You have a palaeontology-related project and you need expert help. That is a great place to start, because bringing a consultant on board early can really improve the scientific accuracy and overall quality of your work. But after years of receiving consultancy enquiries, I have noticed that many people simply do not know how to approach a palaeontologist in a professional and straightforward way. Some emails make the whole process far more complicated than it needs to be, for both you and for me.
To make things easier, here are three common mistakes to avoid, along with what to do instead.
1. Do Not Send Too Much Information
One of the biggest issues I see is the “information avalanche” email. It is surprisingly common to open an enquiry that launches straight into several paragraphs of backstory, world building and detailed dinosaur descriptions, sometimes even a full chapter, before the sender has explained what the project actually is or what kind of help they are looking for.
This is overwhelming and it makes it harder to understand the core request. A much better approach is to keep the first message simple. Give a short overview of the project, say what stage it is at, and explain clearly what kind of support you need. Whether you are after accurate creature design, believable behaviour or help with fossil integument, clarity is far more helpful than an information dump. Once I have reviewed the basics, we can talk through the details properly in a Zoom or Teams call, which is where the deeper work happens.
2. Do Not Ask for Free Work or Ignore Mentions of Rates and Fees
Another recurring issue is when someone assumes the work is free or disappears the moment fees are mentioned. Sometimes the consultancy rates are ignored entirely in follow-up emails, only for the person to later announce that they cannot afford it. This wastes time and energy for everyone involved. Minimum project fees exist for a reason. The onboarding process and initial scientific review take time, care and attention. Even a quick assessment requires expertise, and that expertise is part of the service.
If you want to work with a consultant, acknowledge the fee and rate structure and be prepared to move forward with it. The minimum project fee ensures you receive proper, focused advice and allows me to dedicate the time your project actually needs.
3. Be Clear About Timelines
The third issue is vagueness around timelines, scope or expectations. Messages like “We are making a documentary, can you help?” or “I am writing a dinosaur book and need some advice” do not give enough information to understand the scale of the work. Without specifics, it is impossible to know whether you need two hours of support or two months, and that makes it difficult to plan or schedule the project properly.
A more effective approach is to include the essentials. Say what stage the project is at, when you need the work done, what kind of deliverables you are looking for and roughly how big the project is. Clear expectations help both sides understand what is required and prevent misunderstandings later.
Approaching a palaeontology consultant does not need to be complicated. A concise, well-structured enquiry sets the tone for a smooth, professional collaboration and ensures you get the best possible scientific support for your project. If you avoid these common pitfalls and communicate clearly from the start, you will make the process easier for yourself and for me, the consultant you are hoping to work with.
If your project would benefit from accurate, engaging prehistoric science, I offer consultancy support for books, TV, games, magazines, and digital media. I work with authors, publishers, TV teams, game studios, digital creators and exhibition teams to help bring prehistoric worlds to life in a way that is both scientifically grounded and creatively compelling. If you are developing a project and need expert guidance, you can explore my full consultancy services below.
