Query Package Review

You have a polished draft of your manuscript and you are ready to start querying agents or publishers. Now, you need a strong query letter and synopsis to accompany your first pages. 

This package includes a two-step process. First, I’ll send you some resources to make sure your query letter and synopsis meet industry expectations for structure and formatting. Then, I’ll review your query letter and synopsis and provide big-picture feedback. Once you have implemented my feedback, I will do a second review to polish the prose and make sure it is ready to send off. 

Not sure your first pages are ready to go? Book a mini edit or manuscript critique and make sure those pages are ready to captivate the interest of an agent. 

This is great for clarifying the key elements of query letters and synopses including: 

  • Creating a stand-out query letter that meets industry expectations

  • Making sure your synopsis and query letter are working together

  • Polishing your query package so it is ready to send out 

What it is not good for: 

  • Unfinished manuscripts 

  • Book proposals 

What you will receive:

  1. A PDF handout with some basic guidelines on writing a query letter and synopsis

  2. One round of big picture feedback on the query letter and synopsis using comments function in Word. 

  3. A second round of editing focused on sentence-level polishing. This will be done using tracked changes and the comments function in Word. 

Investment: $250 (add a feedback call for an additional $75)

*Canadian clients can receive their invoice in CAD

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Every manuscript is a bit different and editing time depends on length of the manuscript and the complexity of the edit. Turnaround times for mini edits will generally take about 2 weeks. Manuscript critiques take around 3-4 weeks and a full developmental edit will take 4-5 weeks. Timelines will be included in your estimate and agreed upon in the contract.

  • 1. Send me a message via the contact form or email with details about your project including word count, deadlines, and your publishing goals.

    2. Once I am clear on the right service for you I will request you send the full manuscript in MS Word (industry standard) or in the case of the mini edit, the sample of writing you want edited up to 5000 words. I do need to see a full manuscript in order to give the best estimate.

    3. If you are booking a manuscript critique or full developmental edit I will provide a sample edit on a few pages to make sure we are a good fit. Sample edits are not available for the mini edit.

    4. Along with the sample edit, I will send you an estimate of the cost and timeline.

    5. Once we agree on terms, I will send an invoice for the initial payment. Mini edits require payment in full before work begins, but critiques and developmental edits require 25% of the invoice up front to hold the spot in my schedule.

    6. Once the edit is complete, I will send an invoice for the remainder of the payment along with the edited manuscript.

    7. After reviewing your edits and taking some time to think them over, you will have the opportunity to send me a list of questions which I will answer over email or zoom. This is available for manuscript critiques and full developmental edits only.

  • Yes, of course. Your manuscript is kept secure and confidential. Not sharing work is an essential part of being an editor.

  • Payments can be made directly through the invoice using a credit card. I can also accept direct bank transfers through Wise.

    *Canadian clients can request their invoice in CAD and pay through interac e-transfer.

  • I don’t because reading a manuscript for big pictures issues is quite different from reading it for the nitty gritty types of things that you look for in a copyedit or proofread. My strengths are in crafting great story elements. So that is what I focus on. That said, if I notice some egregious errors you can bet I will point them out. I do tend to notice consistency errors so I often flag those in any edit.

  • I do not include fact checking as part of the editing process. Although I have a background in social science research, I am not an expert on any particular historical time period. I do read a lot of history and historical fiction but that doesn’t quite make me an expert. What I will focus on is how the history is used to enhance the story. And yes, if something strikes me as erroneous I will certainly pop in a question about it so that you can check its accuracy.

  • I do not use AI when editing. My edits are 100% human-powered. I prefer not to work on manuscripts that are substantially written with AI but I don’t have a problem with writers using AI as an assistant for brainstorming, editing, and refining ideas.

  • Yes! I am based in British Columbia, Canada but I work with clients all around the world.