Every thought leader needs a book
to communicate their message
Yet they don’t know where to start.
They’re not sure how to get from their big idea to a book that will sell.
What they need is a plan and a guide—someone who has traveled
from idea to a bestseller list before.
Our process helps you . . .
1
define
your book’s question
2
develop
your writing plan
3
determine
your publishing path
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Read our most popular thoughts on writing, publishing, and whatever inspires us.
Read moreRespect your reader. The niftiest turn of phrase, the most elegant flight of rhetorical fancy, isn’t worth beans next to a clear thought clearly expressed.
—Jeff Goldfield
Respect you reader…
Respect your reader. The niftiest turn of phrase, the most elegant flight of rhetorical fancy, isn’t worth beans next to a clear thought clearly expressed. —Jeff Goldfield
Read more. . . novelists . . . have, on average, about the same IQs as the cosmetic consultants at Bloomingdales’s department store. our power is patience. We have discovered that writing allows even a stupid person to seem halfway intelligent, if only that person will write the same thought over and over again, improving it just a little bit each time. It is a lot like inflating a blimp with a bicycle pump. Anyone can do it. All it takes is time.
—Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday, 128
On average, novelists have the same IQ as cosmetic consultants…
. . . novelists . . . have, on average, about the same IQs as the cosmetic consultants at Bloomingdales’s department store. our power is patience. We have discovered that writing allows even a stupid person to seem halfway intelligent, if only that person will write...
Read moreGood writing occurs because a writer passionately desires to say something. . . .
Students do not need more abstract advice about how to write.
They need somehow to have their feelings kindled.—X.J. Kennedy
Good writing occurs because…
Good writing occurs because a writer passionately desires to say something. . . . Students do not need more abstract advice about how to write. They need somehow to have their feelings kindled. —X.J. Kennedy
Read moreI once stayed in a hotel, next door to a well-known writer.
He never talked about writing.
Each night I heard his typewriter,
hour after hour,
past midnight.
Everyone else in the hotel was asleep.
The sound of that machine reminds me, still,
that what writers do is write.—Richard Bach
Each night I heard his typewriter…
I once stayed in a hotel, next door to a well-known writer. He never talked about writing. Each night I heard his typewriter, hour after hour, past midnight. Everyone else in the hotel was asleep. The sound of that machine reminds me, still, that what writers do is...
Read moreIf there is a secret about writing,
I haven’t found it yet.
All I know is to sit down,
clear your mind,
hang in.—Mary McGrory
If there is a secret about writing…
If there is a secret about writing, I haven’t found it yet. All I know is to sit down, clear your mind, hang in. —Mary McGrory
Read moreWriting is most of all an exercise in determination,
first to get the job done,
second to get the job done right.—Tom Clancy
Writing is most of all…
Writing is most of all an exercise in determination, first to get the job done, second to get the job done right. —Tom Clancy
Read moreNo iron can stab the heart with such force
as a period put just at the right place.—Isaac Babel
No iron bar can stab the heart…
No iron can stab the heart with such force as a period put just at the right place. —Isaac Babel
Read moreIf you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worth reading,
Or do things worth the writing.—Benjamin Franklin
If you would not be forgotten…
If you would not be forgotten As soon as you are dead and rotten, Either write things worth reading, Or do things worth the writing. —Benjamin Franklin
Read moreEverything is copy.
—Nora Ephron
Everything is copy…
Everything is copy. —Nora Ephron
Read moreGenius gives birth,
talent delivers.–Jack Kerouac
Genius and talent…
Genius gives birth, talent delivers. –Jack Kerouac
Read moreIf you love words, love to read,
and have read all of your life,
you’ve already had a
full-time course in writing.—Richard Rhodes
If you love…
If you love words, love to read, and have read all of your life, you’ve already had a full-time course in writing. —Richard Rhodes
Read moreIf you want to write, if you want
to create, you must be the
most sublime fool that God
ever turned out and sent
rambling. You must write every
single day of your life. You
must read dreadful dumb
books and glorious books,
and let them wrestle in
beautiful fights inside your
head, vulgar one moment,
brilliant the next. You must lurk
in libraries and climb the stacks
like ladders to sniff books like
perfumes and wear books like
hats upon your crazy heads.
I wish you a wrestling match
with your Creative Muse that
will last a lifetime.―Ray Bradbury
If you want to create…
If you want to write, if you want to create, you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling. You must write every single day of your life. You must read dreadful dumb books and glorious books, and let them wrestle in beautiful fights...
Testimonials
Melissa and Rick are a dynamic duo that will absolutely help you produce your best work. From framing a concept into a compelling narrative, to structuring the chapters, editing, writing and supporting authors, their experience, compassion and savvy make all the difference.
As a publisher and publishing services company serving both indie authors and other trade publishers, it’s critical to find writing and editorial partners that are professional, cool under pressure, and responsive to the needs of clients. Killian Creative checks off all three of these boxes. We worked with Rick in serving a client on a tight-turn revision schedule for a novel, and he was a complete pro every step of the way, translating the client’s requests into solid prose on the page. I’m glad to work with Rick and recommend Killian Creative to others looking for professional writing and editorial services.
Rick and Melissa are a truly dynamic team! Their combined creative writing and editing abilities are second to none. They have a unique ability to find the voice of each author and express ideas consistent with each author’s style and personality.
Rick is both an accomplished writer and editor—and in the publishing world, people with both competencies are rare animals indeed. When I’m in need of a great writer or book doctor, “Killian” comes first to mind.
Working with the Killians was a joy for me. My book was so personal and to be comfortable enough with them to be open and honest with the pain in my life made this journey a successful one for me. They are professional, thorough, detailed, and most important—kind.
I was a reluctant writer! Rick coached me into a love and confidence of writing that has made the whole experience enjoyable. Rick’s ability to preserve your thoughts and stories while adding an easy reading style and ordering the material to best flow for the reader is something I could not have done without him.
All our experiences with Rick have been great. He’s easy to work with. His research is outstanding, and he masterfully incorporates it into his writing.
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