Literary Services

Helping authors succeed

As a workshop leader, author coach, and book editor, Lorraine is dedicated to demystifying the writing process for her clients and helping them produce excellent works of nonfiction. She enjoys working with new authors as well as seasoned writers new to the genres of creative nonfiction and nonfiction. She specializes in narrative projects, particularly memoirs, as well as idea books and inspirational books that help readers live their best lives. Contact her for these services:

• Book outlining: Evoking a book’s message, story, and substance in conversation with an author and creating an outline before writing begins
• Coaching sessions: Helping an author — in person, by Skype, or on the phone — conceptualize and focus a book project or series; begin writing; get past a stuck point; avoid issues of defamation; and, after a book is completed, brainstorm a marketing plan or think through publication options
• Copy editing: Elevating and tightening a manuscript in terms of its syntax, spelling, and grammar; fact-checking; putting prose into Chicago style, the gold standard for mass market books
• Copywriting for author websites: Editing text, and suggesting new text, for each page of an author’s website that best captures the spirit, style, and message of the author and his/her work
• Developmental editing: Shaping or reshaping a story for optimal effect
• Editorial assisting: Aiding an author in obtaining legal permissions to quote from other works, such as books and songs; finding endorsers and foreword writers; formatting footnotes; and performing other tasks that aid in the embellishment, presentation, and production of a book
• Ghostwriting: Working with and for an individual to ghostwrite — or co-author — a book or shorter work
• Manuscript evaluating: Writing for the author a five- to ten-page report on a completed manuscript that suggests ways to highlight its strengths and strengthen its weaknesses and assesses/increases its readability and marketability
• Preparing book proposals: Producing a proposal an author can present to literary agents, including a book summation, author bio, market analysis, list of competing/comparative titles, publishing/promotion strategies, production details, table of contents, and chapter summaries
• Proofreading: Light editing of a manuscript in need of polishing
• Rewriting: Reworking and rewording problematical prose
• Teaching: Leading workshops at organized events, or in your living room with a small group, on how to structure and write memorable stories that will move readers

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Interested? Contact Lorraine for a conversation and a price quote.