Writer Mentoring Services

FALL 2024 READING PERIOD ONE: Sept. 16 - 30

Want personalized feedback on your work? To reserve a spot (spaces limited—first come, first served), email me your writing document (double-spaced, paginated) by Mon., Sept. 9, and specify which kind of feedback you request for it. I tailor my type of response to suit your needs and budget. I’ll give you a cost estimate by Sept. 16 before responding to your work by Sept. 30. If you bring a friend to participate, I’ll offer a discount.

$110/hr + free follow-up consultation via Zoom/phone (complimentary recording)

FALL 2024 READING PERIOD TWO: Oct. 28 - Nov. 11

Same terms as above; dates below.
Oct. 21: Deadline for Reading Period Two via email; attach writing w/ feedback specs
Oct. 21 - Oct. 28: Cost estimate from me
Oct. 28 - Nov. 11: Response to your work with feedback

Rather than submit writing to me, you can schedule office hours which allow you to talk through your writing process out loud and brainstorm strategies and ideas.

HOW I WORK

Throughout the year, I hold two-week reading periods where I review manuscripts (essays, book chapters, stories) closely for structure and core story/tension (what I call “the what”), usually offering margin notes and a single-spaced written response. While I can focus on both macro (narrative arc, the “what”) and micro elements (language, tone), I don’t do line-by-line or proofreading edits; instead, I pick out particular phrases that might be important to re-visit or re-consider. While I can’t guarantee that my perspective will ensure any success for you, I’m also happy to provide guidance on the publishing process, once/if you feel that you’re ready to tackle that. Testimony here and here.

FEEDBACK AND FEES

I charge $110 an hour for manuscript reading and offer free follow-up consultation after feedback return via Zoom/phone, if necessary; if you bring a friend to participate in a reading period, I offer a discount. Invoices and payments are done via PayPal. Costs for submissions depend on length, writing style, and depth of feedback requested—writers have shared anything from 1,000 words to 80,000 words; some of them wanted only specific questions answered, others wanted a full endnote and margin comments (the most intensive treatment), others just wanted a summary endnote, etcetera. I generally offer three levels of feedback to your writing, ranging from:

a)     the most detailed kind of response, involving both an extensive, single-spaced endnote answering any of your specific questions and focusing on structure and core story/tension (“the what”), places that engage me, places that may not, questions that come up as well as margin notes as necessary throughout the text. 

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b)    something slightly less comprehensive involving one single-spaced endnote at the end of the piece, answering your specific questions and touching on the issues mentioned above but eschewing any margin notes.

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c)     A brief summary endnote overview, touching on a birds-eye view of the piece, answering any specific feedback questions you have with additional thoughts about structure, some possible places of heat/impact, a few overall themes and questions I might have, though I wouldn’t be able to offer detailed commentary (or margin notes) on specific sections to cut or build on, etcetera. 

When you submit your piece, I’ll take a look at it—and what you’re asking for—and will get back to you with a cost estimate in advance. I’m happy to tailor my response to suit your needs and budget.