Clarity Session
Jumpstart Your Book Project
Are you are a children’s book author or artist who’s got a manuscript that’s close to your heart, but you’ve reached a plateau and you can’t seem to move beyond that point?
Maybe you have a big idea and you’ve gotten some bits and pieces down on paper, but you need help turning it into a solid manuscript.
Or perhaps you’ve gotten vague and confusing feedback from agents or editors. People in the industry might have told you that your work isn’t “marketable” and now you’re trying to figure out what to do.
Or you’ve been toiling away at your project and it’s ready to go. You’ve decided to self-publish, but you need someone with expertise to help you develop a solid marketing plan.
Whatever it might be, you’ve hit a roadblock. You feel frustrated, stuck, and alone.
You long to have someone you can trust who could provide expert advice. You wish you had a cheerleader to keep you going.
You’re beginning to sense the secret: it’s not just talent or passion that will carry you to the next level.
You need structure and support. You need encouragement. And most importantly, you need an expert to give you solid guidance on your work.
That’s what I’m here to do for you.
I’m a publishing strategist for children’s book authors and illustrators. I’ve worked behind the scenes in corporate publishing, I’ve been in the trenches with small presses, and I’ve launched a company on my own. I was a co-founder of the Graphix imprint at Scholastic, launched the Kids Group at Diamond Book Distributors, and have worked with countless authors, illustrators, editors, art directors, librarians, reviewers, marketers, and production experts.
In other words, I have A to Z experience in the children’s publishing industry. I can help you understand what’s working and what’s not with your current manuscript, and get a clear, step-by-step plan for what you need to do to get that dream book published, promote it to an enthusiastic audience… and earn more money doing what you love.
I help authors and illustrators with all kinds of issues, including:
- Deciding which project (among your many ideas) to focus on
- Shaping your ideas and getting creative feedback
- Overcoming writer’s block and the fear of putting yourself out there
- Planning your project calendar and using your time efficiently
- Developmental editing
- Comparative title research
- Understanding the market and how your work fits into it
- Identifying and targeting the right agents and publishers
- Writing and editing your query letter and book proposal
- Narrowing in on your ideal audience and how to find them
- Planning or revamping your website
- Creating a marketing plan that’s doable and feels authentic
- Developing multiple income streams
- Planning, promoting, and profiting from author events, workshops, and public speaking
After working with me, you’ll:
- Know the greatest strengths and weaknesses of your book project, and where to focus your attention on improving it
- Have a toolbox of strategies you can use to keep yourself going whenever you start feeling lost or stuck
- Have a clear sense of who your audience is and the type of publishers who’d be most interested in your work
- Feel confident that you’re making progress and can achieve your goals
The CLARITY SESSION package includes:
Getting to Know You Questionnaire
Before we work together, you’ll fill out a questionnaire where you provide some background about the project you need help with, and explain what issue is causing you the biggest challenge right now. You’ll attach a complete or partial manuscript, depending on the book’s length. Having this bird’s eye view of where you are will give us a running start in the Clarity Session.
The Clarity Session
In this 60-minute coaching session, we’ll go over your project in depth. We’ll talk about your major stumbling block and go over immediate, concrete, and effective strategies to overcome it — whether it’s taking your project in a new direction, figuring out how to build an audience, or deciding on a self-publishing plan. I’ll help you see your work from the point of view of editors and agents, so you’ll know how to position it if you decide to submit it.
The Make It Happen Action Plan
After the coaching call, you’ll receive an email from me with a customized action plan based on our conversation. This could be a manuscript rewrite, creating a query letter, outlining a marketing plan, or whatever next steps will take you to the next stage of your project. Completing this assignment assures you’ll make substantial progress in a short amount of time.
The Keep Going Check-In
About two weeks later, you’ll share your assignment with me. We’ll go over what you’ve done and you’ll get feedback on your new work. You’ll have a clear focus, you’ll know how to tame your internal critic, and you’ll know exactly what you need to do to dazzle the right publisher or agent, or launch your book yourself.
You’ll have me in your corner, and you’ll get the expert feedback and encouragement you need. You’ll feel confident that you can get your book published.
What It Costs
The Clarity Session is $299.
Ready to get moving and make that dream book a reality? Woohoo! Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Fill in the “Contact Me” form below. Let me know you want to schedule a Clarity Session call.
Step 2: I’ll email you with details, along with a coaching agreement, an online invoice, a questionnaire, and available appointment times.
Step 3: You’ll sign the agreement, pay the invoice, fill out the questionnaire (which includes instructions for attaching your complete or partial manuscript), and choose your appointment time.
Step 4: Give me a call at your scheduled appointment time. We’ll dig into the nitty-gritty… I promise it will be fun and productive!
Contact Me to Book Your Session
"Janna was recommended by an illustrator friend to help me with a manuscript that I was struggling with in finding my voice. Out of desperation, I contacted her. Since then, I have had many sessions as we grow from one project to another. I have attended SCBWI workshops, regional, and national conferences and I have attended two Highlights workshops. The instructors were helpful, but nothing like the services that Janna provides. She has been a Godsend to me."
- Kathlyn Kirkwood