Why a Writer’s Doula?

Writing a book is much like creating a baby. Or starting a podcast. It’s labor intensive. It’s difficult, but in the end, you deliver something very special. However, your work doesn’t end with the birthing process. Sometimes it’s nice having a writer’s doula — a coach to answer the questions that are specific to you. Sure, you could find the answers in books, on the Internet, or on a podcast or a writer’s doula can hold your hand, pay attention to your special needs, and guide you on your journey to becoming a new person — a published WRITER.

The Standard Package Includes

A FREE 30-minute consult—to help you decide what services you need

  • 2 International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) — you’ll be part of the BHP family while still keeping all rights to your work; Only $75 for additional ISBNs, a $125 value (from R.R. Bowker).

  • Usage of the BHP Logos

  • Promo code for free Ingram Spark title set up fee

  • Templates for books

  • Up to 3 hours of Content Editing (Structural, Developmental or Medical Technical)

  • Review quotes for promotional purposes

  • Six social media graphics (featuring the book cover and/or writer)

  • 3 hours of coaching (Administrative Services and/or Marketing Services)

  • A Guest appearance on “Heart to Heart with Anna: A Podcast for the CHD Community” Free inclusion in the Baby Hearts Press Book People’s Choice Award program

    The Standard Package Total = $1,000

Baby Hearts Press (BHP) is a publishing company founded in 1996. BHP has always produced resources for the congenital heart defect (CHD) community. Now, with Writer’s Doula, our team of writers and bibliophiles wants to help you make your books a resource for the CHD community. Meet our team, review our services, and let us know if you’d like to become a member of our growing community of published writers.

À la carte Services

Let’s create a Win-Win relationship! When we work together, BHP helps you become a published writer and BHP expands its CHD resources — all for the good of the CHD community. If that’s not a Win-Win relationship, we don’t know what is! We hope you’ll join our family or that we can help you on your journey to become a published author.

  • Why might I need a structural editor? Are you feeling frustrated? Experiencing Writer’s Block? Overwhelmed? Let our structural editor help you find a structure for your book. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all of the choices out there. Some people are very organic writers and they write their hearts out but then have no idea what to do with their writing. Our structural editors will help you create an outline or Table of Contents for your book. They can help you identify a purpose for your book and narrow down your message to make it more easily consumable by readers.

  • Why do I need a developmental editor? Is your book engaging? Do the readers feel they are right there with you OR are you talking at the reader? Do your readers feel as though they are outside your story looking in? Our developmental editors will help you turn your book from passive voice to active voice. They will help you identify where you can use the five senses to bring the story alive to your readers. They can make suggestions for where dialog would be a powerful tool for you, making the readers feel as though they are eavesdropping on a conversation instead of reading about what happened.

  • Sometimes our writing requires reading medical reports, surgical reports, or doing medical research. This can be daunting. Our medical technical editor can help you make sense of what you need to know. You don’t have to be a nurse or a doctor to write about your medical experience, but you want to be accurate when you describe those experiences. Our medical technical editor can help you keep readers right by your side (possibly even learning something new!) instead of feeling confused or baffled by what they read.

  • What does a Line Editor do? Line editors work line-by-line through your book. They make sure your language is clear and grammatically correct. They look at the writer’s word choice and tone. Writers use Line Editors to help them tighten up their book before sending to the formatter or an agent.

  • Why does a writer need a proofreader? Have you ever noticed that there are gremlins in your computer? It’s not uncommon for a book to be sent to the formatter/designer and for the book to look a little different than you want it to look. Proofreaders

  • • Consultation on how to acquire an ISBN OR if you’ve purchased the Standard Package, an extra ISBN with BHP ($75 per extra ISBN)

    • Consultation on signing up for a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)

    • Consultation on admin tasks (front and back cover matter, book cover design, book trim size, etc.)

    • Consultation on what distribution service(s) to use (IngramSpark, Amazon/Kindle, or other)

    • Consultation on audiobooks — should you create one? Should you narrate it? If not, who should?Item description

  • • 1-hour consultation on media promotion (i.e. podcasts, radio and TV interviews)

    • Interview Coaching Session (actually practice doing an interview/media appearance)

    • Development of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for interviews

    • Podcast matching

  • Before you release your book to the public, you need beta readers. These are typically people who represent your readers. They look for errors and can provide testimonials you can use in promoting your book (sometimes these testimonials are used on the back cover or in the front matter of your book). You use beta readers before you publish your book. This is your last chance to make changes before you send your book to the print-on-demand (POD) or book distributor. BHP will find 5 beta readers for your book.