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Who is the
Public Planter Consultancy for?

Small presses, individuals/groups thinking of starting a small press, literary cultural producers of events or festivals, or larger literary organizations that have questions or would like to discuss challenges that they may facing.

What is my rate?

My base rate is $225 per hour. Rates for larger groups, multi-day consultancies, or longer-term organizational consultancies are negotiated based on the scope and particular need. Depending on where you are, there are sometimes local/state grants that can help offset consultancy costs.

What sort of topics are discussed?

What we discuss in our time together is directed by you and your needs but here are just a few topics that have emerged from previous consultancy sessions:

  • Vision and mission development

  • Building inclusive and authentic community in books published and events hosted

  • Hosting events: the nuts-and-bolts logistics, templates for readings or book releases, donations and how to make events sustainable

  • Hiring high-quality volunteers or staff (and how to retain them) and developing talents

  • Management techniques within a literary setting

  • Community safety and creation of guiding operating principles (safe/brave/heart space statements, for example)

  • Publication timelines, production questions, and design/software training

  • Copyright registration

  • Distribution options and building in-house systems for distribution

  • Fundraising

How do I approach consultancy?

There are three foundational tenets to my approach:

  • Curiosity: I lead with questions and active listening. What are the challenges that you are facing, how are they landing in your body (individual and/or collective), and where are they showing up in your day-to-day operations? What is your vision for your publishing house?

  • Reflection: I reflect back what I hear from you in a simplified, clarified form to ensure that we are moving from a shared foundational understanding of the current situation and where you would like to be.

  • Client-led Solutions: Once we arrive at a clear understanding of the issue, I help guide you through the challenges to arrive at client(you)-led solutions. I believe it is my ethical duty to make myself and my work unnecessary for you and your publishing organization as quickly as possible. I will not come in with a list of solutions for your challenge. I will, however, work closely with you to arrive at solutions that make sense to, and derive from, you (as an individual or collective in group settings).

How do I/we book time with you?

Send me an inquiry using the form button below. There are a few simple questions included on the form that will help me get to know you/your organization and the challenges you are facing (or the curiosities that you have). I will respond within 48 hours and if it seems like a fit, we will schedule a free 15-minute Zoom call to get to know one another a bit better and discuss why you are interested in my services.