Writing Critiques: Online or via Email

Who’s my hero? Joseph Carrabis. Just finished an edit consult where he kindly, constructively, and expertly ripped my book blurb to shreds! LOVE IT! ‘Atta Boys do you no good. Find someone who will give it to you straight!! Thank you! I owe you. Mine felt soulless. Now I see why. It is humbling to be such a novice at something. I appreciate your help. – Augusta, GA

 
Let me save you some time before reading this page; Do you want to improve your writing? Are you willing to pay to improve?

If the answer to either of those is No then read no further, this page isn’t for you.

Your critique of my novel was priceless. – Hudson, NH

 
Answered Yes to both? Read on.

Your drive for improvement is inspiring. – Houston, Texas

 
One of the most useful things when learning to write has two parts:

  • Work with someone who knows what makes writing worth reading, and
  • Have someone who writes well go over your work with you.

I mention these things in my interview starting about 1.45m in.

Love your feedback. Thanks thanks thanks. You have an eagle eye. – Chattanooga, TN

 
Several people contacted me since that interview and asked if I would critique their work. Several of the authors I’ve interviewed in the Author Interview Plunge series asked me to critique their work. This year more and more writers and authors asked me to work with them on their storycrafting, storytelling, blurbs, backcover copy, pitches, bookcovers, … Recentely a publisher asked me to mentor authors and writers whose work they rejected but which showed promise.

You caught everything and more than my editor did. – Berlin, MA

 
Quite flattering, all of that.

Would you like me to critique your work?
I offer individual, in-depth critiques of your work and/or group mentorings.

You can sample my critiquing philosophy and methods at Writers’ Groups – Critiques and So I gave myself an exercise (eating my own dogfood)….

Your critique left me limp, giddy and exhilarated. – Vienna, VA

 
Pricing

  • Online – 1hr, $300, 10 double-spaced pages
  • Email – $30/page, double-spaced, 5 page minimum

Rules and Restrictions

  1. Don’t have five pages to submit? No problem, put two or more stories into the single submission.
  2. I’m not the final arbiter of your work. You are. Don’t like my critique? No problem, take your work elsewhere. Note: Your payment is non-refundable even if you don’t like my critique.
  3. I’m neither agent nor publisher, nor does working with me ensure publication.
  4. My end goal is to teach you enough so that you’ll a) not need me any more or b) be able to confidently go on to someone more capable than I (and let me know who they are. I’m learning, too!).
  5. Should I look at your work and believe I’m not going to be helpful (or I simply enjoy reading it), I’ll let you know and refund your payment.
  6. Online critique sessions are one (1) hr long. We may run longer. Don’t count on it. If we do, consider it a gift. Use it wisely and well. The meetings are via Zoom.
  7. Material submitted can take 3-10 days to critique in full. I’ll keep you posted should I need more time.
  8. Can’t afford my rates? Contact me. If you’re working hard at your craft, I’ll work hard to make sure you get any help I can offer.
You not only saw what was wrong, you showed me how to fix it using my own ideas, in fifteen minutes! – Boston, MA

 
Fill in the form below and we’ll get started.