About Us:
The Lantern Cooperative is a woman and veteran-owned company that is dedicated to making your project come to life on the page. Our goal is to uplift and empower you as a writer through positive feedback and one-on-one workshopping from the comfort of your own space.
We are focused on shining a light into the dark spaces for you - either to illuminate your path forward, or to help you love the journey again.
We believe that anyone is capable of writing a story that they love. We do not offer harsh criticisms here - no wake up calls, no facts of life speeches, no "tough" love. We do not offer editorial work or publishing advice - our services are for people who write because they've always loved writing, or because they want to try something they've always dreamed of trying.
We will meet you wherever you are in your process,
because we believe in you,
we believe in your abilities,
and we believe in your story.
How Can We Help?
World Building
High fantasy? Cyber punk? Space opera? Something else entirely? Whether you have nothing but a seed to plant for the very first tree, or you would like to examine the nuances of a 6,000 year-old alien government, we are here to help.
Character Creation
So you need a protagonist. Who are they now? Who do you want them to be? We will help you walk through everything from physical descriptions to psychology, and how to approach character development - even for your villains.
Map Creation/Cartography
Have you always wanted cartographic artwork for your novel or story? You've come to the right place! As a cartographer by trade, I'm happy to put those skills to use. Together, we will create the map of your dreams.
Proofreading
As an add-on service or a stand alone service, we can proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation concerns. All workshoppers are native English speakers with advanced degrees. Price indicated is for stand alone service - take 50% off as an add-on service.
General Workshop
Do you have something you just want someone else to read? Someone you can send your work to and ask "Is this absolute gobbledygook?" Or maybe you just want someone to help you sort through some craft questions. Whatever it may be, we're ready and waiting.
The Save Our Ship Package
Okay, so you're stuck. It happens to all of us! Don't worry, we'll figure it out together. Whether you've backed yourself into a corner, you discovered a screaming plot hole, or you accidentally killed your main character's one true love, we'll figure it out together. We're here to help you find your way out of the dark woods and back onto the path.
The Running Leap Package
You're ready to go. You have a dream, you have a story to tell, you're sitting in the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel, and... hey, how do I start this thing? Don't worry - we've got the keys. We're cupping our hands and waiting for you to step in and launch. Are you tired of talking to your friends about the story you want to write and getting ghosted? Are you tired of sending your drafts to family members and no one responds to you? We're not like the others. We want to talk about it with you. We want to talk about it with you for hours.
Military Authenticity Reader
Do you have a character that is in the military, or a veteran? Do you want to write a novel or story with the military or war as a setting? Are you struggling with certain details, or want to get an authenticity check? You've come to the right place. I spent 9 years in the U.S. Army as an engineer, serving in combat zones in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and I experienced the military before/after the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act. I can help you make informed decisions and write more authentically about military life, combat, PTSD, camaraderie, and the LGBTQ+ experience in the military. If submitting a manuscript, each 1 hour workshop can cover up to 3,500 words.