Where to start? What are you pitching?

Narrative-Driven Nonfiction

• A narrative about yourself (memoir or autobiography)
• A narrative about someone else (biography)
• A narrative about something (broadly called narrative nonfiction; Hillbilly Elegy. by J. D. Vance, or In Cold Blood. by Truman Capote)

Information-Driven Nonfiction

• A prescriptive book (a book that helps the reader learn or do something better, such as a how-to, self-help, or business book)
• Reference books
• An illustrated book or photography

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How to write a proposal letter or query for Nonfiction?

Narrative-Driven Nonfiction

• Personalization: customize your opening introduction with familiarity for the recipient.
• What you’re selling: genre/category, word count, title/subtitle
• Hook: a compelling description of the narrative, your pitch.
• Target readership: who will buy this book and why? (be specific)
• Your bio, platform, and credentials (especially those credentials that reinforce your expertise on the topic of your manuscript.)
• Thank you, and closing

Information-Driven Nonfiction

• Personalization: customize your opening introduction with familiarity for the recipient.
• What you’re selling: genre/category, word count, title/subtitle
• What makes your book unique—or its unique selling proposition
• Target readership: who will buy this book and why? (whom do you see as your audience, be specific.)
• Your bio, platform, and credentials (especially those credentials  that reinforce your expertise on the topic of your manuscript.)
• Thank you, and closing

Understanding Hybrid Publishing Contracts

What do you get from this partnership?

As there are many steps to the publishing process and definitions for those steps, we will break down the process by consecutive order and then commonly referenced services to promote simplicity and ease of understanding.

EDITING

Assessment Edit provides feedback on the structure of your book and pinpoint what editorial points are needed.

Developmental Editing takes a third-person perspective at the larger structure of your book: chronological cohesion, themes, tone, accuracy. Developmental meets the large picture before addressing the details of each sentence.

Content Editing moves away from the content structure and onto the content itself.

• Run-on sentences
• Word repetition
• Sentence length
• Misuse of words
• Excessive use of adjectives and adverbs
• Use of language that isn’t a good fit for your audience
• Confusing text

Copy Editing ensures that the rules of grammar, syntax, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, and style are followed. Copyeditors either work with the Chicago Manual of Style or the Associated Press Stylebook but know both equally.

• Grammar rules
• Syntax rules
• Capitalization rules
• Punctuation rules
• Hyphenation rules
• Spelling
• Incorrect use of numerals
• Accuracy of quoted facts or data
• Accuracy of internal and external references

Proofreading is the detailed, fine-toothed-comb edit. Typo-hunters.

• Spelling, syntax, grammatical, punctuation, and hyphenation errors
• Caption errors
• Misnumbered lists
• Inaccurate facts and figures
• Misplaced or incorrect graphical elements

Beta Readers are critical test readers who are interested in your topic.

• We recommend at least 3 Beta Readers, and at least one should be an editor.
• Remember to set reasonable deadlines for your review.

ORGANIZATION AND APPEARANCE

Typography, Visual, and Formatting: Follows the style guide and appearance of publishing house or press standards.

• Typography: Where font meets tone
• Visual: Placement and quality of pictures and illustrations
• Long-Form Formatting: Margins conforming to book size or digital standards, gutter, headers, footers, page numbers, paragraph form, style template development, footnotes or endnotes, indexes, and appendixes.

GRAPHIC SERVICES

Cover Design: Our designers and graphic illustrators provide graphics in PNG, PDF, and INDD. Our covers are accepted on any publishing platform.

Interior Graphic Illustration: For partial and fully illustrated books, we can help find a style that speaks to you and your work.

MARKETING PACKAGES: Marketing and PR should happen in phases throughout your publishing process. You choose how much assistance you would like by choosing the package that’s right for you.

1. From the Beginning: Take advantage of interactive surveys, social media posts, and email announcements during the editing process. We also provide access to Beta Readers to assist with the process. Build your SEO: Remember that every artist is their own brand, and every brand deserves validation and flattery.
2. Before release: Line up reviewers with early release copies and create and release Press Releases for reviews and events. (Yes, your manuscript will be ready for publication weeks before its release date.)
3. After release: Monitor your analytics and maintain communication with your audience (word of mouth has always been your best marketing tool), chase and share your reviews, and work on your SEM: strategic paid advertisements.