Joe can provide various services to writers, publishers and other organisations. As well as being a writer and performer, Joe is an experienced editor, skilled in document preparation, and has hosted and facilitated many events and workshops.
Rates will vary depending on the size and nature of the project. If you have something you’d like to discuss, get in touch with details of what you need, and Joe can talk it through with you.
Mentoring
If you’re looking for an experienced writer to give you some advice, Joe is available as a mentor. You’ll send him some of your work (either poetry or prose, and anything from a few pieces to a full manuscript), and he’ll copy edit and proofread it for errors, as well as making some creative suggestions about how you could improve it. He’ll also give you some general feedback on your writing. Then you’ll have a one-to-one session with Joe, either in person or online, to discuss the suggestions in more detail.
Copy editing & proofreading
If you don’t want the full mentoring service, Joe can provide basic proofreading and copy editing for poetry or prose. He’ll correct textual errors in spelling and punctuation, identify any inconsistencies or anachronisms, and check for factual inaccuracies. If required, he can work to a publisher’s style guide.
Performance coaching
If the help you’re looking for is more to do with performance, Joe can help with one-to-one coaching. You can discuss some general techniques for improving your stage presence and engaging an audience, as well as looking at individual pieces and identifying ways that you can make them work better in a live context.
Workshops
Joe has hosted poetry and creative writing workshops for literature festivals, arts organisations and private businesses. Topics can include: Generating Original Ideas; Comic Micro-forms; The Poetry of Sport; Performance and Reading Techniques; or something custom-made for you.
“An excellent workshop. It really eased us gently out of our poetry comfort zones. Some creative and inspiring writing exercises, great feedback and the odd bit of book ripping. Top session!”
Tim Brookes, workshop participant
Please get in touch if you’d like Joe to deliver a session for your event or organisation.
Event hosting
As well as hosting the regular events Words on the Wall and Chemistry, Joe has compèred literature and music events for the Northern Short Story Festival, The Leeds Library, Sunnybank Mills, Cloth Cat Leeds and the Hyde Park Book Club, among others.
“A compère and poet extraordinaire all rolled into one, engaging the audience and artists alike. Joe always enables the night to roll on the crest of a wave until closing time.”
Shelly Johnson, Cloth Cat
Joe can also help with guest bookings and other aspects of event management if required. Whether you just need a frontman, or more help with organising your event, please drop him a line.
Typesetting
If you have a book or other document that has already been edited and now needs to be prepared for printing, Joe can help with typesetting. He’ll make sure the text is laid out in a readable and attractive format, with consistent fonts, style and appropriate margins (using a publisher’s style guide if required). He’ll check page numbering and make sure that front and end matter (such as contents pages, copyright notices, and acknowledgements) are correct and contain the required information. You’ll get back a fully prepared document that’s ready to send to the printer.
Please note, this doesn’t include cover design (unless it’s very basic) or other graphics work. You’ll need a graphic designer for that.
Joe Williams: Writer, Poet, Performer 