“STORY MERCHANT” DR. KEN ATCHITY OFFERS WRITERS AT ALL LEVELS PERSONAL CAREER COACHING:

STRATEGY & TACTICS FOR MAKING A GLOBAL IMPACT IN A CHANGING WORLD MARKET

Dr. Atchity has spent his lifetime helping writers get started with and improve their careers. For nearly twenty years as a professor of literature and teacher of creative writing at Occidental College and UCLA--then since 1995, through this thewriterslifeline.com and as a literary manager with aeionline.com Dr. Atchity has helped literally hundreds of writers find a market for their work by bringing their craft and technique to the level of their ambition and vision. His daily newsletter, inspire@storymerchant.com keeps thousands of writers inspired and informed.

The 30-minute coaching sessions are doubly proactive: (a) determining your “assignment” for the next session; and (b) Dr. Atchity taking action on getting you to the connections you need to keep your project on the strategic track you’ve designed together. Plus, you’ll get 3 free follow-up emails for each session.

The one-on-one coaching includes:

• NOVELISTS AND NONFICTION WRITERS

Moving into Markets Beyond Your Own Backyard

Creating a Presence in the U.S.

Translation Issues (and solutions)

How Do I Know If My Work Is Good Enough for the Global Market?

Plots that Sell Globally

Building Characters

Settings That Sell in the U.S.

Choosing Your Next Work

Effective, Economical Publicity

Self-publishing: Perils and Opportunities

How Do I Publish My Children’s Book?

How to Find an Agent (Dr. Atchity will refer you to his management company or an appropriate agent once your work is ready for presentation).

How to Approach Publishers Directly.

How Can I Get My Novel Made Into a Film?

What Do I Need to Know or Do about BRANDING?

• SCREENWRITERS:

Today’s 2 Hollywood Market s & How to Navigate Them

Do I Need an Agent?

How Do I Find One? (when your work is ready, Dr. Atchity will refer it)

The Value of Contests

How Do I Know if My Work Is Good Enough for Hollywood?

What Is Television Looking for?

Where Can I Find a U.S. Collaborator for My Work?

How Do I Stand Out from the Pack?

How Can I Accelerate the Process of Getting My Script Made Into a Film?

Becoming a Proactive Filmmaker

In some cases, coaching can involve representation.

What other writing coach is also…

An active producer, for major studios, television, and independent films
A literary manager for twenty years for screenwriters, nonfiction authors, and novelists—with over 15 bestsellers and nearly 30 films
An editor for fifty years in every imaginable field
The author of 15 books, including A Writer’s Time, Writing Treatments That Sell, How to Publish Your Novel, and How to Escape Lifetime Security and Pursue Your Impossible Dream: A Guide to Changing Your Career
An inspiring public speaker at dozens of conventions and conferences in the U.S. and Europe
A brand manager whose brands have included Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not! and thethrillionaires.com
A writer on every aspect of the creative process
Ph.D. from Yale, former Professor of Literature at Occidental College.
Fulbright Professor to the University of Bologna

Stay tuned with his latest activities at kenatchity.blogspot.com

For daily free inspiration and information for writers along with news of our latest deals, inspire@storymerchant.com

Inquire about one-on-one coaching now by writing to drk@storymerchant.com and receive further information about rates and benefits.

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Career Coaching

Rates until October 15, 2010

One-off session

$125 : (30 min telecom + 3 brief follow up emails in following 7 days (more emails okay but on further hourly charge)

$1,250: (12 Weekly 30-minutes for 3 months + email f/us)

$2,500: (24 Weekly 30-minutes for 6 months + email f/us)

NOTE: for a translator on the line, add 25% per session.

All fees payable in advance.

The same basic fee is available for work provided outside the telecom, such as submissions of your project and/or making publicity connections to serve your project.

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FAQ

Q: What is the difference between working with this service and the services offered by thewriterslifeline.com?

A: Writers Lifeline services are provided by our editorial/writing staff under my direction. With Career Coaching, you’re dealing one-on-one with me.

Q: Why did you start this Career Coaching service?

A: For two reasons: (1) My frustration at not being able to assist enough writers directly as I once did regularly as a professor; and (2) the changing realities of the literary management business where there is simply no more time available, as we increase our involvement in producing films and tv, to spend uncompensated time with writers.

Q. Can you help me submit my work to buyers?

A: Absolutely. When your work is ready for submission, I will either pick up the phone and submit it for you (no commission!), or I’ll suggest a representative who might be right for it.

AEI Client Dennis Palumbo's MIRROR IMAGE Reviewed In Pittsburg Magazine

'Mirror Image'

'Mirror Image' is packed with enough plot twists, hard-boiled characters and fast-talking women to please even the most casual noir fan.

By Stephen Knezovich

Mirror Image, the debut novel from one-time Hollywood screenwriter and University of Pittsburgh graduate Dennis Palumbo, is as cerebral a thriller as they come.

Featuring an unlikely protagonist—psychologist and former Golden Gloves pugilist Dr. Daniel Rinaldi—Mirror Image is a stark and suspenseful ride put into motion when Kevin Merrick, a troubled college student who begins to dress like Rinaldi, turns up dead. Faced with the very real possibility that he, and not Kevin, was the intended target, Rinaldi is determined to find the killer.

But “when Kevin’s identity as the estranged son of a Bill Gates-like biotech giant is revealed, the investigation of his murder turns into a national story, even as another person turns up dead.” The only question is whether Rinaldi can bring the culprit to justice before it’s too late.

Mirror Image spins a labyrinthine tale set under the murky skies and in the urban streets of Pittsburgh and is packed with enough plot twists, hardboiled characters and fast-talking women to please even the most casual noir fan.

Jeff Rivera 's Huffington Post Featuring Ken Atchity

Jeff Rivera

Entertainment Reporter

Posted: August 30, 2010 04:46 PM

Literary Manager Ken Atchity on How 'Literary Agency Must Change

Open the newspaper, turn on the television or listen to the radio and the book publishing and film industrys' news of constant lay-offs and woes have seeped past the industry trade papers into the major headlines. The changes have affected not only authors, bookstores, chain stores and book publishing companies but also the literary agencies and management companies that represent the authors themselves.

The next five years will be some of the most critical years for literary agents. Some will sink and others will swim. To explore this topic further, I reached out to veteran literary manager and producer, Ken Atchity of Atchity Entertainment Incorporated for his take on what is happening and what he has done about it. It was rather eye-opening and could create a new shift on how future writers' representatives do business.

You have a rather interesting background and you're rather humble about it. You are actually Dr. Kenneth Atchity and you have a Ph.d from Yale University. You've sold literally hundreds of books, TV shows and films but for those that aren't familiar with you or your company, tell us about it.

In a nutshell, I've spent my lifetime writing and working with writers and for writers, as an editor, publisher, producer, literary manager, and public speaker. I've weathered the ups and downs of the entertainment, publishing and internet industries but one thing has remained consistent: writers are the ones who provide "content," and "content" (otherwise known as 'information' and 'stories') is what the world has an insatiable appetite for. I am a content facilitator, now redefining myself as a career coach who helps writers (content providers) with the strategy and tactics required to get their work in front of the public in the most expeditious and most productive way possible given the changing times we live in. The Story Merchant (www.storymerchant.com) is the company under which I provide direct one-on-one coaching, www.thewriterslifelinecom is the company I supervise to provide editorial and ghostwriting services from a select team of writers and editors. I also founded www.aeionline.com, a literary management company that has evolved into motion picture production.

A lot of changes have been happening in the film and book publishing industry that have caused you to create some critical shifts in your company. Let's discuss some of those changes.

Boy, is that the truth! EVERYTHING has been changing, as I try to post on www.kenatchity.blogspot.com .
Although people are watching movies more than ever before--the industry went up by about 7% last year--the major studios have cut back their movie-making to 10-15% of what it was a few short years ago. Getting them to look at your novel or spec script requires miracles (not that we haven't done a few of those!) unless you're already a household name.

The independent film market is in a perennial renaissance. Movies are being made, and Oscars are being awarded. The problem here is that there's virtually NO development money for optioning properties or turning novels into screenplays. If you want to break in, and you're my client or partner, I'm going to tell you to become a proactive film maker. More on that later.

The television movie is all but dead these days, though I believe it will return. Reality and dramatic series are where it's at but both have specific appetites and both are difficult to break in. We're fortunate that we've shot two reality shows in the past six months, and are in preproduction with two movies, casting for another.

Publishing is focused on (a) fear and (b) brands. Fear because although the ebook is still a minor percentage of the market (around 5%), no one wants to be the last publisher in the real book business, holding the buggy whip while everyone else is driving an IPad or Kindle. Brands because only brands insure against fear. Last year we "branded" a book with a major historical name and sold it for nearly $2 million worldwide--a book that would otherwise probably not have sold at all.

And how has that affected your business as a whole?

Aside from a handful of clients who are making good money, it's taken me out of standard literary management (where you put in present effort for far-future dollars) into career coaching (present effort for present dollars) but doing the same thing for writers. Oddly I've learned that in this new coaching business, I actually get to spend relaxed-unpressured time with my clients instead of being forced to focus on just the ones who are earning money right now. That's what I've always loved the most.

Aside from working with writers, I've focused on raising money for films--and have been progressively successful at it thanks to our relationship with Informant Entertainment (Crazy Heart) and Renegade83 (Man Woman Wild).

You announced recently your Story Merchant program, what is that exactly?

My nickname is "the Story Merchant," and the program wherein I get to go out and speak to writers directly (as I have recently in Atlanta, Dallas, and New York) then work with them one on one as a career coach is offered under that brand. Meanwhile, less expensively, writers can receive my overview guidance by working with www.thewriterslifeline.com, which has accounted for more than a dozen bestsellers.

This is a fee-based program, not on a percentage. What kinds of fees are we talking about here?

The most popular one is 3 months of a weekly 30-minute session by phone with me (plus two follow up emails) for $1250, based on a $250 hourly fee. That's the rate we've offered until October 1.

Now, why should they choose your program over a traditional agent or manager who can coach them along for free?

Good luck finding a traditional agent or manager who will take the time to coach you along for free. If you do, I'm proud of you for your acumen. If you aren't able to do that, I'm available to help you. My service can include representing you as well once I judge your material is representable--and the good thing is, no commission.

Is this a whole new direction for the company, or just in addition to what you're doing already?

It's a whole new direction for me personally, but a natural outgrowth of what I've been doing for years--caused by the changing times and the constant need to get stories and information out to the public one way or the other.

Are you concerned with so many scams out there that it might damage your company's reputation?

That's a good question, but I'm not concerned in the least. Once upon a time, I took that question to heart and agonized about it. But considering our track record of getting writers published and produced, I'm not worried about it. No one is forced to work with me or my companies! In fact, I predict that many agents and managers (those who haven't already gone out of business) will find their way toward doing something like what I'm now doing. If you're good at helping writers, and love what you do, you have to find a way that makes it work for yourself as well as them.

Full disclosure: My company GumboWriters has referred clients to AEI in the past for representation. One of which, landed their own reality television series which will debut this year.

Follow Jeff Rivera on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrjeffrivera

AEI Client Faith Featured in The Daily Mail

By Daily Mail Reporter

Inspiration: Faith the dog learned to walk after being born with a deformity

A two-legged dog who has learned to walk upright has been made an honorary sergeant in the U.S. army for inspiring disabled war veterans.

Faith, an eight-year old labrador-chow cross is a favourite at army bases and hospitals, where she 'marches' around on her hind legs, dressed in a military jacket.

Her owner Jude Stringfellow, from Oklahoma City, is now trying to bring the remarkable canine to Britain to meet troops wounded in Afghanistan.

'Faith seems to inspire these young men. It's very emotional watching them respond to her,' Ms Stringfellow said.

'She shows what can be achieved against the odd. I'd love her to bring a smile to the lips of British soldiers.'

The dog was born with one front leg missing and the other, which was severely deformed, had to be amputated.

Her mother rejected it but Ms Stringfellow's son Reuben, 18, found the tiny animal and brought it up.

He and his mother had to carry the puppy for the first few months of her life, but eventually helped her learn to walk by using peanut butter on a spoon as a lure.

The little dog now moves quickly, and with confidence, and has even become a minor celebrity, appearing regularly on U.S. talk shows.

Ms Stringfellow, who runs a website devoted to her dog, said she receives hundreds of emails and letters each day.

Her decision to take Faith to veterans' hospitals was inspired by her son's service in Iraq.

Faith the incredible bipedal dog running through the park on a sunny Oklahoma day.

Popular: Faith is a regular on U.S. TV shows and has provided hope to injured war veterans

Hope: Faith's owner is hoping to bring the dog to Britain to meet injured soldiers

'She just walks around barking and laughing and excited to see them all,' she said.

'There is a lot of crying, pointing and surprise. From those who have lost friends or limbs, there can be silence. Some will shake my hand and thank me, some will pat her on the head. There is a lot of quiet, heartfelt, really deep emotion.'

Scroll down to see video of the remarkable two-legged dog

Playful: Faith was rescued by the Stringfellows after her mother rejected her

Step by step: Faith learned to walk after her owners used peanut butter as a lure