Writing Mentor

Non-fiction & fiction: meeting your editorial needs

EVERY AUTHOR desires to write the book that flies off the shelf or the novel that people can’t put down and they recommend them to all their friends and family. Truth is, authors and publishers don’t get to choose which book is a bestseller. Readers do.

Good news! You can learn to write a captivating novel or polish your compelling non-fiction through the wisdom and experience of the masters who live and breath the craft. I’m excited that you’re here. Yes, writer, you can do this!

I Can Help. I love authors, new and seasoned, and I’ve been coaching privately, both one-on-one and group style, for several years as a ministry. I’m delighted to step into the public arena as of 2017. I’d love the opportunity to partner with you to improve your writing skills and make your book shine.

A FREEBEE for fiction writers : Here are 21 of the best writing tips from the man who taught me how to write: Jerry Jenkins (click his name)

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Consulting, Coaching, and Editing

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FREE Assessment:

Your first 5 pages, evaluated from a birds-eye view and with sincere commentary on its readiness for publication. Editing samples included of the type of editing required that would help you improve your project.

(Submission requirement: New Times Roman 12pt, double-spaced, 1″ margins, which are industry standards.)

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All following services paid in advance (PayPal, cash, or check):

Basic Evaluation:

This is similar to entering your work in a contest, only your manuscript is the main focus with detailed feedback.

• First ten pages – $25 (Receive a valuable estimate on how close your project is to publication-ready, and how much work is required: substantive and/or copyediting, proofreading. This evaluation includes 1-2 examples of editing necessary to make your work shine)
• First 50 pages – $100 (Same as above, just more)

Submission requirement: New Times Roman 12pt, double-spaced, 1-inch margins on all sides.

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One-on-one consultation

Fiction

• Phone or FaceTime developing or brainstorming your story:
  • $50 for the first hour (2nd consecutive hour = $45)
• In person, within the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex:
  • $60 for the first hour (2nd consecutive hour = $50)

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Non-fiction

• Phone or FaceTime. Intense developmental editing/consultation to help you structure your message from the first to the final page:
  • $80/first hour (2nd consecutive hour = $70)
• In person, within the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex:
  • $90/first hour (2nd consecutive hour = $80)

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Non-fiction options 

1. Substantive editing $7.50 – $10 per page, as determined by an initial Basic Evaluation” (The cost of the evaluation is deducted from the full project price).

Includes:

• Highly intensive work
• Working closely with the author to shape the manuscript from beginning to end
• Rearranging information to create a clean flow
• Rewriting or adding sections as needed
• Improve continuity and cohesiveness of the message
• Bringing life to your message and making it shine
• …and more

Proofreading is recommended as the final step. See information below.

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2. Copyediting $7.50-$10 per page (Pre-requisite: a 50-page basic evaluation, but this cost will be deducted from the full project price.)

Includes:

• Mechanics (spelling, usage, punctuation, capitalization…)
• Grammar errors
• Flag factual inconsistencies & contradictions, and permissions of use
• Address passive voice
• Flag wordiness, ambiguity, jargon, clichés
• Making sentences read more smoothly
• Exchanging weak words for stronger ones
• Adjust heads and subheads (logical structure)
• Eliminate ambiguity, rewrite for more precise wording
• …and more

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3. Substantive & Copyedit COMBO (Recommended)

***Price negotiated per chapter

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Coaching Fiction Writers 

Learn the craft using your own story – $8.00-$12 per page, as many pages as you desire. Optional: price negotiation per chapter.

Private developmental/substantive fiction editing includes:

• Characterization (conflict, conveying emotions, villains and heroes, etc)
• Point of View
• Plot
• Setting
• Dialogue
• Punctuation & grammar
• Moral premise, story premise & theme development
• And more…

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For Seasoned & Published Authors

Proofreading – final edit before publication 

Checking the manuscript for cosmetic errors and errors missed in copyediting.

• Memoir (full length) = $3.00 per page
• Christian living & self-help (full length) $3.00 per page
• Novels and novellas – $3.00 per page
• Single devotions & blog posts – $0.15 per word. (Note: a full devotional book qualifies for the full manuscript rate.)

J.A. DOES NOT EDIT: Resumes. Poetry. Illustration. Picture books. Children’s books. Music lyrics. Horror. Erotica. Technical Writing. Websites.

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Do you need to COPYRIGHT your material?

The moment you create a written work, it is automatically copyrighted under Common Law.  For more info click this link: Copyright

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ASK J.A. to mentor you as a writer:

Either message her via Facebook, or:

Good To Know…

THREE Ways to Publish a Book:

1) Traditional: a legitimate book publishing house offers you a contract for your manuscript. They provide cover design, copy editing, a publicist etc. They put your book out on multiple outlets and co-marketing with you. You do not pay them. Everyone gets paid when the book sells. Your cut is 30%-70% depending on the size of house and whether you are agented. Occasionally, they offer an advance.

*How to:   1) Connect with a publishing house acquisition editor at a writers conference, 2) Find an literary agent (at a conference). If they like your work, they’ll offer to represent you to publishers. *If you submit your manuscript cold, it will end up in the slush pile or trash bin. (Recognize publishing scams)

2) DIY self-publishing, aka Independent: The author is responsible for everything listed under traditional pub. You receive %100 of your book earnings after Amazon (or other venue) takes their cut. Well known authors with a large following greatly succeed at this.

3) Vanity/Subsidy publishing (sometimes labeled as “hybrid”): the author pays this company to publish the book. This can cost anywhere from $2,000-$30,000 (or more). And then you do all the marketing yourself and usually end up with 100-1,000 books sitting in your garage. Read more here I highly advise against paying anyone to publish your work.

Note on literary agents: There are pros and cons, but the important information is: never pay any literary agent to represent your work. This is a scam. Agents receive their cut when the book sells through the traditional publisher.

Check out: Writer Beware for detailed info on the above topics.

A hidden snare to a wannabe author

Self publishing. I’m not opposed to this option, and half of my work is self-pubbed. The problem arises when a new writer types up what they believe is a great story yet does not put it through the pre-publish gauntlet: professional editing and serious critique (alpha & beta readers), professional cover design, and a marketing plan. Once your novel is in cyberspace, it’s there forever, mistakes and all—and so are the painful reviews from readers. So I encourage every writer who wishes to publish their work to take the necessary steps to hone skill and perfect manuscript.

Choose to suffer constructive criticism in private and reap good reviews in public.

Worthy Dreams are Worth-thy Effort