The Nip & Tuck
This package is designed to “freshen up” an existing proposal (or proposal draft) and then get advice from John about where to go next. Under this package, you get close professional support from an editor and publicist to improve your proposal, and then a one-hour consultation with John to determine whether it is ready to go out to agents:
3-6 month program
What does this include?
Intro Video Course – one-hour course that gives you all the tools you need to write a winning book proposa
Hands-On Editing – months of close work with a professional editor to polish your proposal and writing sample
Marketing Plan – coaching from one of New York’s top publicists to produce a winning marketing strategy
CASE-BY-CASE Agent Introductions – Consultation with John to improve your proposal and determine its readiness for agent introductions
Group Coaching – lifetime membership in the popular Scholars to Storytellers affinity group
Who is this for?
If you already have a proposal and writing sample drafted, but you want a little coaching on how to improve it and how to write the marketing plan—as well as a little help with finding agents—this is the plan for you. Please note that under this plan, you MUST have a decent draft already. It doesn’t have to be super-polished, but it should be more than just a few notes jotted down on a piece of paper. Please also note that under this plan, agent introductions are much more discretionary. At Scholars to Storytellers, we have to respect the time of the agents we work with and cannot guarantee that every client going through this program will be ready to shop to agents.
What should I expect?
The Intro Video: You begin by watching a one-hour intro video that guides you through the basics of commercial publishing and sets you up to understand how it’s different from academic publishing—a critical mindset shift
Hands-On Editing: Once we have the voice and the overall concept nailed down, you’ll be matched with an editor from our team of publishing industry professionals, who will work closely with you over several weeks to produce all the key elements of a successful proposal and writing sample. All our editors come with many years of experience at trade presses, including Big 5 New York publishers, and all have worked previously with academics making the transition to trade.
Marketing Plan and Comp Titles: Once the core of the proposal is set, you get a one-hour consultation and draft feedback with a publicist—one of the best in the business—to help you write the dreaded “marketing plan” and “comparable titles” sections of the proposal. This is the part most academics hate doing and have no idea where to begin—but it’s only a couple of pages and it’s a critical part of the proposal!
One-Hour Consult with John: At this point, John will read your proposal and writing sample and schedule a one-hour consultation with you, aimed at increasing your chances of success with an agent—as well as assessing whether your project makes sense for the Scholars to Storytellers network of agents.
Agent Introductions on CASE-BY-CASE basis: Unlike most of our packages, the introduction to agents is NOT assumed here. Instead, John will give you an honest assessment of your chances, and will send your proposal out to his network of literary agents ONLY if he believes it has clear potential.
BONUS: Group Coaching: You also receive access to our popular group coaching program for the duration of your contract. This is a brilliant, dynamic group of scholars who meet twice a month with John and exchange tips, tricks, challenges and obstacles along the road to writing for a general audience. This is a subscription plan that costs $127/month but is FREE for private coaching clients!
How much will this cost me?
Investment
Starting at $2,297
Customized plans up to $4,997
Flexible Payment Options
Institutional funding accepted
University procurement welcome
Payment plans available
Not sure about the investment?
Schedule a free consultation to explore your options and discover the perfect fit for your publishing journey.