FIRST MATE BY 36SEAS PUBLISHING

Your next upgrade.
More room for your book.

Start free. Upgrade for monthly writing capacity, cover and scene concepts, AI reviews, and book-file exports. Choose the room your next chapter needs.

01 / KEEP WRITINGA fresh allowance every month

Move from 70 one-time free credits to 120–1,200 monthly writing credits.

02 / BUILD THE WHOLE BOOKVisualize, review, and export

Paid plans add image generations, AI manuscript reviews, and formatting exports.

03 / GROW AT YOUR PACESee exactly what more buys

Compare the numbers below. Your own typing does not spend writing credits.

Your manuscript stays yours No card for Basic Cancel paid plans anytime

Choose your working room.

All allowances below refresh monthly on paid plans.

Your first upgrade

Standard

Build a writing routine

$13.50/ month equivalent

$162 billed yearly · save $18/year

Choose Standard

Go beyond the free draft with monthly writing credits, visual concepts, AI feedback, and exports.

120shared writing credits / month
Image generations
10/ mo
AI manuscript reviews
3/ mo
Formatting exports
3/ mo
Submission prep packages
1/ mo
Private storage
1 GB
VS. BASICMonthly refills.
More tools for your book.

Add visuals, AI reviews, exports, and a story reference workspace.

For your individual author workflow

Compare all features ↓
Recommended

Pro

Explore. Revise. Refine.

$35.10/ month equivalent

$421.20 billed yearly · save $46.80/year

Choose Pro

More room to try cover directions, develop chapters, and work through another revision.

275shared writing credits / month
Image generations
25/ mo
AI manuscript reviews
7/ mo
Formatting exports
7/ mo
Submission prep packages
3/ mo
Private storage
3 GB
VS. STANDARD+155 writing credits
+15 image generations

For $21.60 more per month equivalent, billed yearly.

For your individual author workflow

Compare all features ↓
More production room

Premier

Keep bigger projects moving

$62.10/ month equivalent

$745.20 billed yearly · save $82.80/year

Choose Premier

A larger monthly allowance for frequent writing, visual exploration, and manuscript reviews.

600shared writing credits / month
Image generations
50/ mo
AI manuscript reviews
15/ mo
Formatting exports
15/ mo
Submission prep packages
8/ mo
Private storage
8 GB
VS. PRO+325 writing credits
+25 image generations

For $27 more per month equivalent, billed yearly.

For your individual author workflow

Compare all features ↓
Highest capacity + team

Ultra

Build a growing catalog

$116.10/ month equivalent

$1,393.20 billed yearly · save $154.80/year

Choose Ultra

Our largest allowances, plus a team workspace for books you manage with collaborators.

1,200shared writing credits / month
Image generations
120/ mo
AI manuscript reviews
40/ mo
Formatting exports
40/ mo
Submission prep packages
20/ mo
Private storage
20 GB
VS. PREMIER+600 writing credits
+70 image generations

For $54 more per month equivalent, billed yearly.

Team workspace included

Compare all features ↓

Writing credits are shared across Ideas, Manuscript, and Write; they are not word or page counts. Human editing and publishing review cost extra. Publication is selective. Audio and video generation are upcoming, not available today. Refund policy.

COMING NEXT / BETA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Give your story
a bigger stage.

Interested in movie trailers, cinematic scenes, and the next wave of First Mate tools? Join the 36Seas author list for news about beta openings.

  • Movie-trailer creation

    Planned tools for bringing your manuscript’s world to the screen.

  • Upcoming beta features

    Hear about new capabilities and how to request access as they roll out.

No purchase required to join. Availability, eligibility, and any additional costs will be announced. Joining the list does not guarantee access to every beta.

Want to write today? Create your free account

Join the author list for product news, webinar updates, and your free workbook.

Open the email signup in a new tab ↗

One book. Distinct production budgets.

See what every kind of creation includes.

Begin with 70 one-time credits shared across Ideas and Manuscript. Upgrade when they run out. Paid plans add writing and production capacity, with separate Audio and Trailer allowances planned. Media generation and top-ups are not available yet.

From first idea to finished book

Nine tools. One connected story.

Choose a membership for your writing, then add the creative capacity and professional services your book needs. Writing, images, Audio and Video use distinct allowances.

Write

My Manuscript

Draft and develop your manuscript. Keep manual editing, reading, and history after credits run out. Basic includes Manuscript assistance; advanced Write tools require membership.

Shared writing pool

Ideas

Organize. Capture. Take it with you.

Collect inspiration and develop your ideas on desktop or mobile. Uses the same writing balance as Manuscript, plus Write on paid plans.

Desktop + mobile

Visualize

Covers, characters & scenes

Explore your book’s visual world with cover concepts, character portraits and scene artwork. Add image packs for more generations.

Image allowance

Bible

Your story’s source of truth

Keep characters, settings and story continuity organized behind your manuscript. AI assistance draws from your shared writing allowance.

Paid workspace

Review

AI insight. Human expertise.

Use your included AI reviews or commission a human editorial review as a separately priced service.

Human review costs extra

Format

Your self-publishing handoff

Prepare downloadable book files and available assets for self-publishing. Formatting requires an active paid membership.

Paid membership required

Audio

Bring your book to life

Turn your manuscript into audiobook narration. Audio has its own credits. Generation and additional credit purchases are coming soon.

Coming soon · unavailable

Trailer

Your book, on screen

Build a movie trailer from your manuscript, characters and scenes. Video has a separate credit allowance; generation and top-ups are coming soon.

Coming soon · unavailable

Submit

Publish with 36 Seas

Prepare your book for consideration by 36 Seas. Publishing review is a separately priced service; a submission package does not include acceptance or publication.

Publishing review costs extra

One shared writing balance: Basic has 70 total credits for Ideas and Manuscript. Paid plans share their monthly allowance across Ideas, Manuscript and Write. Ideas uses the writing balance shown under Write; it does not receive a second allocation.

Complete plan comparison

Compare the features you use.

Ideas and Manuscript share 70 one-time credits on Basic. Paid plans share a monthly pool across Ideas, Manuscript, and Write. Audio and Video allowances are separate.

Your book, feature by feature+

Write

275 shared credits / month

Draft and develop your manuscript. Keep manual editing, reading, and history after credits run out. Basic includes Manuscript assistance; advanced Write tools require membership.

Ideas

Uses the same monthly writing pool

Collect inspiration and develop your ideas on desktop or mobile. Uses the same writing balance as Manuscript, plus Write on paid plans.

Visualize

25 image generations / month

Explore your book’s visual world with cover concepts, character portraits and scene artwork. Add image packs for more generations.

Bible

Story reference workspace

Keep characters, settings and story continuity organized behind your manuscript. AI assistance draws from your shared writing allowance.

Review

7 AI reviews / month · human review extra

Use your included AI reviews or commission a human editorial review as a separately priced service.

Format

7 formatting exports / month

Prepare downloadable book files and available assets for self-publishing. Formatting requires an active paid membership.

Audio

65 audio credits / month · coming soon

Turn your manuscript into audiobook narration. Audio has its own credits. Generation and additional credit purchases are coming soon.

Trailer

105 video credits / month · coming soon

Build a movie trailer from your manuscript, characters and scenes. Video has a separate credit allowance; generation and top-ups are coming soon.

Submit

3 preparation packages / month · review extra

Prepare your book for consideration by 36 Seas. Publishing review is a separately priced service; a submission package does not include acceptance or publication.

Workspace capacity+

Private storage

3 GB

Manuscripts, covers, exports, and media

Team workspace

—

Shared books, approvals, and collaborators

Need more without changing plans?

Add only the production capacity your book needs.

Image packs are available through Plan & billing. Production top-ups are planned from $20 for 500 credits. Audio and video use different credit amounts based on the selected output.

Start free

Visualize credits

Add image capacity for covers, characters, settings, and campaign art.

View image packs

Audio credits

Add narration capacity for your book. Planned top-ups: 500 credits for $20, 1,200 for $48, or 2,500 for $100. Each pack is purchased for either Audio or Video and cannot be spent across both allowances.

Trailer / Movie credits

Add video capacity for trailers and cinematic scenes. Planned top-ups: 500 credits for $20, 1,200 for $48, or 2,500 for $100. Each pack is purchased for either Audio or Video and cannot be spent across both allowances.

Pricing questions

Know exactly what you’re choosing.

Can I start without paying?+

Yes. Basic includes 70 one-time credits shared between Ideas and Manuscript, with no card required. Upgrade after using them. Paid plans have monthly shared credit limits; unused free credits do not renew each month.

What happens to my manuscript if I change plans?+

Your project remains yours. Changing a plan changes available capacity, not your ownership of the manuscript.

How does yearly billing work?+

Yearly plans are paid once per year and include a 10% discount compared with twelve monthly payments.

Are expert services included?+

Membership covers the First Mate studio. Human evaluation, editing, ghostwriting, and managed production are separate services, with member savings on eligible work.

Can I buy Audio or Trailer credits now?+

Not yet. Those purchases remain unavailable while the new credit accounting and provider rollout are completed. Existing image packs do not represent an Audio or Trailer pack.

Do Ideas and Manuscript each get their own credits?+

No. The displayed amount is one shared allowance. Basic has 70 credits total; paid plans share their monthly credits across Ideas, Manuscript, and Write. Credits measure assisted actions, not words or pages. Your own typing does not use generation credits.

Are audiobook and book-trailer generations included?+

Paid plans include limited Audio and Trailer credits in the upcoming pricing model. Add production credits when you need more. Generation and purchases remain unavailable until the production rollout is complete.

Inside First Mate

One book. A world beyond the page.

Meat Wagon by Joshua Carlson is our example project. These temporary visuals show a creative direction; they are concept illustrations, not screenshots of the product.

Temporary Meat Wagon concept art of a detective and a medical tower

Temporary concept illustration

Follow the detective

Meat Wagon begins with a medical miracle and the detective who questions it. Use a visual direction to keep the story’s atmosphere in view.

Temporary Meat Wagon story-world concept of a refrigerated distribution terminal

Temporary concept illustration

Build the world behind the words

Cold light. Sealed containers. An orderly system hiding a terrible purpose. Collect visual references alongside your story notes.

The cover, fully realized

One identity.
Every format.

A striking first impression, from the complete print wrap to the digital bookshelf. Explore the Meat Wagon cover by Joshua Carlson.

01 / Complete cover artworkBack · Spine · Front
Complete Meat Wagon cover by Joshua Carlson, showing the back cover, spine, and front cover
01Back cover

The hook. The premise.
A reason to open the book.

02Spine

Title, author,
publisher identity.

03Front cover

Bold typography.
An unmistakable atmosphere.

02 / Digital edition conceptYour cover. Ready for its close-up.

Kindle-style presentation mockup.

Project
Meat Wagon
Author
Joshua Carlson
Artwork
Full wrap + front cover
Visual direction
Black · Crimson · Bone
Explore the Meat Wagon example →

A separate service for finished manuscripts

Ready for publishing consideration?

Submit one finished manuscript for final review and consideration for publication by 36 Seas.

$99 USDone time per book · launch price

Standard price $199. Purchased separately from First Mate membership.

  • Payment covers final manuscript review and consideration.
  • Acceptance, distribution, sales, and a publication date are not guaranteed.
  • Publication requires editorial approval, commercial fit, and a separate agreement defining services, costs, and rights.

Before purchasing, contact us to confirm review timing and the feedback you will receive.

Review my $99 offerAsk about the review
Read the publishing offer termsRefund policy

Before you begin

A clear answer for your next step.

Can I use First Mate without publishing with 36 Seas?

Yes. First Mate is an author studio you can use independently. A membership does not submit your manuscript, require you to use the imprint, or guarantee publication.

What does the $99 publishing review cover?

The launch offer is a one-time payment for final review of one finished manuscript and consideration for publication by 36 Seas. It is separate from studio membership. Publication requires editorial approval, commercial fit, and a separate agreement.

Does paying mean my book will be accepted?

No. Payment is for review and consideration. It does not guarantee acceptance, distribution, sales, or a publication date. If your book is not accepted, you can continue using First Mate independently.

Are editing, covers, and trailers included in my membership?

Membership provides studio tools and the capacity listed for your plan. Human evaluation, editing, ghostwriting, and managed production are separate services. Final video and audiobook generation are planned add-ons and are not currently available. Check the pricing page and the quoted scope before purchasing.

Do I keep my rights?

Using First Mate does not transfer ownership of your manuscript. If you choose publication with 36 Seas, any publishing rights and obligations are set out in a separate agreement for you to review before signing.

Is 36 Seas a vanity press?

36 Seas offers paid author software and a paid manuscript review, with a selective publishing path. Paying for software or review does not buy acceptance. Any publication commitments, services, costs, and rights must be defined in a separate publishing agreement.

How is First Mate different from a general chat tool?

First Mate organizes your manuscript and story references in an author workspace, with tools for writing, revision, and book preparation. The focus is working on one connected book project and keeping creative decisions with you.

How long does review take, and what feedback will I receive?

A fixed turnaround and feedback format are not specified here. Contact 36 Seas to confirm the delivery scope and timing for your manuscript before purchasing.

Read the publishing offer terms or ask about your manuscript.