If you wish to submit revised work as well, this is charged separately at $0.015 at per word (50% off), on top of your monthly 6000 word submission of new work.
While my prices are set in USD, payment is also possible in €, AUD or GBP.
Duration of this retainer:
How long you sign up for is entirely up to you. Your time commitment will depend on how long it takes you to write your manuscript, how much money and energy you are willing to invest, and for how long you want to work with me as opposed to working on your own.
We can collaborate for whatever duration as you like, on a month-by-month basis. However I request an initial commitment of 3 consecutive months.
I request that you work consecutively with me (as opposed to in a stop-start manner), because the point of this retainer is to keep you progressing steadily towards your goals.
It's amazing how much can be achieved - and how many high-calibre pages generated - with month-by-month accountability, even when the unexpected arises or you feel pressed for time. Creativity thrives inside deadlines!
Note: This work does not guarantee that you will be signed with an agent or publisher, or that you will have a bestseller on your hands.
Nobody can promise that. These things depend on many factors, such as how much time and energy you invest into your own work, alongside external influences such as world events, industry trends, books about to be released that are on a similar to yours, luck and so much more.
This retainer will get you writing steadily towards your goals, and will ensure you are always working with key considerations in mind, such as reader transformation and narrative cohesion.
Would you like to flesh out your book with me?
Please send me an email at catriona@themythicfeminine.com
I'll be delighted to hear from you, and you can expect to hear back within 1-2 business days.