Figuring out how to position your book can be tough.  Thinking of a great title can be tough.  Getting the marketing side of your proposal down can be tough, even for really talented writers. It's hard to know if you're saying enough or too much in your chapter outlines. Even just getting started can seem overwhelming. 

I can help! I can work with you as a coach—i.e. I’ll tell you what you need to do and then give your feedback—or I can actually help you write it. I can also do a combination of coaching and writing. I have helped many people get their proposals on track in a just few hours (I charge $75 per hour) for $300 or less.  Sometimes it will take longer, 10-20 hours, especially if you need a lot of help with writing your chapter outlines or sample chapter. I only work on proposals that I think have a real chance of being published. I tell the truth, nicely, but I call them like I see them. So, some people I send back to the thinking-it-through phase before I even charge them. 

I will send you via email, fax or snail mail a copy of a book proposal that I wrote and sold. You can use this for inspiration, information and to get an idea of how a proposal needs to be written. We set up a time to talk about your idea. You get started and then come back and we evaluate what you’ve done. Again, some people need and want a lot of help. Other people just need some tweaking here and there and the reassurance that they’re on the right track. Sometimes just hearing, “Yes, this is good,” is so important when you’re doing the unknown.

I can sometimes provide a referral to an agent or publisher if I know of one who may be interested in your project. Please understand, however, I am not an agent, or an agent’s agent. I know, or know of, a few agents. I make no fee or commission from referrals. I just do it to help. I make no promises or guarantees that you will get an agent or a publisher if you follow any advice that I give you. But I do promise that I can help you put your best foot forward. When I worked for Running Press Book Publishers and others, I used to see a lot of bad book proposals. I can tell you that if you put yours together in the right way, you will be way, way ahead of the pack.

Please feel free to contact me by email or phone: 610-238-0620.