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Consulting Services

We run weekly consultation days for authors, editors, translators and literary event organisers. An one-on-one consultation usually lasts 45 minutes. Our schreiben & leben consultants are highly experienced and successful freelancers who went through the same ups and downs as you might have and are more than happy to share their extensive knowledge. They will answer your questions and work with you on possible solutions – whether it’s about signing up for the KSK, the quest for a publisher or agent, customer acquisition, help with grant applications, networking possibilities or even strategies for work organisation and customer management. The consultation days are available in English, Spanish and several other languages.

The consultations take place via zoom, telephone or in our new office in Schöneberg, Kolonnenstraße 26, 10829 Berlin.

These are the upcoming consultation days:

08.07.2025, Consultation day for translators
(Consultation in German, English and Italian)
via Zoom, with Katharina Schmidt (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) and Barbara Neeb (2–6 p.m.)
Sample questions: How can I get my first book assigned as a translator? Which social media are suitable for me to be visible as a translator? What can I say to a publisher if they want to commission me to post-edit a machine translation? Can AI even translate literature? What should I look out for when negotiating contracts?
16.07.2025, Children’s and Young Adult literature
(Consultation in German, English or French)
via Zoom, with Martina Klein
Sample questions: How do you write a synopsis? What makes a good children’s book? How and where can I find networking opportunities? Should I negotiate my contract myself or should I look for an agency? Can I bring in an illustrator for a children’s book? How many publishers should I try before I give up? What else is important when dealing with publishers and production companies?7
23.07.2025, Exposé, grant and funding applications
(consultation in German or English)
Consultations only in person at our office, Kolonnenstr. 26
With Nina Bußmann
Sample Questions: What should I include in an Exposé? What grants are available? How do I apply for a grant?

CONSULTATION BOOKING

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