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As a literary consultant, I provide specialist advice and support for writers. Whether you need help with a first novel or on a non-fiction work, my editorial report will provide a full professional overview of your manuscript, highlighting what is already working, and including plenty of suggestions for a fruitful and efficient revision period. I work with specialist readers for theatre scripts, radio plays and children's picture books.
As the service is so personalised, I thought I would put together a list of the different reasons my clients seek my services, to give you an idea of when you might need a literary consultant. As you can see, it’s rather long – but it’s not exhaustive. If you’re a writer thinking I’d like some help with my manuscript, do get in contact and I’ll see what I can do to help. Now, here’s that list:
When Might You Need a Literary Consultant?
• You’ve written a full draft of a manuscript and would like in-depth feedback on how well it is working
• You’d like to know if your manuscript is ready for submission to agents / publishers
• You know there are problems with your manuscript but aren’t sure exactly what they are or how you might go about solving them
• You’d like to know how well your cover letter and synopsis is working
• You’d like to know how to make a confident submission
• You’ve received a rejection from a publisher / agent, and would like to work out why
• You’ve received a rejection from a publisher / agent, with some specific pointers on your writing, and would like to learn more about how to implement them
• You’re planning to self-publish your manuscript but would like editorial input first
• You’ve self-published a manuscript but it hasn’t been as successful as you’d hoped, and you’d like to know how you can improve its prospects
• You’ve written a section of your manuscript and would like some professional feedback before you continue
• You’re feeling stuck, and would like the boost of someone else engaging with your manuscript
• You’re completely new to writing and would like to know how you are doing
• You’re worried about the technical elements of your writing
• You’ve been writing for some time and have made a commitment to developing your craft
As you can see, every project I work on has different requirements, but I find the best thing is to leave writers with a detailed written report that they can return to for guidance and motivation. The report can be supported by annotations on the manuscript, and follow-up phone or email conversations can be booked. The different types of report available are detailed on the fees page.
Sample reports are available on request. You can also see how other writers have benefited from the service by reading the recommendations page. All clients complete a feedback form after receiving their report, and all feedback is logged.
Practical Matters
I request to see the opening section from the manuscript before agreeing to take on any consultancy work. Where I cannot help you, I will try to point you in the direction of someone who can. There is no fee for this initial reading.
I scout for a number of literary agencies, and forward suitable manuscripts on following revision. This is by invitation only, and you should not apply to the service solely for this reason.
If you would like to discuss the service, the first step is to email me the opening chapter and the word count of the material you would like me to read.
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