Resources for Authors
A More Practical Path to Publication
So you want to write a book—or you've already started one and are wondering what comes next.
There's no formula that guarantees a book deal, a successful launch, or a perfect manuscript. But there are practical things you can learn before you spend years going in circles: how stories are built, what readers expect from a genre, how revision really works, what goes into a query or proposal, and the differences between traditional and independent publishing.
I've learned many of those lessons the slow way, through ten published books across fiction and nonfiction, traditional and independent paths, plenty of missteps, and a great deal of revision.
Here, I share the guidance, tools, and resources I wish I had had earlier: clear information, honest perspective, and questions to help you make decisions about your own book.
This is my way of giving back to the author community that has taught me so much. Whether you're still carrying an idea, revising a manuscript, preparing to query, or learning how publishing works, you are welcome here.
- Jerry (J.B.) Manas
Start here for a simple, practical overview of the writing and publishing path.
For writers who want a deeper guide, planning tools, and a reusable Book Launch Roadmap.
When you’re ready for a deeper dive:
If you would like more structure and practical tools to support your writing and publishing journey, the So You Want to Be an Author Starter Kit brings them together in one place.
It includes a 71-page practical guide, printable planning tools, and a reusable Book Launch Roadmap for $27.
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.
“Jerry’s positivity, creativity, and deep understanding of story and structure didn’t just polish my book—they helped me grow into a stronger writer.”
– V.F. Sharp
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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A 24-page Book Launch Roadmap that outlines a six‑month launch timeline for indie, traditional, and hybrid authors, including:
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Key actions for each phase, from 6 months before launch through 3 months after
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Integrated guidance for email, Instagram, ARCs, blurbs, preorders, and partnerships
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Notes on lead‑time items like paid editorial reviews, ARC distribution, ads, and preorders
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A condensed launch checklist you can reuse for every book
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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.
The Starter Kit helps you choose and shape the right project; the Book Launch Roadmap shows you how to bring that finished book into the world without reinventing your launch plan every time.
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, checklists, and a reusable six‑month Book Launch Roadmap
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.
