Manuscript Critique Service
Publishing takes persistence, practice and patience. In this highly competitive field, your manuscript must be well written and polished to stand out in an editor's 'slush pile.'
A manuscript critique is a valuable learning experience that helps writers recognize their potential and realize their vision. It allows writers to see both strengths and weaknesses in their own writing.
Services offered
Manuscript Critiques / Children's Picture Books and Chapter Books
This involves a thorough read of your manuscript with suggested changes to structure, style, content and word choice. I provide a typed letter outlining what works and what doesn't in your manuscript and make suggested changes onto the manuscript, itself. This includes a fair amount of line editing (word suggestions, places to cut, grammatical and stylistic issues). Manuscripts that require intensive help in spelling, grammar or structure will be considered in a different category.
Rates
Children's Picture Book Manuscripts 2 - 8 double-spaced pages: $100
This includes a fair amount of line editing (word suggestions, places to cut or add, grammatical and stylistic issues). For manuscripts needing intensive help with spelling, grammar or structure, I will send you a quote first.
Chapter Books or Middle Grades Readers: $200 for initial evaluation fee
I read as much of your manuscript as I can in two hours, and then prepare typed feedback (normally 2
- 3 pages long) on structure, content, character development, tone, theme/s, flow of ideas and writing style. After that, we discuss what the most valuable next step would be in terms of re-writing and editing.
Experience
Author of ten children's books: Round is a Mooncake, Red is a Dragon, One is a Drummer, (Chronicle Books 2000, 2001 and 2003), The Wishing Tree (Shen's Books, 2004), Tummy Girl (Henry Holt, 2006), Gai See: What you can See in Chinatown Chinese Market, (Harry Abrams, 2007), Ten Friendly Fireflies (Intervisual, 2007) The Worst New Year (Lee & Low, 2008), Wish! (Chronicle, 2008) and Fly Free! (Boyd's Mills, scheduled for 2008/09). I have also written educational readers, teacher's manuals and teacher training materials for Oxford University Press and Longman Pearson.
Author of thirteen adult short stories in literary journals in North America and Asia. My short story collection, Fruit Dreams and Other Asian Stories (Chameleon, 2007), is a compilation of this work.
Education
I hold a doctorate of education and have taught English and writing for fifteen years at the primary, secondary and university levels. As an active SCBWI member of seven years, I have critiqued over 150 children's book manuscripts. I minored in Journalism and have trained as a journalist, editor and features writer. I hold writing workshops for students several times a year.
Additional comments
I offer positive feedback, and look for parts of your manuscript that
'shine' and hold promise. However, this is a professional critique and I am honest. I also offer suggestions to improve and re-think problematic sections. This is for serious writers who want to improve on and sell their work.
How to get started
Picture Books:
Email me at rosghk@gmail.com for my postal address, writing a quick line or two about the manuscript that you will send. Post your manuscript with a check or money order. My normal turn-around time is two approximately weeks from date received.
Chapter Books or Middle Grades Readers
Email me first, including a brief description of your manuscript, topic, genre, word count, audience (age range and other pertinent details) and your writing experience. I'll then send you a brief contract and instructions for sending the manuscript.
The Three 'Ps'
I firmly believe that the "Three P's - persistence, practice and
practice are the most important factors in getting published. So keep a regular schedule and write, write, write! With each new manuscript, you gain valuable practice and experience. You also build relationships with editors who might say, "Your manuscript doesn't work this time, but send us your next one!"
Good Luck,
Roseanne Thong
