Katie DePaola, At Least You Look Good

“I had over 100 pages of notes on my book, but was at a total loss for how to organize all of it. On my own, I would start and stop every few months. I knew my first book was ready to take shape, but needed partnership to make it come alive. I interviewed multiple editors before choosing to work with Alli. After our first call, I knew she understood me and the overall message of the book. I was super impressed with how much forward movement we made every single week. She’s patient, communicative, has a high attention to detail and sticks to deadlines. What more could you want in an editor?!”

Creative Confidante

  • I know I want to write a book. Why should I hire you?

    You might only see one name listed on the covers of (most of) the books you read, but becoming an author requires a real community… no matter how much experience you have. The path is made much smoother by accountability buddies, editors, publishing insiders, and morale-boosting cheerleaders. I can play any combination of those roles so that you can take the creative spotlight.

  • But I'm a good writer! Seriously... why should I hire you?

    Seeking out reinforcements doesn’t mean that you are a “bad writer.” In fact, you might be a talented writer! But here’s the thing: even the best writers in the game can find the process of long-form writing overwhelming and unwieldy… especially if they also have day jobs and busy personal lives. As your confidante, I’m here to help you get organized and stay on track, to serve as a sounding board when things get challenging, and to use my own writing and editing expertise to make your prose the best it can be.

  • Practically speaking, how can you help me with this process?

    It depends! After you get in touch with me and we meet to chat about where you are with your writing, I’ll put together a personal partnership plan so you know exactly how I think I can best support your project. This plan might include any combination of structured brainstorming sessions, building an outline, establishing accountability practices, regular editing check-ins, copyediting, and more. You’ll also get access to twice-monthly virtual writing “office hours” that are normally exclusive to my writing group, which will help you get serious about your writing practice.

  • How much do you charge?

    My standard rate is $85/hour.

    Ultimately, we may find that it works better to structure the pricing of your project based on page count or deliverable, but the hourly rate is a good place to start.

  • What makes you the right person to be my creative confidante?

    I’ve been involved at every level of this process. I interned with a literary agent in college, worked at a major publishing house in New York City for five years, and have spent most of my career helping individuals and brands to hone their voices. I have an MFA in Fiction, which has given me even more tools to share with aspiring writers. I am in the process of shopping my own debut novel to agents, so when I tell you I understand what it’s like to work through the many stages of writing a book, I really mean it! I’ve been running my fiction-writing community for almost a year, which has given me yet another opportunity to support creators just like you.

  • But this is *my* book. How is this going to work?

    No matter how much I help guide you through the creative process, your book will remain your book. My role is to help you find your voice and channel your thoughts into a long-form written package — not to use my voice to dictate what you say to your readers. We’ll work together to find a solution if our initial ideas don’t align. Ultimately, I’ll support your final call in all creative decisions!