Strategic support for positioning books, preparing submissions, and building a public presence.

The Market Stage

Once the writing is taking shape, you may need help figuring out how to position it for agents, publishers, readers, or a wider public audience. This stage focuses on the materials and strategy that help strong work move beyond the manuscript.

There are two ways to work together in the market stage:

Proposal & Query Package

Strategic editorial support for authors preparing to submit their work.

A strong manuscript still needs to be positioned clearly for the people you’re asking to publish it. I’ll help you shape the materials that introduce your book and make a compelling case for why it belongs with a particular agent or publisher.

The Process: We’ll develop and refine your proposal, query letter, positioning, sample materials, and submission strategy based on your project and publishing goals.

Best for: Nonfiction and memoir authors with a completed or developing manuscript who are preparing to approach agents, traditional publishers, or university presses.

Book to Platform

Editorial strategy and design for nonfiction books.

A book can have a life beyond publication. In this collaborative program, Raúl Peña and I combine editorial strategy and design to help you clarify what your book has to say, who it is for, and how to present it to the people you want to reach.

The Process: We’ll develop your book’s positioning and messaging, identify audiences and opportunities, and create one substantial design project—such as a website, print piece, or other public-facing asset—along with a 90-day action plan.

Best for: Authors, scholars, and experts with a completed or forthcoming book who want a clearer strategy for building its public presence.

Learn more about Book to Platform →

Not sure where to start?

Choose Proposal & Query Package if you’re preparing to approach agents or publishers and need help positioning the book and developing your submission materials.

Choose Book to Platform if you have a completed or forthcoming book and want to think strategically about its positioning, audience, messaging, and public presence.

Still unsure? Tell me a little about your project, and I’ll help you figure out which approach makes the most sense.

Thoughts from the annotation room