Manuscript Reviews & Consults

Hey, hi, hello there. ☻ ✐

Do you have a stack of pages scrawled lawlessly with ideas, a collection of sorts, or even a single poem that feels almost finished (or not at all) but could benefit from a close reading? If so, I’d be delighted as a duck to help. 𓅷

My calendar is now open to review poetry, short stories, flash fiction, graphic series, novels, or essays of any kind. And if you just need a handful pages reviewed for an upcoming contest, workshop, or application, I can do that too.

I have a super soft spot for so-called hybrid work as well, so nothing is too “experimental” or weird to send on over.

The queerer the better(er). 𓃩

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Qualifications

I’ve worked in the literary magazine realm in multiple roles including as Senior Editor, Co-Managing Editor, and Art Editor for the Northwest Review. I have an MFA in Writing from Pacific University with an emphasis in Poetry. My undergraduate studies were in English with an emphasis in literature and theory, and a minor in Theology. I’m also an Anaphora Arts Fellow. If place plays an important role in your writing, I’ve moved around quite a bit and have a feel for various locations around the US, from SF to NYC, Sacramento to Austin, the PNW to the South. My personal work can be read here.

Approach

My initial approach to reviewing any creative manuscript is to let it speak— just listen—and share with you what the work is saying to me as one reader. Then, after this meditative reading I’ll go back over everything several times with a fine-tooth comb and provide line/sentence-level feedback for your consideration. I try to understand where you’re coming from, where you’re headed, and where the work at hand is situated in that perspective.

A consult includes

▫ In-line commentary, suggestions, and corrections

▪ Answers to 3-5 questions you’d like me to consider as I read through your work

▫ A letter summarizing my feedback

▪ Two Zoom sessions– one 20-minute meeting after the initial deposit and manuscript are received, and one 45-minute meeting after the review is complete and returned to you

Rates

▪ Individual poems or work in any genre <2 pages is $40 (we’ll meet over Zoom just once for this).

▫ Contest, workshop, application, or similar works up to ~10 pages in any genre are $120.

▪ Chapbooks or works up to ~30 pages in any genre are $250.

▫ Full-length poetry collections / works up to ~120 pages in any genre are $450-$750 depending on length.

▪ Works over 120 pages are determined on a case-by-case basis.

▫ Cost of printing and shipping are extra, due before our last meeting.

▪ All manuscripts should be 1.5-2x spaced, please.

▫ A deposit of 50% is required to hold your place in the queue. The rest of the payment is due before our last Zoom meeting. I take Venmo, Zelle, or cash.

▪ Depending on length and your place in the queue, turnaround time is one week for <7 pages and up to eight weeks for everything else.

I’m generally open to reviewing works beyond these parameters, please just note the details in your message. And if you need the feedback in a rush, select that option on the form and we can work something out.

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