“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
—George Orwell
If you have a book idea—but don’t want to spend time being driving by an incomprehensible demon that makes you feel like you have the flu—let us help you.
We can work with even the busiest of clients to collaborate on a book. After meeting to establish a book outline and decide on factors such as the tone, audience and timeline, we will “write” the book together through a series of focussed interviews. You will be able to read the book as it develops, ensuring that the end result is a book you will be proud to call your own.
This type of collaborative book writing is becoming increasingly popular with families and businesses wanting to preserve their personal histories. It is also popular with professionals who wish to share some of the valuable experience they have gained over the years but don’t have the time to sit down and write a book.
THE PROCESS:
Black Swan will meet with you in person (or over the phone) to get a clear idea of what kind of book it is you want to write. We will look at various factors including your intended audience, tone, subject matter, length, structure, production requirements (illustrations, photographs, diagrams, etc.) and then work with you to map out an outline for your book.
This outline forms the blueprint that we will use to move forward through the writing process. On a regular basis, one of our writers will meet with you to conduct interviews focussing on one particular part of the story you want to tell.
Following each interview the writer will write part of the book. These early drafts will be sent to you for revision.
Once a rough draft is complete, it will be rewritten for stylistic consistency and flair. You will continue to revise the manuscript until you are completely satisfied with your book.
RATES:
We will negotiate a flat rate based on the estimated number of hours required to complete the project.