Training Workshops
For a group with some funds to pay, Black Ink can provide a workshop to teach the skills needed to create books. This can be tailored to the needs and interests and skills of the group. We can help people to plan and create their picture-story books with a real audience in mind. It may be a day or several sessions.

These “PASS IT ON” workshops in your community include beginners and those who are already interested in writing or art, and will help them become authors or illustrators.

We would cover such areas as

• how to plan and get started,
• then to write … and illustrate
• edit … and design
• using appropriate materials and technology

We will explain the complex process of publishing. We can offer some training in use of Graphics and Internet Technology to people who are interested in using the computer.
Costs can be negotiated. As a guide, workshop series each need to total at least five hours (can be spread over several days). The rate can be negotiated, depending on available funds. The base rate is about $250.00 per day but will also depend whether extra speakers and travel, accommodation and childcare are needed.

Mentorship
These workshops can be supplemented by our support to individuals afterwards, as we have funds from Arts Queensland for Mentorship.

Publication with community funding support
We would work with the individuals or groups who have books that the community wants published and are willing to obtain funding. The process includes getting their books ready and printing them as drafts.

Depending on the size of the audience or market, they could be printed in a small edition here at Black Ink or they can be published ‘properly’ for sale. (Black Ink Press could sell the extras to cover the extra cost).

If your community makes a contribution to the costs, it could be a co-publishing venture between your organisation and Black Ink Press, with an agreement about issues of copyright and ownership and marketing. The group would get a share of the books at no additional cost.

Layout design and printing might cost anything between $100.000 and $10,000.00 per book, but we will subsidise costs to make it possible for groups to publish high quality books.

Some estimates:
Final design and edit of the book
$500.00 to $1500.00 per book
Find a printer and prepare work for them
$500.00 per book
Printer costs $2000.00 to $5,000.00 per book

The group may also want to pay fees to the artists. Otherwise a royalty can be paid to the writer and illustrator who still hold copyright in their work. Black Ink will advise on rates and help with writing contracts and agreements.

Publication funded by Black Ink Press
If the work is suitable, and we feel that we can sell it to get our money back, Black Ink Press would be able to publish it without costing you anything. There would be a contract. The writer and illustrator put in their efforts unpaid, we prepare it for publishing and pay for printing, and when we sell it the royalty of 10% goes to the writer and illustrator.

Black Ink provides feedback and editing and design and if necessary finds someone to do illustrations. We will provide art materials if required.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

Residencies
Some emerging writers and illustrators may take the opportunity of a residency in Townsville/Thuringowa, working on a specific project, sharing ideas with others and using the facilities at Black Ink. Accommodation and transport can be arranged with the cooperation and cost-sharing of the particular community.