Resources for Authors
Stop guessing. Build a Solid Book.
So you want to be an author. There are no silver bullets or “easy buttons,” but there are tried-and-true ways to give your book a better shot in a crowded marketplace. I’ve made just about every mistake in the book so you don’t have to.
One thing I’ve learned: writing a novel or a book proposal without any kind of blueprint is one of the fastest ways to collect rejection letters or waste years staring at a broken manuscript.
You don’t need generic advice. You need a map from someone who has successfully navigated both sides of the publishing world. As a 10-time published author across fiction and nonfiction (traditional and indie) and Kirkus “Best of” recipient, I help serious writers master story structure, conquer the query process, and launch successfully.
No fluff. Just actionable strategy for writing and publishing commercially viable fiction and nonfiction—whether you go traditional, indie, or aren’t sure yet.
- Jerry (J.B.) Manas
Start Here:
Free Quick-Start Guide
Not sure where to begin? Start with the free guide:
So You Want to Write a Book? A Quick-Start Guide to Choosing the Right Idea and Publishing Path
This short PDF will help you:
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Decide whether you want to write a book or become an author
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Stress-test your current idea before you sink months into it
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Choose a publishing path that fits your goals, timeline, and tolerance for risk
It’s the fastest way to move from “I’ve always wanted to write a book” to a clearer sense of what you should actually do next.
Enter your name and email, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
Want the Full Roadmap?
So You Want to Be an Author Starter Kit — $27
If the free guide helps you choose a direction, the Starter Kit gives you a full roadmap.
You get:
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A 71-page ebook that walks you through choosing your publishing path, testing your idea, avoiding common early mistakes, and building a simple, realistic plan to move forward
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A set of printable worksheets and checklists, including:
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Idea & Premise Filter
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Logline (Fiction) & Hook (Nonfiction)
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30-Day Starter Plan
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Reader Profile & Emotional Promise
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Beta Readers & Editing Prep
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Rest assured, this is not fluff, generic motivation, or recycled blog advice. I've written it as a practical guide for writers who want to make smarter choices before they spend months drafting the wrong book the wrong way.
What’s inside
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Part 1: Decide What You Really Want
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Part 2: Is Your Idea Worth Pursuing?
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Part 3: Choose Your Publishing Path
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Part 4: Build a Simple Plan
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Part 5: Your Next Steps
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Bonus: Printable worksheets and checklists
Ideal for aspiring authors who want a practical, self-paced roadmap before investing in coaching.
If you want a practical, self-paced roadmap, start with the Starter Kit. If you want personal feedback and a more tailored strategy, here are a few ways we can work together.
Ways to Work With Me
1. Idea to Publishing Strategy Session — $349
A 75–90-minute 1:1 deep dive on your book idea and publishing path.
Together, we will:
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Clarify your premise, ideal reader, and goals
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Choose a publishing path that fits your timeline, risk tolerance, and expectations
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Sketch a rough table of contents or story framework and define concrete next steps
You leave with a concise written blueprint you can refine on your own or use as a starting point for a larger engagement.
2. Pitch & Plot Analysis — $499
Perfect for writers ready to query agents or launch an indie book.
You get:
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A detailed review of your query letter, one-page synopsis, and first 10 pages
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A 60-minute intensive strategy call to fix pacing leaks, sharpen your hook, and optimize your pitch
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An assessment of where your book fits in the market, including suggested comps for traditional querying and suggested retailer categories/tropes to target if you’re going indie
You leave with a stronger query, a tighter opening, and a clearer positioning strategy—so agents, editors, and readers can see exactly where your book belongs.
3. Story Blueprint Intensive — $2,999
Before you write 80,000 words, let’s make sure the foundation can carry the weight.
This is a 6–8 week, collaborative 1:1 engagement to design a story blueprint tailored to your process—from a high-level spine for discovery writers to a chapter-by-chapter outline if you prefer more structure.
Together, we will:
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Build a solid story roadmap
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Nail your character arcs (or nonfiction throughline)
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Strengthen your commercial hook and positioning
The intensive typically includes four 75–90-minute 1:1 sessions spaced about two weeks apart, with outline work and my feedback between calls, plus email access for questions during the engagement. You finish with a working plan you can confidently draft from, without losing your natural process.
Need Help With the Full Manuscript?
For a small number of clients each year, I also offer developmental editing on completed drafts—big-picture feedback on structure, pacing, character, reader engagement, and market fit, along with a detailed editorial letter and margin notes.
If you’re interested in that level of support, we can discuss scope and pricing after we’ve worked together on a blueprint, outline, or strategy session.
Not Ready for 1:1 Help?
Subscribe to This Writer’s Life / So You Want to Be an Author on Substack for behind-the-scenes posts on the author life, breakdowns on story structure and publishing, and practical guidance for writers trying to figure out what to write, how to pitch, and how to move forward.
You can also browse my Author Resources page for the free guide, the Starter Kit, and future follow-up tools and craft resources.
