Writing With Donna

h heart. Donna’s life experiences, which included two cancer diagnoses and significant personal family loss, have helped grow her heart and compassion, as well as her intuition, which is what she offers her clients through the writing and editing process. Donna’s gentle, clear guidance allows writers to explore those deeper places that can be difficult to navigate. She companions authors through the writing and editing process, helping them know when to pause and when to move forward. What comes forth is a book that is memorable, impactful, and masterfully created. The more we share our stories from our hearts—whether fiction or nonfiction—the more our readers will connect with us and be transformed. This is how we heal ourselves and our world! In 2013, Donna began her hybrid indie publishing company. Merry Dissonance Press is here to support works intended to make a little noise in our world—works that create a bit of a rub. Just like the formation of a pearl in the oyster shell, it’s that continuous chafing that creates the most brilliant and lustrous thoughts and ideas to bring more light into the world. Merry Dissonance Press is here to support (non)fiction, poetry, and tales of wonder. Donna Mazzitelli, “The Word Heartiste,” is an award-winning writing coach, editor, and publisher. As of 2021, Merry Dissonance Press has published 21 books and accumulated more than 50 awards. Donna continues to work on her own writing. To date, she has written and published three children’s books, Warm Toes, The Great Stirring, and The Recycling Project. Donna’s personal memoir, Mosaic Heart: Pieces of an Unfinished Life, will be published in February 2022, and she is already at work on her second memoir, Madonna Blue Heart. From the spark of an idea to the creation of your masterpiece, Donna will walk you through every part of the book writing journey. What I Offer As a Writing Coach

As a writing coach, I act as your mentor, team strategist, accountability partner, confidante, cheerleader, midwife, and guide in your creative endeavor. I am here to help you hone your craft, strengthen your voice, gain confidence in your writing, and gain clarity about your message and where you want your story to go. Because I am also an editor, I will review your writing along the way to look at elements such as style, plot, story arc, flow, order, character and scene development, dialogue, and voice. I will coach you to create a writing life in which you’ll thrive—assisting you with finding the time and motivation to write and helping you to overcome any obstacles that may appear along the way, including the voice of the inner critic. In the process, you get the best of all worlds, discovering that writing is not a chore to be checked off but a profoundly enriching experience to be enjoyed. As a writing coach, I guide you through the writing process to help you unfold and connect with your story so that you can bring it forth and share it with others. I offer a safe and supportive working partnership that allows you to discover the story you need and want to tell. (My coaching fees are aligned with and similar to coaching rates in the Western United States.) THE TOUCHSTONE EXPERIENCE—A TWO-PART SERIES


In this two-part series, you have the opportunity to create a written touchstone for the book you want to write. This will serve to support you and your dream, offer you clarity about your book, and serve as your compass to keep you moving in the direction of writing it. What is a touchstone? A touchstone can be a personal symbol or emblem that represents your dream and helps you stay on track and stay true to your vision. It can provide internal guidance, clarity, and direction. In relation to writing a book, a touchstone can represent your anchor for the book you want to write and why you are writing it. In that context, it becomes something that guides and supports you through the process of writing. Your touchstone will serve as the vantage point from which you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what you are writing has value and merit and is meant to serve you and others. Especially when inner or outer criticism attempts to derail or cause you to doubt yourself, this will serve to remind you why you are writing and to help you stay true to your message. Ultimately, it will support you to finish writing your book. Why Hire An Editor? An editor offers objectivity with heart. An editor is not emotionally attached to your work the way family and friends might be when they offer their help to read what you have written. However, a good editor still works from the heart and with heart, honoring that this is your creation and your voice while ensuring that your writing will be the best it can be. An editor performs an invaluable service. The writer’s job is to write—the editor’s job is to edit. A professional, accomplished editor will make your words flow beyond your wildest dreams, helping to strengthen and bring clarity to your writing voice. An editor catches and repairs things, too. After you have looked at the same written materials dozens and dozens of times, you can become accustomed to seeing things the way you envision them. Your mind will fill in missing words and phrases, even though they are not actually on the page. An editor’s task is to make sure that what you envision is what comes through in your writing. An editor provides an extra set of eyes. Having another pair of eyes review your material is essential to creating written work that is the best it can be. Hiring a good editor is a wise, and necessary, investment. Editors check for a lot more than spelling and grammar. Editors can check for continuity and flow in your storyline and identify areas where there may be confusion for readers. They provide feedback about your characters and dialogue—identifying where further development may be needed. Editors can call attention to areas in your writing where facts may need further checking—and even verify those facts for you. In memoir writing, the editor can offer perspective on how to tell your story so that others can benefit from your experiences. An editor will work with you to assure that your unique voice comes through your writing. What an editor does is make your written work the best it can be. Using an editor makes your work more marketable. Why Work with Donna? I have edited dozens of books and won multiple editing awards. My Motivation. Words are powerful and extremely magical. I especially enjoy working with authors to bring out the magic and power of your words, taking the reader where you—the author—want to lead them. My Heart. No matter how big or small the project, I work with heart. I honor the work you’re doing to bring your writing to life. I understand that especially when working on writing that involves your life experiences, the journey can be quite emotional. I am sensitive to your process and work with you to honor the emotions that may arise. I see myself as your midwife, helping you birth your writing and ensuring that your work has a safe delivery into the world. I also have a large community network and do my best to connect you with other people and services to get your work out there and into the hands of others. My Diverse Background. Some works need an editor with expertise in a particular area. I especially love the genres of memoir, biography, and personal growth and development. I also work in a variety of other genres, including historical fiction, visionary and fantasy fiction, health and nutrition, spirituality, death and dying, parenting, adolescent psychology, business, entrepreneurship, as well as children’s books that address social and environmental issues. Writing Services

Writing is personal. Working with a professional writer is a relationship that needs to fit and work well for both people. It’s important to find a writing coach, partner author, or ghostwriter with whom you feel comfortable. The goal of partnering with a professional writer is to allow your voice and message to come through in a heartfelt, authentic, and polished style. It’s important to work with someone who will turn that aim into a reality. I offer a complimentary 30-minute telephone consultation so that we can get to know each other and you can learn more about me and the services I offer. Publishing Services

Our publishing experience includes the following elements:

Project oversight:

• Project management from the beginning of the production process through publication
• Title setup, including CIP Data and ISBN
• Assistance with and editing of the foreword for the book, if needed, and all front and back matter, including book endorsements and trade review excerpts
• Distribution setup, including Amazon Author Central Page and book optimization
• Assistance with Library of Congress filing

Layout and design:

• Custom cover design
• Custom interior layout design

Advance reader copy creation and submissions:

• Advance reader copies in PDF format (paperback ARCs are available at an additional investment)
• Trade review bundle with BlueInk Review and Foreword Clarion (additional trade review is available with Kirkus Reviews at an additional investment)
• Assistance with identification of and submission to book endorsers

Final production of paper book:

• Proof and uploading via Ingram/Lightning Source
• Traditional worldwide distribution through Ingram/Lightning Source
• Additional paper book creation via KDP for Amazon sales only
• Book files submitted to and proofed with local printer(s)

eBook creation and publication:

• eBook file conversion and initial exclusive upload to Kindle
• Subsequent to the exclusive arrangement, additional formats can be created for other e-readers, including Nook, Kobo, and iBooks. Additional fees required. Marketing and social media strategizing:

• Three marketing strategy meetings to create an individualized plan with book marketing expert
• Discovery meeting with social media strategist to determine appropriate platforms and strategies, plan development, and plan review
• Initial Amazon Power Boost & Best Seller Campaign
• Initial marketing materials, including book one sheet

Post-publication support:

• Support and management of title metadata
• Two-year specialized plan for book award submissions
• Six months ongoing project management of your title via a monthly Zoom meeting
• Guidance for getting your books into bookstores, libraries, and other trade outlets

Learn more at:
https://www.writingwithdonna.com/