Writing Services for Website Content

A good first impression is still very important and your website is often the first place people will encounter your company and it’s products and services.

Your on line copy reflects your professionalism or lack of it. You need to take pride in what you have on the web. If it appears you don’t really care what your site looks like, the customer will assume your products may be similarly slipshod. 

I offer both hourly rates and flat fees for website content writing, based on the requirements of the project. Please contact me directly for rates and fees for copywriting for website content.

PlayWriting Camp in July with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association

PlayWriting Camp will once again will take place this summer from July 14 to 18 with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association. 

This is a half-day camp (either morning or afternoon) for students ages 7 to 12. In a dramatic and fun-filled week, children will learn how to write, rehearse and perform their own unique play in just five days. Children will create the plot, craft the script, write dialogue and hone their acting skills for their very own dramatic production, which will then be performed at the end of the week. 

Further details and registration information for PlayWriting Camp can be found here.

What is Substantive Editing?

You’ve finished your first novel after years of painstaking work. You’re sure it could be a best seller and everyone you know is very enthusiastic. Yet your manuscript is returned by publishers, with a form letter providing no clues as to why they didn’t like it. Having your work independently evaluated gives you an unbiased opinion, helping you to tighten your manuscript and fix problems you may have overlooked.

A substantive edit involves detailed content assessment. This may include comments on characterization, setting, dialogue, believability, structure, plot, language, research and references. It also includes a summary of the strengths and weaknesses (if any) of your writing, along with comments on writing technique, format, technical ability and market potential. 

A substantive edit is different to copy editing, which is performed by an experienced professional. Copy editing covers grammar, spelling, punctuation and many other details that writers are sometimes unaware of but publishers care deeply about. Substantive editing also differs from proof reading, which checks the final details before a book or article is printed or published. Following an in-depth substantive edit, both copy editing and proof reading are still needed before publication.

I offer substantive editing services for most genres. You can visit my website for further information or contact me directly for an estimate. 

The Children's Writer's Guide - Available Online

The Children’s Writer’s Guide examines how you can get started as a writer, create time and space to pursue your craft and deal with lack of motivation and writers block. Topics covered include where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing names for characters that are appropriate to the story, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, writing science fiction and fantasy, and the use of magic in stories for children.

The guide examines the role of editing and revision and how to deal with what is often the inevitable process of rejection, at least until good fortune comes your way. I also recount some of my experiences with marketing and promotion, such as book launches and in-store signings, websites, blogs, and social media, and discusses presentations, workshops and author-in-residence programs at schools and libraries.

Check out the video on YouTube, where I talk about some of the topics covered in the Guide.

Here are just a few places where you can buy The Children’s Writer’s Guide, which is available in ebook and print versions.

Amazon Canada               Amazon USA               Kobo               
Amazon UK                       Amazon Germany       Amazon France           
Amazon Japan                  Amazon USA (paperback)

You can also learn more about The Children’s Writer’s Guide, along with all my other books, on my website.

Another Great Review of The Children's Writer's Guide

 

Here's another great review of The Children's Writer's Guide.

"There are plenty of writing guides available for writers in every stage of their careers. Simon Rose’s Children’s Writer’s Guide is definitely one of those how-to guides suited for any age writer. This book is smart. It is practical and helpful. It has so much information, it should be 4 books! 

If you are just beginning, or deep into you masterpiece, this book gets your creative juices flowing. It twists your brain and makes you think of things in many different ways with his witty experience guiding you. It also provides a vision to the total process to reaching your goals of being published! I will be donating my copy to a group of 14 year-olds who are finding their voices and beginning their journey. I'm glad I bought it."

The Children's Writer's Guide is available as a paperback and as an ebook at Amazon and Kobo.

Hear Here - Author Readings Online

People are always interested in hearing an author read from their own work. Children in particular, especially those who have read and enjoyed the novels, are usually captivated when an author reads from their own book during a personal appearance at a school, library, literary festival or other event.

Here on my website, you can listen to interviews and readings from The Alchemist's Portrait, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse and The Heretic's Tomb, recorded on Calgary's CKUA radio network, plus a reading from The Sorcerer's Letterbox, recorded during my appearance at the Winnipeg International Writers Festival.

Ghostwriting Services

Is there a book you desperately want to write? Maybe you’re an expert in your field, well respected by colleagues, who are all convinced that you should become an author. Yet there’s no time in your busy schedule to actually sit down and write.

Perhaps you’re a performer or artist, eager to commit your experiences to paper? Or you have a great idea for a self-help book, a how-to manual, a cookery book, a tourism or restaurant guide? Or are you wanting to write your autobiography or the biography of someone else in your family?

I'm available for ghostwriting in a wide range of genres, including the arts, biographies, business, children/YA/ teen fiction and non-fiction, food, history, historical fiction, fantasy, health, how-to/self-help, humor, inspirational, memoir, military, multicultural, music, mystery, nature, parenting, pets, picture books, culture, romance, science fiction, sports, travel and more.

Whatever the subject, fiction or non-fiction, for adults or for children, I'm available for collaboration on your next project.

I offer both hourly rates and flat fees, based on the requirements of the project. Please contact me directly for rates and fees for ghostwriting.

The Children's Writer's Guide on Pinterest

Check out The Children's Writer's Guide on Pinterest.

The Children’s Writer’s Guide examines how to get started as a writer. Topics covered include where ideas come from, editing and revision, choosing character names, the importance of research, magic in stories for children, marketing and promotion and more.

The Children's Writer's Guide is available as a paperback and as an ebook at Amazon and Kobo.

Summer Camps in Calgary and area

I’m available to visit summer camps in the Calgary area each July and August. 

I can be a special guest or work as part of the programming. I have a number of presentations, workshops, and other programs that are suitable for summer camps, but am very flexible. I’m happy to discuss ways in which my programs can fit in with the general theme of your camp for a particular week.

I also offer my five day playwriting program for local community associations and other groups. This can be run as a morning or afternoon camp for small groups of children ages nine to twelve.

Contact me about rates and availability for summer camps this July and August. 

Great Review of The Children's Writer's Guide

 

Check out this great review of The Children's Writer's Guide.

"I illustrate children’s books occasionally and I know many of you have ideas for children’s books or you may have written a few stories yourself (and a wonderful number of you have commissioned illustrations of your writing from me). Simon Rose’s The Children’s Writer’s Guide is the perfect handbook to take you from finding a unique, untold story of your own, to launching your published work in bookstores.



The author has taught classes at the local university and this book comes out of his experience teaching in person, making the benefits available to many more!

My first impression was of a very straightforward guide which covered each topic necessary to the author, without getting bogged down by in-depth over explaining. After all, the person most likely to pick up this book “knows” about books and topics, and simply needs the direction and clear path provided by this guide. 

This book is also an excellent resource for accomplished authors who wish to become more prolific, using a system of efficacy to create more books in a shorter amount of time."

Katana Leigh 

Artist and Illustrator

www.artlovelight.com 

The Children's Writer's Guide is available as a paperback and as an ebook at Amazon and Kobo.

Coaching and Workshops for Writers

I offer workshops and presentations for both adults and children for community associations,home schooled students and summer camps, as well as services for writers including coaching, manuscript editing and evaluation, plus online workshops for children and for adults. 

I conduct creative writing workshops with community associations and have run workshops and made presentations as part of summer camp programs in Calgary and the surrounding area. I also work as an instructor at the University of Calgary and at Mount Royal University, conducting one day classes and evening sessions for adults who are interested in writing for children and young adults. I’ve also conducted similar workshops for adults for community associations, professional writer’s groups, public libraries and am available as a speaker for keynote addresses, conferences and other events.

Contact me directly for further details about coaching and workshops.

Copywriting Services for Business

The way in which you communicate with your customers is a vital component  of your business and well written content can be the difference between success and failure. 

I have extensive experience in writing for a wide range of industries and market segments and offer a variety of copywriting services including website content, blogs and newsletters, social media including Facebook and Twitter, brochures, direct mail, sales letters, press releases, newspaper and magazine advertising and more. 

Contact me for details regarding copywriting services and my portfolio of completed projects.

PlayWriting Camp in July with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association

PlayWriting Camp will once again will take place this summer from July 14 to 18 with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association. 

This is a half-day camp (either morning or afternoon) for students ages 7 to 12. In a dramatic and fun-filled week, children will learn how to write, rehearse and perform their own unique play in just five days. Children will create the plot, craft the script, write dialogue and hone their acting skills for their very own dramatic production, which will then be performed at the end of the week. 

Further details and registration information for PlayWriting Camp can be found here.

The Children's Writer's Guide - Available Online

The Children’s Writer’s Guide examines how you can get started as a writer, create time and space to pursue your craft and deal with lack of motivation and writers block. Topics covered include where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing names for characters that are appropriate to the story, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, writing science fiction and fantasy, and the use of magic in stories for children.

The guide examines the role of editing and revision and how to deal with what is often the inevitable process of rejection, at least until good fortune comes your way. I also recount some of my experiences with marketing and promotion, such as book launches and in-store signings, websites, blogs, and social media, and discusses presentations, workshops and author-in-residence programs at schools and libraries.

Check out the video on YouTube, where I talk about some of the topics covered in the Guide.

Here are just a few places where you can buy The Children’s Writer’s Guide, which is available in ebook and print versions.

Amazon Canada               Amazon USA               Kobo               
Amazon UK                       Amazon Germany       Amazon France           
Amazon Japan                  Amazon USA (paperback)

You can also learn more about The Children’s Writer’s Guide, along with all my other books, on my website.

School Programs, Presentations and Workshops

I offer a variety of presentations, author in residence programs and conduct workshops for children at schools. 

I offer a variety of presentations for grades three to eight, but can work with grades one and two as well. I cover such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, history and research, plus many other aspects of writing and publishing. 

I will present to around one hundred students at a time, although we can also look at workshops with smaller groups or individual classes. Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 

Contact me for details of fees and availability for school presentations.

School & Library Visits for Authors & Illustrators - Now Available on Amazon

School & Library Visits for Authors & Illustrators is now available on Amazon as a paperback and as a Kindle edition.

This book examines school and library visits for children’s authors and illustrators, including organizing school tours, maximizing book sales, and creating presentations, workshops, and residency programs.

These details are also included in The Children’s Writer’s Guide, which examines how you can get started as a writer, create time and space to pursue your craft and deal with lack of motivation and writer’s block. Topics covered include where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing appropriate names for characters, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, writing science fiction and fantasy, the use of magic in stories for children, the role of editing and revision, how to deal with rejection, and marketing and promotion.

Check out School & Library Visits for Authors & Illustrators on Amazon and for Kindle.

Writing Services for Website Content

A good first impression is still very important and your website is often the first place people will encounter your company and it’s products and services.

Your on line copy reflects your professionalism or lack of it. You need to take pride in what you have on the web. If it appears you don’t really care what your site looks like, the customer will assume your products may be similarly slipshod. 

I offer both hourly rates and flat fees for website content writing, based on the requirements of the project. Please contact me directly for rates and fees for copywriting for website content.

Simon Rose: Part Two - On Writing

The writing process, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, school presentations, the hardest things to write, comics, movies, ebooks, and much more. 

Check out the second part of the recent interview with Joshua Pantalleresco, in which I discuss a range of topics including the ever-changing business of writing and publishing. Here's a short excerpt.

"With kids, you can’t give them a chance to put the book down. If they do, there’s no guarantee they’ll ever pick it up again, there are just too many distractions these days. You have to engage their interest right away. There’s no magical formula for it, but I say the first two or three chapters have to grab the reader. After they do, then you can slow down and tell your story a little, if you like."

Check out the first part of the interview here. 

Author in Residence

For my Author in Residence program, I can be at your school for a week or longer. This allows me to cover topics in much more depth than would be possible during a regular author visit. Each of my novels provide ideas for classroom projects and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides page on my website. 

I have some suggestions for presentations and workshops, but am always pleased to work with teachers and librarians to build sessions best suited to your students. 

Contact me for details of fees and availability for my Author in Residence program.

What is Substantive Editing?

You’ve finished your first novel after years of painstaking work. You’re sure it could be a best seller and everyone you know is very enthusiastic. Yet your manuscript is returned by publishers, with a form letter providing no clues as to why they didn’t like it. Having your work independently evaluated gives you an unbiased opinion, helping you to tighten your manuscript and fix problems you may have overlooked.

A substantive edit involves detailed content assessment. This may include comments on characterization, setting, dialogue, believability, structure, plot, language, research and references. It also includes a summary of the strengths and weaknesses (if any) of your writing, along with comments on writing technique, format, technical ability and market potential. 

A substantive edit is different to copy editing, which is performed by an experienced professional. Copy editing covers grammar, spelling, punctuation and many other details that writers are sometimes unaware of but publishers care deeply about. Substantive editing also differs from proof reading, which checks the final details before a book or article is printed or published. Following an in-depth substantive edit, both copy editing and proof reading are still needed before publication.

I offer substantive editing services for most genres. You can visit my website for further information or contact me directly for an estimate. 

Summer Camps in Calgary and area

I’m available to visit summer camps in the Calgary area each July and August. 

I can be a special guest or work as part of the programming. I have a number of presentations, workshops, and other programs that are suitable for summer camps, but am very flexible. I’m happy to discuss ways in which my programs can fit in with the general theme of your camp for a particular week.

I also offer my five day playwriting program for local community associations and other groups. This can be run as a morning or afternoon camp for small groups of children ages nine to twelve.

Contact me about rates and availability for summer camps this July and August. 

Hear Here - Author Readings Online

People are always interested in hearing an author read from their own work. Children in particular, especially those who have read and enjoyed the novels, are usually captivated when an author reads from their own book during a personal appearance at a school, library, literary festival or other event.

Here on my website, you can listen to interviews and readings from The Alchemist's Portrait, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse and The Heretic's Tomb, recorded on Calgary's CKUA radio network, plus a reading from The Sorcerer's Letterbox, recorded during my appearance at the Winnipeg International Writers Festival.

Simon Rose: Part One - Influences

Star Trek, superheroes, clones, the Black Death, Harry Potter, time travel, and much more. Check out the latest interview with Joshua Pantalleresco, in which I discuss many of the influences behind some of the books and writing in general. Here's a short excerpt.

"The characters have to be in some danger, even if the reader has a strong suspicion that they aren’t going to get too hurt in the course of the story. But you need stakes of some kind in your stories. 

When I started out, I remember reading a lot of kids books to kind of see what the market was like. I read a fair amount of time travel stories, but most of them involved the characters just going back in time and visiting a place. There’d be little or no conflict or any kind of real story. I would read this stuff and think to myself, what’s the point? It’s nice to go back in time, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not very interesting if nothing exciting happens."

Check out the first part of the interview here. 

Virtual Author Visits for Schools

Children are almost always inspired when they meet a real life author or illustrator, but it may not always possible to have an author visit your school. However, why not put technology to work for you? Now you can arrange a virtual author visit via video using Skype. These can be conducted with large groups in a library or gym or with individual classes. You can get an idea of what a virtual visit looks like by viewing the videos on my website or on YouTube, in which I talk about my books, my workshops for adults and schools, plus my various services for writers.

Ideally, in preparation for a virtual author visit, students should have read at least one of my books prior to the visit, but can also familiarize themselves with my work by undertaking the Super Scavenger Search. You may also wish to download the word search puzzles related to each novel. Study Guides and Classroom Resources are also available for all my novels. Each book can provide teachers with a wide variety of ways to explore projects with their students and class sets of books are available.To host a virtual author visit, you will need to download Skype, which is available for both Windows and Mac, and have a webcam. 

You may contact me directly for details on technical requirements and all about exactly how a virtual author visit works. A technical run through a few days prior is also advisable, to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day of the visit.