Query Materials Review Services

Query Letter

Send your query letter. I’ll make edits in the document and comment boxes. If I haven’t already read your manuscript, my most common comments are: “be more specific” and “raise the stakes,” so feel free to send your synopsis (which won’t be edited) to give me a clearer picture of your story. As part of this review, I’ll also read your revised query letter as long as it’s sent within six months of my original review.

Note – for this editing service, you can send up to two pages single-spaced, with the understanding that we’ll condense it to one single-spaced page.

$50.

First Pages

Once you get an agent’s or acquiring editor’s attention with your query letter, you’ll need to hook them with your opening pages. I might recommend trimming backstory and jumping right into the action faster. Or, if you start in the middle of the action but I don’t get a good sense of your protagonist or setting, I’ll recommend ways you can include that information without slowing your pace. This editing service includes a second-round review, as long as you send your revisions within six months of receiving my first round.

Optional Upgrade – add on another ten pages (from the same manuscript), also with two rounds of review.

$75 for up to 10 double-spaced pages.

Upgrade – an additional $50 (for a total of $125) for up to 20 double-spaced pages.

Synopsis Review

Optional Upgrade ­­–

Snip Your Synopsis

The dreaded synopsis, the bane of many writers, but a personal favorite of mine. I love boiling down a whole manuscript into a short summary that maintains the voice and mood of the story and spoils that ending so agents and acquiring editors know what they’re requesting.

For this editing service, I’ll read and make recommendations on your synopsis (up to five double-spaced pages) and review your revised version to comment on your edits.

Optional Upgrade – Snip Your Synopsis. I can also advise and help draft multiple synopses of up to three lengths of your choosing (must all be for the same manuscript):

·       Single-page double-spaced (for #PitMad and other online events)

·       Two-page double spaced, the most common length requested by agents

·       Longer versions (usually between 6 and 10 pages double-spaced) for some old-school agents and publishers who really want to know what’s happening in every chapter of your manuscript

·       A custom length, by word count or character count, usually for a writing contest or submission portal (these are usually quite short)

$75 for two rounds of review.

Upgrade – an additional $25 ($100 total) to include Snip Your Synopsis.

Polish Your Pitch

Are you planning to attend a writing conference with in-person pitch sessions or participate in an online pitch event?

If I have worked with you on your query letter and/or synopsis, for the same manuscript I can help you polish your in-person pitch with an online video practice session, and/or help revise your Twitter pitches (up to three).

$40 for a 30-minute live pitch practice session.

$30 to edit up to three Twitter pitches.

$60 to bundle both of the above services (for the same manuscript).

Complete Query Package

This bargain-priced package includes everything in the Query Materials Review Services section described above:

·       Query letter – two rounds

·       First ten pages of your manuscript – two rounds

o   Optional Upgrade to review your first 20 pages

·       Synopsis – I review and make Snip Your Synopsis recommendations for single-page and two-page versions

·       Polish Your Pitch / Twitter Pitches – up to three

·       Polish Your Pitch / In-person Pitch – I help you practice your in-person pitch during a 30-minute video chat

$250 per package of services.

Upgrade – additional $25 (for a total of $275) to review an additional ten first pages (for a total of 20 first pages).