Strategic and Creative Consultancy
Have an idea for a new project or series and want to consider opportunities for inclusion and potential pitfalls?
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Wondering if your plans could seem tokenistic or inappropriate?
Want to review what inclusion looks (or could look) like across a whole list?
Unsure when and how to work with people with lived experience? Or even how to find them?
Imagine having an inclusion expert at the table to help you find strategic and creative ways of ensuring inclusion is authentic and embedded from the very start. That's essentially what my strategic and creative consultancy services offer, virtually or in person, on any ideas, proposals, submissions, illustrations or manuscripts.
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"It’s wonderful to work with someone who’s so tuned in to inclusivity in children’s books. Beth has such in-depth knowledge and experience in this field, and being able to discuss the challenges we were facing and exploring potential solutions enabled us to find the right approach for this project.”
Gillian Sore, Development Editor, Oxford Children's Books
What does strategic and creative consultancy involve?
From a strategy perspective we consider what inclusion looks like across your list, how representation across different titles fits in to that, whether anyone is being centred or othered, and how to ensure authentic inclusion fits within the schedule and budget.
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From a creative perspective, the story or the content remains at the centre of the project, but we find creative solutions to overcome challenges or barriers and ensure that inclusion is authentic and embedded, not tokenistic.
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Consultancy can be delivered in various ways depending on your needs. Some publishers find a one-off session at the start of a project is sufficient, for other a series of sessions that take place as a project progresses is a better investment. Sessions can focus on one title, a series, or a whole list.
How does it work?
We'll have an initial call to discuss what you need and whether a one-off session or a series would be best. Before the session, you can send me any relevant notes, material, research or questions so that I can start considering them before we meet, but if you prefer you can share this as part of the session.
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At a time that is convenient for your team, we'll have an inclusion focused editorial meeting. Depending on the project and your needs, the content of this will vary, but the outcome will be a creative solution to your challenges and a clear plan for the next steps.
What's the investment?
The investment varies depending on the approach. The current rate for a virtual 90 minute strategic and creative consultancy session, along with the initial call and my preparation time is £950+ VAT. Booking a series of sessions is more cost effective so please get in touch for an estimate.
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I'm often booked up in advance so it's advisable to look ahead and book my time as soon as possible. I can occasionally fit in last minute projects, so it's worth getting in touch just in case.