Cooke Classic Branding & Design

I love graphic design, but writing/editing is my thing!

I just finished a phone call with a client who continuously complimented me. (She's 76 and will launch her book this year. It's NEVER too late!)

I am her FIFTH editor. She's been trying for years to release her book, but she stated that her previous editors just didn't do a good job.

She tells me over and over how pleased she is with my editing, and that I "don't miss not one thing." She said I catch every little and big thing and leave no stone unturned.

This is the only way I know to do it. I put my heart and soul into each project as if it's my own.

Whether it's a manuscript, dissertation, blog post, article, speech, essay, report, or any other written material, I guarantee you will end up with the highest quality product.

And don't forget your PROGRAM BOOKLETS!!

Let's work!

It's peak CONFERENCE and CONVOCATION TIME!

Order your marketing materials and take your event to the next level!!

Let's goooo!!!

I had some clients who have had to push back their books, so I have room to take on 2-3 more clients for a December release!

If you've been thinking about completing and releasing your book, let this be your sign!

And to make it extra special, l'm knocking $1,000 off the price, so for just a limited time, the package is only $3,500!

DM or email me at [email protected]

I'm back to work and feeling good!! Let's start your project today!

Please see the updated date and details.

Less than 2 days left! Let's goooo!!

A few projects over the last couple of weeks.

Since it's my last week of working before my surgery, let's run it back!!!

BOOK COVER DESIGN SALE
RETRACTABLE BANNER SALE and
TABLE COVERS SALE

See flyers for details!!

Entrepreneurs: Build your email list! That's where the bulk of my Book Cover Design sale orders are coming from! 5/19 & it's gone!

‼️ BOOK COVER SALE! One week only. See the details below!

I think I feel a book cover design sale creeping up on me. Who would be interested?

There's no reason why I shouldn't net a minimum of $150K/year. Help, God!

***TODAY ONLY***

Retractable Banner for $200! Includes custom design, printing, hardware, carrying case and shipping!!

***TODAY ONLY***

Retractable Banner for $200! Includes custom design, printing, hardware, carrying case and shipping!!

‼️ I just told a graphic designer to delete their post because they posted screenshots of a conversation they had with an unsatisfied client. It's not a good look, and that's an immature move.

We all have challenging clients, but their words should never make it to Facebook or any other social media network, unless it's a testimonial or something of that nature.

If you need to vent, find a trusted friend or mentor. (I tell my therapists. Listen! Tina and Thomas hear it all! LOL)

Don't let your frustration make you lose business or put you out of business because clients start thinking their private conversations with you will become public.

Some recent work.

FLYERS ARE ON SALE TOO! Each is $100

Hello, everyone! I will be closed from May 27 - June 11. I will be having a MAJOR surgery. Keep me in your prayers, but also keep in mind if you have any time sensitive work. See the flyer below.

So, the SALE IS ON THROUGH APRIL 26!

Retractable Banner: $250, normally $350. Includes artwork, printing, shipping, hardware, and carrying case

Table Cover: $250, normally $350. Includes artwork, printing, and shipping

Conference Branding and other Packages: 25% off

**Full payment upfront. Must use within 3 months.**

Thinking about running a sale on graphic design packages.

What would you like to see discounted?

I created this backdrop for an event titled "More than Cute." I really like it.

Please me careful when hiring a service provider, especially for book cover design.

There are many scammers out there who will fill their portfolio with books they didn't design.

In a group where I'm a moderator, I saw a post from a book cover designer, and I checked out her website. There were books in her portfolio that I knew 200% she nor her company designed because I know the designer! There was another book she claimed was her work that a lot of folks on Fiverr also claim is theirs. I knew it wasn't hers because it was designed 10+ years ago before she ever thought about designing book covers.

There were more like above, but when I confronted her, she was adamant that she designed every book in her portfolio. One "wild" thing about some authors is that they list the cover designer on the copyright page. You search for the book on Amazon and see who designed the book cover.

I even reached out to an author whose book was on her site, and the author said she nor her books have anything to do with the company in question.

Instead of telling the truth, she doubled down and even said that she saw some of my work on websites of other designers! LOLOL

I told her that if she could provide proof that she designed the covers in question, I would advertise her business on my page.

Long story short 🤣🤣she was banned from the group.

But the point of the story is to do your due diligence!! People will show you amazing covers "they" designed but produce something for you that a 3-year-old could do.


I can help with your publishing and writing needs.
Check out my website: cookeclassic.com/chp. For those serious about publishing their book, please schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/cookeclassic/publishingconsultation

It's not too late! See the details below.

Another thing: Do not include your full bio on the back cover. Highlight the most important things, especially those things that align with the subject of the book.

Place the full bio (About the Author) at the end of the book. I've seen too many bios that take up almost all the space on the back cover, which should be reserved for your blurb.

We will talk about blurbs later. I will mention now that it is definitely NOT a long summary of your book. It isn't a book report!

This one is for free: Stop putting "written by" on your book cover.

‼️ There’s Nothing Light About This: A Case Study ‼️
(I wanted to do graphics, but don’t have the time.)

I knew when I received this request, I was not going to take the job.

1. This request came from another publisher who should know better.

2. When a client calls an editing project “light” and “minor,” they are trying to downplay the amount of work required in order to pay a small amount.

3. 200,000 words does not equal 300 pages. That’s 600+ pages.

4. You’re nowhere close to the final stages of editing if you are looking to reduce the number of pages. The final stage of editing would be proofreading which is the final check for typos, repeated words, spacing, numbering, and formatting consistency.

5. What they are really asking for is a developmental edit and a line edit. If needed, a developmental edit is the first stage of editing. The publisher believes that quite a bit of the manuscript is redundant, and where the author wrote several pages about a topic, it could be condensed down to 1 or 2 paragraphs.

A line edit would come next, and that would focus on writing style and voice, pointing out awkward phrasing, unnecessary repetition, telling vs showing, passive voice, and more. There’s nothing light about this!

6. When I informed the client what was needed, she stated to just focus on a developmental edit.

7. I use the Editorial Freelancer’s Association rates when quoting work (www.the-efa.org/rates/). It's the standard. A developmental edit for a nonfiction manuscript begins at 4 cents/word.

8. You average around 4-6 pages per hour when doing a developmental edit. With over 600 pages, this would take around 130 HOURS! The client offered $800. When you do the math, it comes out to $6/hour or $.0004 per word. That’s less than ½ of 1 penny.

9. The only thing light about this would be my pockets and bank account if I agreed to do this job.

Small business owners: You don't have to include "LLC" on your logo or every time you mention your business name.