Creative Mentoring
Build your dream career as a children’s book creator.
You’re a writer or artist (or both!) who’s serious about a career in children’s book publishing. You’ve put in the hours, you’ve been to workshops, you’ve poured your heart and soul into your manuscripts.
But something isn’t quite working.
You’re not quite sure what it is. Maybe it’s the fact that you have so many ideas and can’t decide which project to focus on.
Or maybe you’re so busy working on your creative projects that you don’t have time to properly promote yourself.
Or maybe you’ve been looking for an agent and publisher, but it feels like the whole publishing industry is a fortress surrounded by a moat and a huge “Keep Out” sign.
You’re ready for a change.
You want to bring your work to a big audience. To make a difference in young people’s lives.
You’re ready to approach each day with purpose — to be able to prioritize what’s most important to you, stop procrastinating, and make tangible daily progress on the work that you care so deeply about.
It’s time to rediscover your sense of playfulness and possibility.
There is a path that’s right for you. Let me help you find it.
I’m a former children’s book editor with experience in marketing, business development, book distribution, and entrepreneurship. I help children’s book and kids comics creators with the “A to Z” of their careers.
I help you shape your work, develop a strong platform, and make the connections you need to succeed. I help you see your greatest strengths and keep you focused on the work that matters most.
I’m a sounding board to help you make decisions about whether to pursue a traditional publishing career, or to self-publish. I’ll coach you on promoting yourself effectively. Allocating your time. Overcoming fear and putting yourself out there.
I understand children’s publishing… but more importantly, my goal is to understand you, and how you can fulfill your greatest potential.
After we’ve worked together, you’ll:
- Have laser focus on a breakout book project
- Know your target readers inside and out, and have clear goals for growing your audience
- Have started to build a solid online platform
- Feel confident that you are heading in the right direction, and that you are fulfilling your purpose in life
The Creative Mentoring Program
Over the course of this 9-month custom program, we’ll tackle the following together:
Insight Questionnaire
In this deep dive questionnaire, you’ll tell me about your past history, and where you’re stuck right now. You’ll tell me about your successes and failures, and your biggest dreams for the future. Your answers here will help you clarify exactly what you want to accomplish through the coaching program.
Initial Session: Laying the Groundwork
We’ll go over what you wrote in the questionnaire and establish goals for our time together. We’ll review your biggest challenges and ways to overcome them. Finally, we’ll determine your initial focus and develop an action plan.
Private Coaching Sessions
Through these one-on-one coaching sessions, you’ll make steady progress on your creative work, as well as gain a much deeper understanding of your roadblocks and how to overcome them. During each session, you’ll get seasoned advice on how to “unstick” yourself, stop feeling so overwhelmed, and make concrete progress on your goals.
We’ll focus on the three areas that are most important for super-charging your career:
- developing your creative work to its greatest potential
- promoting yourself consistently and effectively
- finding the right publishing partners (whether that’s a literary agent, publisher, or self-publishing platform)
We’ll have two sessions a month for 6 months, followed by one session a month for three months.
With the plan in place, you’ll know exactly where you’re headed, and doing the work will be so much easier. With our weekly check-ins, I’ll be right there with you, helping you overcome any mental blocks and strategize how to navigate logistical challenges.You’ll leave each session feeling energized and more confident — and 100% ready to tackle the next step.
Manuscript and Query Letter Review
A major component of this program is getting your creative work ready for publication or acceptance by a literary agent. I’ll help you decide what to focus on, and offer developmental editing critiques as you work on your manuscript or book proposal. When you’re ready to approach agents or publishers, I’ll help you craft a strong query letter.
Website and Marketing Plan Development
It’s critical that you develop a strong online presence as you work on your creative projects. We’ll design or revise your website to make it as appealing as possible to your target audiences. We’ll create a plan for promoting yourself on a consistent basis that doesn’t feel exhausting or smarmy — that actually feels fun! If it’s the right time, we’ll map out your book launch.
With my support and guidance, you’ll be taking action, step-by-step, to head in the direction of your biggest dreams.
Congratulations on making the decision that your work matters. I can't wait to work with you.
What It Costs
The Break Through Creative Mentoring package is 9 payments of $667 or 1 payment of $5697.
Ready to get moving? Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Review the program description above.
Step 2: Click the button below to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation call. You’ll be taken to my online scheduler where you’ll schedule the session.
Step 3: Check your email for your Consultation Questionnaire, fill it out, and return it at least 2 days before the consultation.
Step 4: Give me a call at your scheduled appointment time. We’ll discuss whether this coaching package is right for you, and if so, book your first session!
Still Have Questions?
I am happy to answer them! Email me at janna@jannaco.co.
"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