A structured program for writers who are serious about publishing — taught by a working publisher, not a course creator. Your book is written. This is what comes next.
"This is not a writing course. This is taught by someone who actually publishes books — not by someone who teaches courses about publishing."
You're standing at the edge of an industry that is confusing, contradictory, and surprisingly opaque.
Should you query agents? Self-publish? Go hybrid? How do you know if your manuscript is ready? What does a good editor actually do? How much should a cover cost? What is an ISBN and do you need one? What does your contract actually say?
The internet is full of contradictory advice. The publishing industry is full of people trying to sell you services you may not need. And the stakes are real — the wrong decisions cost thousands of dollars, months of wasted effort, and sometimes the book itself.
The Manuscript Studio answers every one of these questions. And it builds you a plan.
Not lectures — working sessions. Each week tackles a specific stage of the publishing process with instruction, discussion, and hands-on application to your manuscript.
A query letter template. A contract review checklist. A production timeline. A launch plan framework. You leave with a toolkit, not just knowledge.
Weeks 9–10 are dedicated workshop sessions where you get direct feedback on your manuscript, query letter, or proposal from a working publisher and your peers.
A curated group of serious writers going through the same process. Share wins, ask questions, and hold each other accountable beyond the 12 weeks.
Weeks 11–12 are dedicated to implementation. Bring your questions, your roadblocks, your contracts. We work through them together.
By the final week, you have a document that tells you exactly what to do next — which path, which steps, which timeline, which people to contact. No more guessing.
From understanding the landscape to executing your launch, each week builds a piece of your personalised publishing action plan.
Traditional, hybrid, independent — what each actually means, what each costs, and which one fits your goals.
→ Publishing Path Assessment WorksheetHow to evaluate your own work honestly. The specific signals that tell you your manuscript is ready — and the ones that tell you it isn't.
→ Self-Assessment using the Manuscript Ready frameworkWhat professional editing looks like, the different types of editing, what each costs, and how to find and vet the right editor.
→ Editorial Brief for your manuscriptCover design, interior layout, typography, and format. What good design costs, what to look for, and how to brief a designer.
→ Design Brief and Comparable Title AnalysisWhat agents and publishers actually want to see. How to write a query letter that gets read.
→ Draft Query Letter or Book Proposal OutlineWhat you're signing and what you're giving up. Rights of reversion, option clauses, subsidiary rights — explained in plain language.
→ Personal Rights ChecklistISBNs, metadata, print-on-demand, ebook conversion, wholesale distribution, and getting into bookstores.
→ Production Plan and TimelinePre-orders, review copies, social media, email lists, bookstore events, and the first 90 days post-publication.
→ Custom Launch PlanLive manuscript and query review in small groups. Direct feedback from a working publisher.
→ Peer and Instructor FeedbackAccountability and implementation support. Bring your questions, contracts, or roadblocks.
→ Final Publishing Action PlanAll 12 sessions recorded, plus every worksheet and template. Learn at your own pace with lifetime access. Best for writers who want the knowledge and tools but prefer to work independently.
The full experience. Live sessions with a working publisher, small-group workshops with direct feedback, and a personalised action plan. This is the program as it was designed to be experienced.
Payment plans available.
Everything in the Live Cohort plus two private 45-minute 1:1 advisory calls with Kay. Priority manuscript review. Limited to 5 seats per cohort.
Your book is written or nearly finished. You don't need help writing it — you need to understand what happens after the last page.
You've never published before and you refuse to make expensive mistakes. You want clarity from someone who actually does this for a living.
You've published before and you're exploring a different path for your next book. The landscape has changed.
You care about craft, professionalism, and doing this right. You want a publisher's perspective, not generic advice.
The Manuscript Studio is led by the founder and publisher of Sūtra House, an independent press with imprints spanning literary fiction, children's books, business, and technology.
Everything taught in this program comes from daily practice — acquiring manuscripts, negotiating contracts, managing production, and launching books. When we talk about what agents want to see in a query letter, it's because we've been on the receiving end. When we walk through a publishing contract, it's because we've signed them.
This is not a course built from theory. It's built from practice.
sutrahouse.com →Your manuscript should be complete or very close (75%+ drafted). This program is about what comes after writing, not the writing itself.
All genres. The publishing fundamentals — contracts, rights, editorial process, production, distribution, launch strategy — apply across fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and poetry. Where genre matters, we tailor the discussion.
No. The program covers all three paths: traditional, independent, and hybrid. You'll understand the trade-offs of each and build an action plan for whichever path is right for your book.
One 90-minute live session per week, plus 1–2 hours of worksheets and implementation between sessions. Total: roughly 4–5 hours per week.
Absolutely. Many participants are experienced writers exploring a new publishing path or updating their knowledge. The program is just as valuable for your second or third book as it is for your first.
Space is limited to 15 participants. Apply now to secure your seat and start publishing with intention.
Apply for the Next Cohort →