A La Cart

Booked Time

Ghost Writing

I coach authors by exchanging emails, chatting via the internet, viewing excerpts of their work, and assessing your strengths and weaknesses.  Once we have established exactly what the author expects to receive from a working relationship with me, then we will discuss what I can do for them.  This process takes about two hours. This consultation is free.

An important element of coaching is to develop positive steps and goals that move the author toward their goal. I am willing to work within an author's budget.  I will schedule times to work one-on-one with you, or suggest courses (mine or other instructors) that will help you reach your goals. 

I accept clients who need help to:

No coach can do everything.  Because I believe that no coach can help writers in genres they are unfamiliar, I will only line-edit short stories, horror, police proceedurals, true crime, and religious texts. I will not content edit them.

  (PS. proceedurals is spelt right)

Book Project

If you want help writing, editing, and jump starting your marketing program, this is the project for you.  We will build a plan of action for both long and short term goals,  and establish priorities.  We will identify target markets and develop strategy to reach them.  I will suggest other services you many need, and help you determine how to maximize your opportunities.  This includes preparing a submission, and selecting the best publishers to submit to, or help selecting a good printer, POD supplier.

$1800.00

I will critique ten pages of a manuscript for $25.00.  When finished, I will give the author a report, stating what I believe their strengths and weaknesses are. 

I will content edit a novel for $25.00 under the following conditions.  First, The author must have a properly constructed storyboard.  They must have a conscience plot outline, character outline, and story arc.  I can offer guidelines, or I can teach a student how to create a good outline.  This will take about two hours.

I will critique an entire manuscript for $1.00 a page.

I content and line edit for either $20.00 an hour, or $4.00 a page.  I will edit either digitally, or on paper.  If you decide to select an hourly fee, you may also choose to have me include explanations and examples of corrections.

Content editing finds mistakes like: plot holes, unresolved supporting/sub plots, weak supporting or sub plots, weak character motivation, flat characters, pacing problems, missing novel or story elements.

There is an $80.00 flat fee.  Once this fee is used up, you can decide to continue editing, change services, or that you are not advanced enough to understand an edit. 

As a coach I work with writers, a few pages at a time, so they can learn to self-edit their own work.  This is the most cost effective method of editing, because the writer corrects more and more mistakes as they write.  As the book progresses, more and more pages are completed in an hour.

However, I do understand that some writers are unable to handle their own edits.  I have had experience with writers who become frustrated, and cannot handle editing on an emotional level, or others who do not have the patience for it.  In these cases I will edit the entire book.

However, it is important for writers to understand that no editor will make the corrections.  This is illegal.  An editor is only allowed to point out mistakes.  It is the writer's job to correct them.  If you want someone else to correct your mistakes, then you need a ghost writer.

Teaching

I have several online courses that help writers at different stages of their professional development.  These courses are self-paced, teacher assisted, and practical.  A practical course allows students to rewrite their work as often as needed, even starting the course over from the beginning if needed.  I allow students two years to finish this 20 lesson course which equals forty five hours of lectures at a college non-credit course.

The main course, How to Write and Edit a Novel is $2=39.00.

I also have a small private course.  These students are mentored one-on-one, maximum five students in the course. These courses includes online class time, and must be completed within a fixed time frame.  I usually hold these classes in the summer.

These courses run $100 - $300.00.  You must book ahead of time for these courses.

Mentoring

Mentoring is similar to the private courses.  I mentor students who want to learn the art of self editing, or how to work as an editor.  This type of service is not suitable for students who want to learn how to write or construct a novel or book.  However, it can be invaluable if the student understands their weakness and wants someone to help them overcome it.

Private teaching is $30.00 hour.  However, I will make exceptions for junior authors and home school students.

Author Promotion

This needs to start the moment a person decides to become a professional writer.  There are many aspects of promotion that must be discussed, and a solid foundation must be built.  The end result is income.  How that income is generated depends on the skills, personality, and abilities of the author. 

Contact me to discuss everything from helping develop a plan suited to you, to working with you each step of the way. 

A La Cart

Live chat on YAHOO or MSN.  This service is best suited for writers who wants some feedback from a professional, have a question they want answered, want to brainstorm some ideas.  If you do not need a coach, but want good advice, this service is for you. 

$40.00 hour.  15 minute minimum.

Booked Time

Over ambitious, or under a deadline, then this may be the right service for you.  I cannot guarantee more than 30 hours a week, but if you want to get the project finished, then this is the best way to do it.  This can be a crash course in writing and self-editing, as well as an in-depth edit of the manuscript.

$600.00 week

Book Project

If you want help writing, editing, and jump starting your marketing program, this is the project for you.  We will build a plan of action for both long and short term goals,  and establish priorities.  We will identify target markets and develop strategy to reach them.  I will suggest other services you many need, and help you determine how to maximize your opportunities.  This includes preparing a submission, and selecting the best publishers to submit to, or help selecting a good printer, POD supplier.  This project has a start and stop date, and there may be a page limit.

$1800.00

Ghost Writing

I ghost write articles, marketing copy, web content, speeches, e-books, and print books.  This covers topics like web content that is Search Engine Optimized to drive traffic to your website, or want extra content written in the same style as old work. 

Price starts at $0.10 a word for articles.  $0.25 a word for a polished manuscript - not typeset.

The author supplies content, facts, notes, arranged in order.  They review each chapter and approves it before editing.  They read the final draft, and confirm that it is acceptable.

Public Speaking

If you live in Western Ontario it is possible to attend one of Suzanne's courses or lectures.  Visit her public speaking page to see when she has 'open' engagements.  Or, contact her to speak for your group on writing, self-promotion, or the joy of being a woman in 2005.

I enjoy being the guest speaker at email conferences, chats, or teleconferences.  I enjoy helping, and will, if the group is just starting out, speak for free.  

I agree to the following:

1. To focus on the technical aspects of your work, instructing you how to overcome obstacles.
2. To work diligently on projects, keeping the deadlines set with the client, within the best of my ability. 
3. To avoid editing when I am stressed, or ill.
4. To keep my comments brief, analytical, and impersonal. While I have developed some deep relationships with clients, I try to keep any emotional element out of edits.
5. To ensure the client are enjoying the process.
6. To allow the client a reasonable amount of time to respond to edits and complete work before terminating the relationship.  I am not very strict on this, but when too much time passes between edits, or rewrites, the client and I start a futile dance.  The client must build on the skills taught, so they can reach higher goals with each session.  If this does not happen then I am working as an instructor, not a coach.
7. Not to count breaks, pauses, or distractions when calculating the time needed to complete the task.  I also promise to make sure the writer is constantly aware of how much time I invested in the project.
8. That I will conduct myself honestly, professionally, and ethically.
9. Treat every client with equal respect and professionalism.
10. Be honest, even if it hurts.
11. Be empathetic with your frustration, fears, and concerns.
12. I will respect your creative process, allowing you the freedom to explore your own voice and style.  You are allowed to disagree with my suggestions.  I will still support and respect your work.

You agree to the following:

1. You will not publish, either in print, electronically, or audio format, any of my methods or the techniques I teach you.
2. You will not use me as a reference, unless I have given you written consent.
3. You will start the project immediately, and carry it to completion.
4. You understand that poor instruction, wrong techniques, and understanding of writing have caused problems, and are willing to try new methods to reach your goals.
5. You will do homework if needed.
6. You will not ask for a lesser service, then try to push me into offering more than the agreed service.
7. I cannot guarantee you will be published.
8. You are willing to continue an open working relationship.  This includes discussing things you do not understand, or disagree with.
9. You will not make demands on my time.  I return emails within hours.  I do not work weekends.  I do not work holidays.  I do not promise to start on a project the moment it arrives.  Anyone who starts spamming my inbox, or demanding that I finish their work the day they submitted it, will default on their contract. 
10. Do not expect to see immediate results.  The writing learning curve is a long one, and requires you to think and write in different patterns than you dialogue in.
11. You will not discuss our relationship with others. 
12. You will remember that nothing is written in stone.  I work for you, offering the best help I can.  If you disagree, this does not constitute failure on my part, but creative license on yours.

There is one problem I run into.  Emails are lost in cyberspace.  This is why it is important for a client to remain in touch with me once a week.  There has been a case where I waited for their reply, and they waited for mine, for almost two weeks.

Next step:

Take a moment to write down some goals you have, so we can discuss how I can help you reach them.

Contact me