Firesign Media

Daniel is a top-​notch professional with all pistons firing. He’s been working with me on preparing a novel manuscript for the market. What you get with Daniel is more than what you get if you simply hire a copy editor or proofreader. Daniel is a sharp, intelligent, well-​read professional who has extensive literary, film, theater, and marketing work. He clearly has a passion for what he does and it shows. He will give you an honest appraisal of your work written up in a concise and thoughtful document. He not only addresses the piece’s main themes, characterization, style, setting, and plot — but he also sizes the piece up from a marketing perspective and shares his thoughts regarding how the piece might fare in the market and possible avenues to consider for further development. He is driven by a passionate belief that good writers should be published and paid for their work.
Most importantly from a developmental perspective, he gives detailed notes on sections of the piece that need attention and shares his ideas in a 2-​hour Skype session. This editorial meeting was invaluable. It allowed us to converse about the book in a way that email or even just speaking on the phone would not allow. It gave him the opportunity to ask important questions and me the opportunity to talk out some ideas. From this discussion came not just a few new ideas for ways to improve the book — some impressive «a-​ha» moments, which wouldn’t have come otherwise. Finally, on top of all this, Daniel will line edit your final draft — ensuring that your manuscript is ready to go in front of agents and publishers alike.
Daniel is a very easy guy to speak with — he listens very carefully and respects all ideas, but is not afraid to ask the tough questions and do what an editor should do – challenge you as the writer to make your piece the best it can be. If you can’t stomach honest feedback and constructive criticism, if you’re not ready to hear the tough stuff you’re going to have to do to improve your piece, then you might not be ready for Daniel’s process. But if you’re serious about your work and ready to roll up your sleeves and do what needs to be done to get your piece market-​ready, Daniel’s your man.

I hired Daniel Highet to rewrite my music bio from top to bottom and was more than pleased with the process and the result. He took the reams of information I gave him
and winnowed it down to an eyecatching and informative onesheet. He worked quickly (2 day turnaround) and contacted me periodically to fact check or ask my preferences. I will definitely be working with Daniel in the future on press and media-​related projects.

Our Bay Area-​based production company hired Daniel Highet of Firesign Media to write several screenplays for an episodic web series we were developing about the world of online dating. Daniel’s scriptwriting and ideas which he based on our original treatment were polished, funny and provocative. Additionally, Daniel was very generous and enthusiastic in drawing upon his experience with entertainment PR as to how our company could market the series as a branded entertainment vehicle. I am very pleased and happy with what Mr. Daniel Highet has done for us.

I posted an ad for my content writing firm looking for new writers on Craigslist. I got an extraordinarily rude and condescending email from Mr. Highet saying that I should post my ad at McDonald’s because «Mickey D’s presently makes more than what you’re proposing to pay a communications professional.»
While I see the point being made, I’m at a lost for why a «professional» would send an email such as this to a compete stranger at an anonymous email. Needless to say, it wasn’t a nice thing to hear for no apparent reason other than to be rude.

Keith Stie Racing hired Daniel Highet of Firesign Media to develop content and advise on communications for the sponsor relations program of our AFM Sportbike and Formula I team, based in Northern California. We found Mr. Highet’s copywriting and public relations services to be exceptional: strategic, creative, organized and professional. As a result, we would hire Daniel Highet again and recommend Firesign Media to anyone seeking to take their organization’s communications to the next level.