STORY-MARKET FIT
Ever been told you can either write what you love or write what sells?
That advice is ridiculous.
You can absolutely write both, at the same time, and get it published. People do it regularly.
So why does everyone repeat it like it’s a law of nature?
Because knowing it’s possible and knowing how to do it are two different things. Most writers have never been shown how.
Lucky for you, we’ve been doing it for years—and we’re actually quite GOOD.
WHAT A YEAR OF ICONIC LOOKS LIKE
Two industry mentors walking with you all year
A monthly group session with other ICONIC members
Once a month, you'll meet with us and other ICONIC members to learn about the industry, behind the scenes information, and how to build a successful career. Topics change with the market, because the market changes.
Plus your choice of one of the below
An industry pitch package (query letter, two-page synopsis, and book proposal)
A marketing pitch package (personalized templates for pitching yourself to podcasts, book clubs, libraries, influencers, and bookstores)
A social media brand package (50 custom-designed post templates, branded to you)
You’ll also get your choice of one of the below premium services
A manuscript developmental edit on up to 100k words
A manuscript line edit on up to 100k words
A custom-designed 5-page author website
Two one-on-one sessions a month, with both of us
Every session is built around what you need that month. Whether that’s brainstorming an idea, untangling a plot problem, tackling chapter pacing or character arcs, or handling agent submissions. You can submit up to 4,000 words per session.
WHAT WE COVER TOGETHER
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Finding the idea.
Brainstorming, and testing concepts against what’s selling, so you commit to a book worth a year of your life.
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Building the novel.
Guidance from concept to completion, with your pages read and discussed every month.
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Manuscript coaching.
Structure, character, pacing, voice, and the hundred decisions in between.
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Your author brand.
Positioning built from the same overlap the book came from, so your book and your presence tell one story.
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Publishing.
The business side of indie, traditional, or small press, and honest advice on which fits your goals.
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Career pivoting.
For writers changing direction, relaunching a backlist, or working out what comes after this book.
TWELVE MONTHS, OR SIX
Start where it makes sense for you
Most writers take the full year, because that’s roughly how long it takes to find an idea, write it properly, and get it ready to go out. But a year is a real commitment, and it isn’t the right starting place for everyone.
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ICONIC — 12 months
The full program. Two one-on-one sessions a month, the monthly group session, plus one premium service and one marketing service.
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Mini ICONIC — 6 months
The same two one-on-one sessions a month, focused on one project or one goal.
You can also start with Mini and extend.
How are we different from other mentorships?
(1) We constantly research the market. And we mean CONSTANTLY. We’re talking with agents and editors, finding out what publishers are acquiring right now and what agents are desperate for and can’t find. Just as importantly, we’re hearing which things sold big two years ago but have since lost momentum. The publishing industry is a constantly shifting landscape, and part of our job is keeping our ears to the ground.
(2) At the same time, we dig into what you love writing. Not just a genre preference or age category—we pull from you the things you may have never even thought about writing. The thing that keeps you up too late, and the themes you circle back to in every project, and the kind of characters you’d follow anywhere. We tap into your heart and listen to what it wants to say.
(3) Then we find where those two things (your passion + the market) meet. Sometimes that means tweaking the idea you walked in with, and sometimes it means setting an aside and discovering something truer. Either way, before you write a word of the real draft, you’ll know your book has readers waiting for it, and you’ll get to write something you’d happily spend a year inside.
(4) And we do it with you. You get two sessions a month, every month, one-on-one with us. We read up to 4,000 of your words before each session, and then we work through the story’s needs—identifying problems, brainstorming, showing you HOW to craft an excellent story one chapter at a time. At the same time, we shape your author brand out of that same overlap, so what you’re known for matches what you write. And then when the book’s ready, we get you set up to query agents or publish it yourself, whichever you’re going for.
WHO’S MENTORING YOU
C.J. Redwine, New York Times bestselling author
Mary Weber, award-winning author with over 100,000 books sold
Between them, they’ve published 20 books and spent more than 20 years in the industry. They’ve edited, coached, and taught internationally bestselling writers, Hollywood film directors, and multi-million-dollar entrepreneurs—sharpening stories, levelling up careers, and positioning work to sell in today’s market.
You work with both of them each session.
Just a few success stories
Six-figure book deal
Ruth Nguyen
Ruth came to us with a few ideas, but none were quite working. We worked with her to create a sellable brand (Vietnamese gothic fairytale author) and shape a powerful story concept. Then we coached her through the draft, provided edits, and helped get her submission materials ready. Within two weeks of going out, she had multiple agents offering. She signed with Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic, and a few months later the book sold in a six-figure deal.
Landed a literary agent
Cassie and Megan Siechert
Identical twins, these ladies write brilliantly twisty YA thrillers. We coached them twice a month—developing ideas, shaping manuscripts, assisting with their query letters, and building their author website. They’re now represented by Keifer Ludwig of BookEnds Literary.
APPLICATION FORM
Let’s get you started…
