Picture Book Mentorships

3-month Picture Book Mentorship: $2,500

This is a guided 3-month program that focuses on your picture book manuscript or picture book dummy. The goal is to help tailor your work-in-progress as well as your portfolio (if you are an illustrator) to the children's market, and will focus on how to best parlay your talents to secure the attention of agents and publishers. This package includes 5 hours of video meetings over the course of 3 months where we will edit and develop your picture book and delve into your portfolio (if you are an illustrator) to locate opportunities for additional projects. This 3-month mentorship also includes access to me as you develop your work; I will provide support, guidance, and advice via email and our meetings together throughout the process. As part of this "Mentorship Package," I will help you to draft a query letter to agents and I will provide you with competitive titles that help to best position your work. (You will have an edited query letter that is ready to go as part of this program.) While I cannot promise or guarantee representation, I would be happy to share names of agents that might be a good fit for your work (and do what I can to facilitate an introduction, when possible). (If this mentorship is a fit for you but doesn’t align with your budget, I am happy to work with you on the pricing.)

6-month Picture Book Mentorship: $5,000

This is a guided 6-month program that focuses on the development of three picture projects or illustrated projects. The goal is to help tailor your works-in-progress as well as your portfolio (if you are an illustrator) to the children's market, and will focus on how to best parlay your talents to secure the attention of agents and publishers. This mentorship includes 10 hours of meetings, the editing of 3 picture books/illustrated projects, as well as 3 drafted query letters. This 6-month mentorship also includes access to me as you develop your work; I will provide support, guidance, and advice via email and our meetings together throughout the process. While I cannot promise or guarantee representation, I would be happy to share names of agents that might be a good fit for your work (and do what I can to facilitate an introduction, when possible). (If this mentorship is a fit for you but doesn’t align with your budget, I am happy to work with you on the pricing.)

With 16 years’ experience in the publishing industry acquiring, editing, and developing hundreds of titles, including award-winning picture books, I am pleased to offer freelance editing and creative consulting and coaching services to writers, artists/illustrators, and any creator striving to realize their creative vision.

My goal is to help you create your best work. Whether your goal is to get published or to self-publish, I will work with you to hone and strengthen your ideas, polish your manuscript or project, unlock your creative potential, and set your course forward.

To book a picture book mentorship or to inquire about a package tailored to your specific project, please fill out the form below, or email naomikirstencreative[at]gmail.com.

When emailing or filling out this form, please include your service type in the “subject” field. (Please note that by filling out this form, you consent to sharing your email with me for the sole purpose of reaching out to you about freelance editing and creative consulting services. Email addresses submitted will only be used for the purpose of replying to queries for services. Otherwise, emails will be immediately deleted. Email addresses and personal information will never be stored or shared.)

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.