Finish First

Complete your manuscript in 6 -12 months with expert guidance and a clear plan.

YES, I’M READY TO TALK WITH AN EDITOR AND FINISH MY FIRST DRAFT

Stop sitting on your dream to write a book. It is time to write more and finish your first draft.

The Jozef Syndicate can help.

Have you started your book — maybe with an outline, a proposal, or 3,500+ words — but find yourself stuck trying to complete that first solid draft? No matter your genre or experience, our FINISH FIRST Draft Development Service is designed to help you turn your ideas into a finished manuscript within six to twelve months.

FINISH FIRST is designed for:

  • Writers who’ve begun their manuscript but need structure and motivation to finish a solid first draft
  • Authors across all genres and experience levels
  • Creators ready to complete a strong draft that empowers them to self-publish, submit to awards, or pursue traditional publishing paths

    FINISH FIRST offers:

    • Personalized one-on-one sessions with a seasoned editor bringing more than 25 years of publishing expertise across fiction, nonfiction, memoir, children’s books, and more
    • Expert guidance on plot, character development, flow, and structure — crafted to make your story compelling and cohesive
    • Constructive editorial feedback and fact-checking focused on building your draft
    • Twice-monthly check-ins to keep you motivated and accountable, plus monthly writing sprints you can access anytime
    • Tailored goal tracking and calendar planning aligned with your project and timeline
    • Read-throughs of up to 50,000 words of one or multiple writing projects from personal narratives, poetry, academic essays, flash fiction, and short stories.
    • Assistance with popular writing tools like Scrivener, Autocrit, Google Sheets, or Pages — whatever fits your style
    • Additional resources including a step-by-step checklist: From First Draft to Independent Publishing and the 2026 Creators Calendar featuring contests, fellowships, and paid publishing opportunities.
    • Discounted editorial and writing services (up to 60%) on line editing, fact finding, sensitivity reads, ghost writing, and publishing services.

    Your Timeline, Your Terms
    Together, we’ll set a schedule based on your manuscript’s needs and your ideal deadline — with a minimum three-month commitment to ensure steady progress. This service is perfect for long form projects like novels, memoirs, nonfiction, book series, web content, and collections.

    You Retain Full Ownership
    Your manuscript, your rights. We maintain confidentiality and never claim ownership. Your files stay in your chosen cloud storage, giving you complete control. We will not claim any rights to the final manuscript unless we are hired to ghostwrite or co-write the manuscript.

    How to FINISH FIRST

    • Step 1: Book your initial Book Talk to discuss your manuscript, goals, and share a sample
    • Step 2: Sign up and begin receiving personalized, one-on-one mentorship and actionable feedback
    • Step 3: Stay on track monthly with structured check-ins, writing sprints, and goal tracking
    • Step 4: Finish your draft

    Your Investment
    Our service is $449 per month, covering hours of dedicated, personalized support—via calls, text messaging, and email—to keep your book project moving forward. No long term contracts and monthly payments are accepted the day before the first check-in.

    Complete your manuscript in 6 -12 months with expert guidance and a clear plan.

    YES, I’M READY TO TALK WITH AN EDITOR AND FINISH MY FIRST DRAFT

    Let’s answer your questions before you begin.

    1. What if I’ve never written a full book before? Is this still the right service for me?

    Absolutely! This service is designed for authors at all stages. If you’ve written essays, short stories, or even a novel, but haven’t tackled a full-length manuscript yet, you’re in the right place. We’ll help you break down your project into manageable steps and provide you with the structure, support, and motivation to finish your draft. You won’t be alone in the process.

    2. How do we determine the timeline for completing my draft?
    We’ll work together to figure out a timeline that works best for your project. This includes evaluating how much you’ve already written, your writing speed, and your goals. While the minimum commitment is 3 months, the timeline can be tailored to fit your pace and preferred deadline. If you’re aiming for a specific publishing goal or personal milestone, we’ll factor that in too.
    3. What if I get stuck or fall behind?
    That’s exactly why we’re here! Regular check-ins and monthly writing sprints are part of the service to keep you moving forward. If you hit a wall or feel overwhelmed, we’ll troubleshoot together, adjust your approach, and set new, realistic goals to get you back on track. Think of us as your accountability partner, keeping you motivated and focused on the finish line.
    4. What if I’m not sure my manuscript is “ready” for the service yet?
    That’s okay! You don’t have to have a perfect draft — just a clear idea, outline, or even a partial manuscript is enough. If you’ve already written 3,500+ words, we can dive right into developing your plot and characters. If you’re just starting with an outline or proposal, we’ll help you build from there and create a roadmap to finish your manuscript.
    5. What happens if I want to stop the service after a month or two?
    The service is a 3-month commitment, but if something changes in your schedule or you decide to pause early, you can cancel after the 3-month period without any future obligations. If you choose to terminate before the end of the 3 months, payment for that month will still be due, as we’ve set up the structure to support you for the full term.
    6. What if I don’t want to self-publish or submit to traditional publishing? Can I still use this service?
    Yes, this service is designed for all kinds of writers, no matter your publishing path. Whether you want to self-publish, submit your manuscript to literary agents or publishers, or just finish your book for personal satisfaction, we’ll help you get a solid draft. The goal is to help you take the next step with confidence, whether that’s independent publishing, submitting for fellowships, or simply having a completed manuscript to build on.
    7. Will I get help with editing or just guidance on writing my draft?
    While you’ll receive editorial feedback on structure, plot, character, and flow, this service is focused on helping you finish a solid first draft, not line-by-line editing. Once the draft is finished, we can discuss options for line-by-line editing and additional publishing support.
    8. Can I use this service if I’m writing in a specific genre (e.g., memoir, romance, academic)?
    Yes! Whether you’re working on a memoir, novel, nonfiction, academic work, or anything in between, we tailor our approach to fit your genre. We’ve worked with authors across a wide range of topics and styles, so we can help you shape your draft in a way that fits your vision while ensuring it’s structurally sound.
    9. How will I know if I’m on track with my manuscript?
    We’ll set clear, actionable goals for your project from the start and review them during each check-in. You’ll receive regular feedback and updates on your progress, including areas that might need more development. Our monthly writing sprints and check-ins will help keep you accountable and motivated, while our feedback ensures you’re heading in the right direction.
    10. What happens after I finish my first draft?
    Once you’ve completed your draft, we’ll discuss next steps. If you’d like further support, we can offer discounted editing services or independent publishing options under our imprint. If you’re looking to submit your manuscript to agents or publishers, we’ll guide you through the process and help you prepare your manuscript for submission.