Services
Book Coaching
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Brainstorming
While your book is still nascent, we’ll help you brainstorm, create an outline, develop and stick to a writing routine, meet deadlines, overcome writer’s block, and work through challenging conceptual issues along the way.
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Strategizing
As the book comes along, we’ll help you chart a path to publication, find and query agents (if applicable), steer clear of bad actors, and build critical negotiation skills so that you can enter into partnerships with confidence, whether with traditional publishers or freelance collaborators.
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Committing
We will not leave your side until your book has passed successfully through every gauntlet on the path to publication. Consider us your cheerleaders, squires, and mentors. We’ll stick with you to the end.
Editorial Support
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Manuscript Analysis
We start by taking a bird’s-eye view. What is your book about? Why are you writing it? Who is it for? What major issues are at stake, and why? Before we start editing, we must first thoroughly understand not only what your manuscript already is, but also what it is destined to be.
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Developmental Editing
You’ve got a manuscript. But it’s a mess. We’ll help you resolve major plot holes and logical fallacies, differentiate sound ideas from unsubstantiated whimsy, and make big decisions, like which subplots to eliminate, so that later drafts rest on a firm foundation.
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Structural Editing
Your content’s cogent, but it still needs an elegant structure to hold it. We’ll help you create that structure, arranging your arguments, condensing or expanding your ideas, and generally deploying information with both reader experience and narrative integrity in mind.
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Copyediting
Now that all the major questions are resolved, we can turn to the line-level issues: unclear, overwrought, or misleading language, choppy syntax, monolithic paragraphs in need of breaking down, implications better made explicit or vice versa, and more.
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Proofreading
At this point, your manuscript’s really been through the ringer. Only technical errors remain: typos, inconsistent punctuation, incorrectly formatted citations, etc. Once we eliminate those, you’ll have a book truly worthy of funding and ready for publication.
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Portfolio Review
Whether you’re applying for grants or seeking a day job to subsidize your artistic practice, you’ll need a solid professional portfolio. We’ll help you refine your resume, CV, and cover letter so that wherever you show your face, you’ll win the respect of your peers.
Grants & Proposals
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Applying for Grants & Fellowships
We’ve won support from prestigious arts organizations, and we’ll help you do the same. From identifying opportunities, to researching funders’ priorities, to crafting proposals guaranteed to stir readers’ emotions and spur them to action, we’ll help you attract the funding that your work deserves.
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Vetting & Querying Agents
Not every path to publication requires an agent, but if you choose to work with one, you’d better make sure they’re worth their salt. We’ll help you conduct research, draft query letters, and comb through our professional network to make sure that your book ends up in the right hands.
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Developing a Book Proposal
Whether you’re seeking a traditional book deal or not, we recommend creating a proposal. Doing so will help you define your target audience, identify your comp titles, and understand your book’s relationship to the market—indispensable steps for any author, no matter which path(s) you take to publication.
Marketing & Promotion
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Market Research
When we write books, we tell stories. When we market books, we tell stories about stories. Together, we'll craft your meta-narrative based on the latest trends and translate it into language that publicists and marketers will understand without sacrificing your work’s integrity.
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Personal Branding
We know. It really should not be about the brand. And yet, it is. With our help—and as painlessly as possible—you’ll define your personal brand and ensure that your values are reflected on your website, social media profiles, and all other digital platforms where your work will be found.
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Publicity
We’ll help you research and reach out to traditional and nontraditional media outlets, from newspapers, magazines, and television programs to bloggers, YouTubers, and podcasters, so that your book will reach the largest audience possible.
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Social Media Strategies
With our support, you'll choose the social media platform(s) where your target audience lurks, build a comprehensive social media strategy, attract followers, and create content that whets readers’ appetites and catalyzes your artistic and professional growth for years to come.
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Promotion through DateKeepers Channels
When you make your living with stories, half the battle is simply getting heard. We’ve garnered an audience of over 100,000, and many of our friends and collaborators command sizable audiences as well. Together, we'll boost your visibility and inspire interest in your story around the globe.
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Professional Referrals
If there’s something we can’t do, rest assured someone in our network does it. Let us know what challenges you’re facing, and we’ll hook you up with the right people who'll keep you moving forward on your path. Remember, with us in your corner, the solution is likely no more than an email away.
Training & Mentorship
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Training for Editors: How to Edit for EFL Writers
EFL writers (who work in English as a foreign language) need different forms of editorial support than native speakers. During this training, you'll learn how to help EFL clients successfully navigate cultural translation, inter-language interference, and more.
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Training for Writers: How to Think Like a Literary Entrepreneur
It takes a village to bring any book to market—but everyone in that village has different incentives. During this training, you'll learn how to think like an agent, an editor, a publisher, a marketer, a publicist, and a salesperson. Never get blindsided: know what it will take to make your book succeed.
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Training for Young Professionals: How to Survive!
What's your next move? ​If you're still trying to answer this question, this training is for you. We help young professionals identify their strengths and weaknesses, assess their options, decide where to invest their time and energy, and find roles where they can thrive. ​
Testimonials
Peppur Chambers
Author
Your feedback is spot on and really helpful, and the editing is thoughtful and concise. Nicely done!
Bertrand Frot
C-Level Executive
Dedicated, clever, respecting deadlines, always ready to learn and to improve processes, it was a real pleasure to work with Itto.
Aditi Lele
Biologist & Educator
I can't stress enough how Mekiya has excellent editing skills but also very important is that he is kind hearted but practical and takes the time to understand your work.
Natalie Shear
Educator
Itto is probably the hardest worker that I have ever met. If she doesn't know it, she will figure it out. She is capable of handling many unique and difficult situations with grace. I definitely would recommend working with her, for her or hiring her for any writing job.
Shalini Rana
Poet
Thank you very much for the helpful edits, especially the stronger verbs! I’m very pleased with the correspondence and feedback you’ve provided.
Abdelghafour ben Lahbib
Educator
Mekiya's commitment to excellence is evident in every project he undertakes. His dedication to creating spaces for meaningful expression adds a profound layer to his commendable qualities as a writer and editor.
Sarwa Azeez
Translator
I have had the pleasure of working closely with Mekiya, and I can confidently attest to his exceptional skills, dedication, and passion for his work. He is a specialist in supporting ESL writers, and his commitment to helping us succeed is truly commendable.
Hudoykul Hafizov
UNDP Advisor
Itto possesses remarkable communication skills. Her warmth, enthusiasm, and ability to engage with others are truly admirable. Itto's talent for storytelling allows her to effectively convey complex ideas in a relatable manner, making her a compelling communicator.
Quincy Schmechel
Essayist
I really value working with both of you and think you are phenomenal editors.
Contact & Pricing
Our prices start at $100.00/hr and may vary depending on the nature and scope of your project. We keep a full calendar, so please contact us at least three months in advance of your project's projected commencement date. We cannot guarantee service for last-minute requests. DateKeepers collaborators may be eligible for significant discounts. To avail yourself of one or more of our services, or to propose another form of collaboration, please fill out our contact form below.