Developmental Editing
Short Story Critique
A comprehensive written critique of your short fiction- Receive a comprehensive written critique of your short story or short memoir.
- This critique is designed for writers who want to revise a story before submitting it to literary journals for publication.
- This critique is also valuable for writers who want to revise a short story before applying for MFA programs, fellowships, or residencies.
- Please use the button below to submit your short story.
- Turnaround time for this critique is seven business days.
First 50 Pages Critique
Written critique of the first 50 pages of your novel or memoir- Are your opening chapters doing everything they should to engage the reader, introduce characters and conflict, establish setting, tone, and point of view, and move the story forward?
- Does the pacing lag at any point in the first 50 pages?
- Do the opening chapters make it clear why this particular story is being told at this particular time, from this unique perspective?
- How clean and clear is the prose? Have you given the agent, editor, or reader-at-large every reason to keep reading and ask for more?
- This critique will include advice on how to tighten the structure, line edits to make the prose flow more smoothly, and suggestions for increasing dramatic tension in the first pages.
Manuscript Critique
Comprehensive Critique of your novel or memoir- Receive a comprehensive written critique of your novel or memoir.
- Half-hour video session prior to reading, plus a one-hour video session after the critique is complete
- You will receive a careful reading of your manuscript, along with detailed feedback on plot, structure, character, point of view, style, voice, and any other issues relevant to your novel or memoir.
- This package includes light line editing.
- Turnaround time for this critique is three weeks.
- A critique of your completed revision is available for an additional $499.
- Manuscript critique is available only on an application basis. Please use the button below to submit up to 1500 words of your manuscript, along with a brief synopsis.
“It benefitted me immeasurably to brainstorm with you today about how to tweak scenes. Thank you for digging deep with your suggestions to help me clarify the characters’ motivations. I also appreciate your openness about the publishing industry… You have gone above and beyond.”
Michelle helped me enormously with my novel. She’s kind and generous, but she’s also a tough critic. By seeing things that I could not, she gave me big-picture notes on plot, character, point-of-view, and dialogue. On my manuscript, she marked where the problems were and then wrote out solutions. She also tried to make sure that the book stayed mine. She never imposed her personal style but wanted me to find my own. I cannot recommend Michelle enough. She is a wonder!