Work With Me

Whether I am writing a speech or a book my focus is

always on storytelling, engagement, information and entertainment

Photo: Simon Barratt

If you have a story to tell – whether it is in a speech, a press release, a book, an online event, an annual report or a brochure – I can help you make the right impression.

Editing and Publishing - Let’s make that book a reality you can be proud of

Having successfully published books from manuscript stage through to placing them for sale on platforms like Amazon I have a host of knowledge, insights and experience to share. Whatever stage your manuscript is at, I can assist in transforming it into a beautiful book that you can hold in your hand and sell with confidence. Below are five packages I offer but I can tailor my services to suit you and your book and I offer a free forty five minute consultation to help you decide which package or tailored program is appropriate.

Package 1

Writing Guide

Have a book inside you but don’t know where to begin? Know what you want to say but don’t know how to say it? Want to write a book but have trouble finding the motivation or discipline? If any of these sound like you then I can help. I offer a free forty five minute zoom call to get a sense of your project and what help you need. I will find out as much as I can about the book you want to write and explain how I would assist you in getting that manuscript written. Includes eight hours of zoom calls or face-to-face meetings where practical. I offer a free forty-five minute consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 2
Editorial Package
I will read your manuscript and give detailed feedback on the content, including clarity, quality of writing, genre classification, publishing potential, suggested editorial changes and proofreading requirements.
Includes 2 hour of zoom consultation or face-to-face meeting where practical. I offer a free forty-five minute consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 3
Content package
I will read your manuscript and give detailed feedback on the content, including clarity, quality of writing, genre classification, publishing potential, suggested editorial changes and proofreading requirements. Once the final draft has been approved I will format it into a finished book complete with inside title page, dedication, index where appropriate, chapters, endnotes etc.
Includes 3 hours of zoom consultation or face-to-face meeting where practical. I offer a free forty-five minute consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 4
Full publishing package
I will read your manuscript and give detailed feedback on the content, including clarity, quality of writing, genre classification, publishing potential, suggested editorial changes and proofreading requirements. Once the final draft has been approved I will format it into a finished book complete with inside title page, dedication, index where appropriate, chapters, endnotes etc. I will then assist in identifying and commissioning a cover designer and will guide you through the process of making your book available for sale on Amazon in all territories where you want the book to be available and on how to publicise your book. Includes 5 hours of zoom consultation or face-to-face meeting where practical. I offer a free forty-five minute consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 5

Ghostwriting Package

Whether you have a fiction or non-fiction book in mind, whether it’s an autobiography or a company history, I can get to know your subject and your voice both through interviews and independent research. I offer a free one hour zoom call in which I will ask you about the project, find out how much you want to be directly involved and what form my research will take – including how much access to your time will be available. I can produce not just a finished manuscript but a finished formatted book, with a professional cover, that is available for sale on Amazon and any other platforms you choose – as well as copies of the finished book for sale directly from you or any shop or outlet that wants to carry them. Includes approximately twenty hours of zoom calls or face-to-face meetings where practical. To make an initial enquiry click here.

“Adam created the book ‘An Urgent Message’ for The Trafalgar Way from a variety of short story contest winners. He edited, proofed and formatted it expertly and commissioned just the right cover. Overall I was delighted with his work and would certainly work with him again.”

Kathy Brown, Director, The Trafalgar Way

Speechwriting and coaching

Speech writing – helping you to make a memorable impactful speech with confidence in your own voice and style.

Making a speech should appear effortless but like a great magician, a good speechwriter has done all the preparation in advance in order to maximise the chances of holding the audience and getting your message across. Above all a speech must not be boring and forgettable. To hold an audience’s attention you have to tell a story, have great detail, authentic humour that comes naturally from your material (rather than ‘jokes’) and you must make a connection with the people in the room so that they feel included. I have made thousands of speeches under every possible circumstance and there are many tricks and techniques that I can share to make your speech a pleasurable experience for you as well as your audience.

Packages

Package 1
Speech consultation
I will read your first draft and advise on how to improve the structure, clarity, detail, and overall quality of your speech. Includes approximately one and a half hours of on-line zoom consultation or face-to-face meeting where practical. I offer a free half hour consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 2
Basic speechwriting
I will read your first draft or notes or if the speech is just ‘in your head’ I will hear or read what material you have and create a list of subject headings for further research. Having gathered everything together I will structure it into a speech of the appropriate length and undertake two redrafts. Includes approximately 3 hours of on-line zoom consultation where practical. I offer a free half hour consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 3
Full speech writing and delivery package
I will help to build the speech from the ground up by exploring what you want to say, digging down into your ’story’ and researching the subjects covered to mine for material, as well as talking in depth to you in order to get to understand your ‘voice’. This might include, if you were agreeable, talking to colleagues/friends/family where appropriate. I would draft the speech and undertake rewrites then consult on delivery, coaching you to produce a polished effective delivery. This would include overcoming nerves where appropriate as well as how to dress and how to conduct yourself in advance of the speech and maximise the positive benefits. Includes 4 hours of on-line zoom consultation or face-to-face meeting where practical. I offer a free half hour consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 4
Corporate speechwriting and delivery package
I will assist up to ten employees in preparing and delivering a speech. This will include guiding them through the initial phase of identifying the message, seeking inspiration, gathering material. Then structuring the speech, having an overall vision, preparation, overcoming nerves, how to conduct yourself in advance of a speech, delivery and how to maximise the positive effects of the speech. Includes 5 hours of on-line zoom consultation or face-to-face meeting where practical. I offer a free half hour consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

“I had to make a speech and Adam helped me put my thoughts in order, gave me some techniques for my presentation style and helped to structure my jokes to give them maximum impact. I am pleased to say the speech went extremely well and I’m really glad I approached him for advice.”

Kevin Gray

Pubic Relations

In a world where everyone is trying to grab and hold people’s attention a good press release can make the difference between being ignored and ending up on the front pages. I can help you not only with the wording of a press release but with the story you are telling and the concept behind it. As well as having public relations experience I have also written for The Times, The Financial Times, The Times Literary Supplement and Sight and Sound amongst other publications. I know how to tell a story with brevity, punch and a sense of drama or, where appropriate, fun.

Short film making

I am a great believer in the power of short films, both as a way to deliver an idea or message and as a way for film makers to develop their skills and career. Whatever stage your short film is at I have valuable experience and advice that can help ensure the best possible chance for your project’s success. Below are two packages available but packages can be tailored to your project and I am happy to provide a detailed quote for your unique project. I offer a free forty five minute zoom chat to help you decide if I can help and select which package or tailored program is appropriate. You can watch the trailer for my award winning short film The Last Post here.

Package 1
Short film script consultation
I will read your script and give honest constructive feedback including my thoughts on the subject matter, structure, length, dialogue, and description, appeal and likelihood of the project performing well at festivals or on whatever platform the film is intended for. Includes 1 hour of zoom or face-to-face meeting where appropriate. I offer a free forty-five minute consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Package 2
Full Short film package
Whatever stage your screenplay is at, whether it is a germ of an idea or a polished screenplay, I can help you maximise the chances of your film’s success by advising on how to proceed. This might include giving detailed advice on how best to transform your message into a short film screenplay or helping with a redraft. Once the screenplay is ready I can advise on running a crowdfunding campaign through a platform like Kickstarter. I raised £20,000 for a short film in one month using social media and I can guide you through this process and share some powerful tricks for maximising engagement. Once you have your budget I can guide you through the pre-production, including recruitment of all crew, the shoot itself and post-production, including assistance in securing excellent deals with post production houses. Once the film is finished I will tell you how to maximise publicity for screenings and, where appropriate, on your festival submissions. Finally I can help you secure a deal with one of the short film distributers. My short film The Last Post’ is represented by the world’s leading short film distributer (the company that distributes all Oscar nominated shorts) and now produces a regular royalty. By working with me you will be avoiding a myriad of common errors and giving your project the very best chance of ultimately entertaining a wide audience. I offer a free forty-five minute consultation to establish your needs and to explain how I would work. To make an initial enquiry click here.

Corporate Writing

Whether you need to create the wording for an annual report, want to tell the story of a major development in your company’s history or have an amazing new product you want to describe with passion and integrity I can help. I despise ‘corporate speak’ and believe that any piece of writing needs to earn its place – being genuinely engaging, informative and, ideally, entertaining as well. The key for me is knowing the full story, picking up on the fascinating details and making it human and real. Sometimes you need a fresh sensibility to come and look at a project or product from an outsiders perspective – so that they can see the things that are not obvious to those who have been working intensely on something. My expertise is communications and I can deliver your message so that is enjoyed, understood and acted on.

Work With Me

Editing and Publishing - Let’s make that book a reality you can be proud of

Speechwriting and coaching

Pubic Relations

Short film making

Read Adam Preston articles on line

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