Services for Authors

I’ve helped published and pre-published authors:

“Josephine is a careful reader who can drill into the heart of a manuscript. She’s an expert guide!”

Shana Youngdahl, Author of As Many Nows As I Can Get and A Catalog of Burnt Objects

Need an organizational boost? An experienced eye on your manuscript? Let’s chat!
Drop me a line or book a free 15-minute discovery call. All coaching and editing packages are listed below.

I am an absolute story geek. I’ve spent the past 20 years immersed in storytelling craft from all sides: author, editor, teacher, industry nerd, and fangirl. In the past five years, I’ve published four critically acclaimed novels with Macmillan/FSG, and I understand the dogged determination, creative energy, and boundless curiosity needed to sustain a creative life.

If your goal is to be traditionally published, my successful Big 4 experiences can help you avoid pitfalls and give you insider knowledge about current market realities, while always staying true to the heart and soul of your story. I look at manuscripts from both a craft and an industry angle — your vision and characters are the core, but you need strong structure, stakes, and emotional impact to connect with readers (and, realistically, gatekeepers).

If your goal is self-publishing, I can be the editorial eye you need to ensure your final product is a well-crafted jewel box that will grab readers’ hearts and carry them all the way through to a satisfying ending. Note: I can help get your manuscript ready for the journey, but if you need advice about how and where to self-publish or promote, I suggest you consult another source like BookBaby or Jane Friedman.

I’ve worked with authors including Ann Braden (middle grade), Shana Youngdahl (poetry, middle grade), and Anna Vodicka (adult memoir and creative nonfiction), as well as with other talented authors on the path to publication. I can’t wait for you to read their work someday!

If you’re looking for help with poetry or short fiction/creative nonfiction, please visit me at Submitit, where I am Prose & Poetry Editor / Director of the Poetry Division.

Genres I’m not a great fit for: horror, thrillers, steamy romance. References available on request. View my CV (.pdf). Member of Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance (MWPA) and Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).

Creative Coaching:
Single Session

Sometimes you just need to talk it over with someone who's been through it before. Whether you are struggling with a specific story problem, time management, or this roller coaster creative life, I'm here to talk it through and give you practical tips and tools to help you find your way. I look forward to supporting your creative work!

1 hour consultation

$125

Creative Coaching Package

Do you need an organizational boost? I can help you build an outline, clarify goals, develop systems that streamline your process, and suggest tools to help you stay on track. We'll work together to identify and target your personal pain points and create an action plan (with accountability) for alleviating them. Every writer is unique, and we will collaborate to find solutions that fit your process and your individual needs.

5 sessions

$500

Manuscript Critique

Develop the heart, structure, and stakes of your story! We'll discuss your goals, then I'll critique your manuscript, providing you with an editorial letter as well as in-line notes. You can expect big-picture and micro-level feedback, but my main focus will be to help you explore ways to bring out the emotional core, let your characters drive the story, and keep readers engaged until the very end.

STEP 1: CONSULTATION
(1 hour, $125)

STEP 2: CRITIQUE
(feedback letter and in-line notes; $75/1000 words; picture books = $250 flat fee)

optional STEP 3: FOLLOW-UP CONSULTATION ($100 additional f

Query & First 10 Pages Critique

First of all, I've been there! I've had two agents, and I found both of them through my query letter and sample pages. Making your way out of the slush pile is not easy, but I am living, breathing proof that it CAN be done! If you dream of being traditionally published, a well-crafted query and a tight 10-page sample can be your ticket to representation.

$250

STEP 1: CONSULTATION
(30 minutes)

STEP 2: CRITIQUE
(in-line notes)

optional STEP 3: FOLLOW-UP CONSULTATION ($100 additional fee)

Copyditing & Proofreading

I have 20 years of copyediting and proofreading experience. If you have a fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry project that simply needs to be cleaned up for publication or submission purposes, I'll help you improve the clarity and readability of your document and make sure it's error-free.

STEP 1: CONSULTATION
(30 minutes, $50)

STEP 2: IN-LINE EDITS ($55/1000 words)

Josephine Cameron Creative Coaching offers copyediting, manuscript critiques, creative coaching, and agent query support for middle-grade children’s book writers. She approaches kidlit manuscripts from both a craft and industry angle, always keeping your vision and characters top of mind. Whether you dream of traditional publication or self-publishing, Josephine brings deep knowledge of children’s literature, narrative craft, and industry expectations to every stage of the creative process—always with a warm, collaborative approach.