Lisa Dale Bio
If you haven’t already, please to take a peek at my author bio if you’d like to get to know my background in the publishing industry.
What is Manuscript Consultation?
Manuscript consultation is not for writers wh o are seeking a writing coach. This style of critique is based on the editorial feedback process commonly used at major publishing houses. If you sell a book to an editor, he/she may take an approach similar to what is outlined below.
My Manuscript Consultation is a comprehensive approach to understanding your book’s strengths and weakness. It’s also a promise to professionally and sensitively provide you with the feedback you need to truly make your book stand out. If your book seems solid but just hasn’t been able to break out of the slush pile, manuscript consultation might be right for you.
How is manuscript consultation different than editing?
Manuscript consultation isn’t the same as editing. In some ways, it’s better. You can hire an editor to make the appropriate changes to your book for you, but the process won’t make you a better writer. When you hire a manuscript consultant, you get an expert personal advisor who can give you the contextual and marketing advice that you need to make sure your book gets the attention it deserves.
With manuscript consultation, I can make recommendations to you, but it’s up to you to implement those suggestions. This method of critique is money-saving and timely, but it’s not for all writers.
Manuscript consultation does not include proofreading or line-editing (although I do make suggestions as I feel they are needed). A consultation tackles the saleability and inherent strength of your story, presentation, and voice.
How does it work?
After a close read of your book (sometimes more than once) with an eye toward the techniques of storytelling AND the fundamentals of marketing, you will receive a very detailed editorial letter giving you a gentle but frank assessment of your book’s strengths and weaknesses. This is, essentially, the same way your professional editor at your publishing house will help you shape your book should you sell it.
You will learn how your book might fare in the current publishing market, and you’ll see what you can do to achieve a stronger read with agents and editors. You will also receive specific suggestions about how to augment your book’s strengths while downplaying its weaknesses.
Do you give advice about marketing?
In a word, yes. Discover what you can do to better attract an agent or editor’s attention. Get tuned in to what editors are acquiring, what kind of books are getting “picked up” now, and learn where your book fits in. Your personalized editorial letter will help you identify your book’s niche and recommend strategies for positioning your book within the larger publishing industry. It may also make (careful) suggestions about how you might tweak your book to make it sit more comfortably within (and speak more strongly to the readers of) your given genre.
The marketing and positioning element is, unfortunately, overlooked by most editors. But I feel it’s important for an author to understand where his or her book stands within the larger market.
What’s it gonna cost?
Because manuscript consultation is different than editing or consulting, it frequently costs less than hiring a line editor or committing to a long-term relationship with a writing coach. For a quote, see the submissions guideline below.
How do I know you won’t take my book or my book idea?
Plagiarism is disgusting. Your work is safe.
What genres do you work with?
General fiction, mainstream fiction, “serious” fiction, women’s fiction, romance, literary lite, narrative nonfiction, and literary. I also critique short stories and personal essays.
Do you critique partials?
I am willing to look at and critique the first three chapters and a synopsis of a book–as opposed to a whole book.
Will a manuscript consultation guarantee success?
You’ve probably already figured out that the answer to this question is, “there are no guarantees.” Except for this: You will have a stronger book and be a better writer after the consultation if you implement my suggestions with thoughtfulness and care. That may or may not lead to making a sale. If you choose to self-publish, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your book is the absolute best it can possibly be (and that, of course, can translate into sales).
BOTTOM LINE: With manuscript consultation, you make it a bit easier for an editor or agent to say “yes” to your work. And you’ll have the lessons you learn about your writing (and your process/self) for the rest of your writing life.
Why I offer manuscript consultation
Of course, I love writing. So I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that I also love editing. When I was working at a literary agency, my favorite part of the process was working closely with writers to make their novels sing (and sell!). My own writing is satisfying in many ways–but it’s a different kind of satisfaction than what I get from working with a writer who can benefit from a thorough, professional critique.
As a writer, I’ve worked with many professionals within the industry–and I value good chemistry. I fall in love with every book I work on–or I don’t work on it. I’ve seen what happens when the wrong editor is paired with the wrong writer–and it isn’t pretty. I would never, ever take on a project if I couldn’t commit my positive, genuinely caring energy to it.
For that reason, I require writers to run their books by me before I will commit to working on a given project.
I also like to give writers some feedback before we contract to work together on a project. That way, you can get to hear my voice and know my style of critique.
Submissions Guidelines
To apply, send an email to lisa dale books at gmail (dot c0m).
You can cut and paste this text into your email, then plug in the missing information. Include:
- Your REAL full name (and pen name, if applicable)
- Your contact information
- Whether you want a critique of your full book or a partial
- The word count of your book AND the number of pages
- The first 15 pages of your book (via pasted-in text or attachments)
- A short five-page or less synopsis, if you have one (no chapter outlines, please)
- Your bio (your writing and publishing experience)
- A note about what you hope to achieve with manuscript consultation
If I believe I can truly offer you some meaningful help with your project, I will reply with
- A price quote for a full manuscript consultation
- Introductory comments on the pages you sent
- A letter of agreement so you and I are both on the same page in terms of what to expect from a manuscript consultation
I’m looking forward to your query and I very much welcome emails from writers who are gearing up to launch exiting new projects!
