Coaching & Editorial Prices

While writing novels remains my primary focus, I'm often asked if I offer coaching and editorial services. Yes, I do. Details are below. Feel free to email me at margokelly1 @ outlook . com (without the spaces) to ask additional questions and make arrangements to propel your manuscript to the next level.



One-on-One Coaching :: $100 per hour
In person, online, or over the phone, we’ll discuss where you are on your writer’s journey and where you’d like to be. After clearly defining your goals, I’ll offer step-by-step guidelines for you to achieve them. ***I am not currently accepting new clients for coaching.***

Query Critique :: $35
Once your manuscript is polished and you’re ready to seek an agent, I’ll review your query letter and offer suggestions to catch the interest of literary agents. This package includes a second evaluation after you’ve made changes.

Synopsis Analysis :: $120
Many agents and editors require a synopsis with your manuscript submission. I’ll point you in the right direction before you begin, and then I’ll critique your finished synopsis (up to four single-spaced pages).

Submission Package :: $250
This evaluation includes thorough line-edits of your entire submission package, including your query letter, synopsis, and the first 30 pages of your manuscript.

First 100 Page Assessment :: $350
If you’re not certain about your manuscript or its potential, having your first 100 pages critiqued may help give you the direction you need. I’ll provide a detailed line-by-line edit, pointing out grammar and punctuation issues as well as addressing big-picture ideas regarding character, plot, and setting. (I require standard formatting of your pages, including double-spacing and 12-point font.)

Reader Report :: $750
I’ll read your entire manuscript (up to 85,000 words) and provide at least a two-page written evaluation of your overarching ideas, including characters, plot, setting, voice, and theme. This package does not include a line-edit. 

Full Manuscript Edit (up to 85,000 words) :: $1,000
With this comprehensive service, I’ll read your entire manuscript, providing line-edits and an editorial letter addressing the big-picture ideas. Manuscripts must be formatted according to industry standards. (Manuscripts over 85,000 words will be charged at $0.013 per word.)

Complete Package :: $2,100
Starting with a Reader Report*, I’ll offer an evaluation of your overarching ideas and discuss next steps in a one-on-one coaching appointment. Then after you’ve revised your manuscript, I’ll provide a Full Manuscript Edit*. Finally, after you’ve polished your manuscript, I’ll evaluate your Submission Package* before you query agents and editors. (*Read descriptions above for what’s included.)

Submitting Query Letters & Manuscripts in the Digital Age

Maybe I should just post helpful links this week... What do you think?

I stumbled upon this post Monday and learned a few things about submissions! Check it out:
Query Letters & Manuscript Submissions

Have you come across a helpful blog post recently?

Query Magic (or skill?)

Okay. So, one of my critique partners (shout out to Shannon) sent a query for critique to the A.MAZ.ING. Elana Johnson. I read the before and after versions, and could NOT click fast enough to get myself over to Elana's website.

Here's how it works:
Click Here to go to Elana's website.
Then download her book, From the Query to the Call, for $10.
With the purchase of the book, you then get to send Elana your query.
She critiques it and sends it back to you.

My critique pal sent her revised query out and lightning fast got a request for a full from a top-notch agent!

Wanna read my before and after queries?  Here ya go:

Before:

Thirteen-year-old Cynthia Reid (Thia) falls in love with an internet predator. Of course she doesn’t know Mike is a predator. She just wants a boyfriend, and her over-protective parents won’t let her date until sixteen. So, hooking up with a boy during an online game seems like the perfect solution…until Thia’s mom catches her emailing innocent pictures. Then she loses her computer for weeks. When Thia finally gets it back, she learns that Mike attempted suicide in her absence.


Out of fear and guilt, Thia gives Mike her cell phone number, because she doesn’t want to be responsible for his death. The burden becomes too heavy to bear, but she doesn’t know who to trust. She knows Mike would never lie to her, because he loves her, and she chooses to believe him over her friends and her parents. As her online relationship with Mike intensifies, Thia’s real world begins to crumble. Her friendships shatter, her lies come more easily, and her relationship with her parents teeters on the brink.

Thia’s life spins out of control when her mom calls the police after discovering text messages from Mike on Thia’s phone. But even after Thia is shown evidence of who Mike really is, she stills chooses to believe Mike…until he shows up on her doorstep as a forty-five-year-old man.

Inspired by actual events, The Education of Thia is a 62,000 word young adult novel.

This is a multiple submission, and three agents are currently reviewing the full manuscript. Thank you for your time and consideration.

After:
 
Thirteen-year-old Cynthia Reid desperately wants a boyfriend but her parents won’t let her date until she’s sixteen—so she turn to the Internet, where she finds Mike. When Thia’s mom catches her hooking up with Mike during an online game, and then finds out she’s been emailing him innocent pictures, Thia loses her computer. When she finally gets it back, she learns that Mike attempted suicide in her absence.


She’s convinced Mike loves her, and would never lie to her, but as her online relationship intensifies, Thia’s real world begins to crumble. Her friendships shatter, her lies come more easily, and her relationship with her parents teeters on the brink.

When Thia’s mom finds text messages from Mike on Thia’s phone, she digs for answers. Even when Thia is shown evidence of who Mike really is, she doesn’t believe her mom—until Mike shows up on her doorstep.

He’s a forty-five-year-old man.

......
So... what do you think? Which one do you like better? I vote for Elana's version, and I can't hardly wait to send it out. I've had to use massive amounts of will power to not send it... but I really want to make a few additional revisions to the ms before I send it. I don't want to "waste" any full requests!!

Go visit Elana's website and buy her book! Purely amazing critique.

Jaded? or Guarded? or Concerned?

Saturday, I received another request for a full manuscript from an agent. YAY! Right? Then why am I not jumping up and down for joy?

Have I become jaded already from the number of rejections I've received (but... I've *only* received one rejection on a full... so far).

Or am I guarded because of the rejection I received on the full ms. Does a rejection on a full mean the writing isn't good enough and I should stop sending queries and revise and improve more? Or does it just mean the one agent didn't like it? Oh my.

Or am I concerned because what if this agent likes it, really really likes it? And she offers me representation? Then what? I've worked so long and hard to get an agent... do I know what to do if one actually offers me representation? Should I start researching and planning for THAT big event?

Or do I just have a chemical imbalance... a mental disorder... hormone swing?

Ack. This waiting. Not knowing. Hoping. Revising. Writing. Hoping. And not knowing is taking its psychotic toll on me today.

Maybe I should just go take a shower and then go sell some Bernina sewing machine at Quilt Crossing today.

What do you think? Do I need to be medicated?

Thanks Holly and Shannon!

So... as you know, I have a block when it comes to writing query letters. I've done a ton of research, and understand the concept and construction, but knowing and doing are two different things.

Here's what paid off for me:
1. I had a critique partner read the ms and then read my query attempt. Having read the entire ms, she was able to give great feedback and advice for improving the letter. THANKS SHANNON!

2. Holly made a comment on a previous post suggesting that I should pretend to give the pitch verbally in person, and then transfer those words to paper. THANKS HOLLY!

3. Then, my "research" has taught me that you need to introduce the mc, problem, solution, complication, complication, complication, etc. to structure the query.

4. I put these three things together, and received a request for a full manuscript! YAY!

Here's my query letter:

Dear [Agent's Name],

Thirteen-year-old Cynthia Reid (Thia) falls in love with an internet predator. Of course she doesn’t know Mike is a predator. She just wants a boyfriend, and her over-protective parents won’t let her date until sixteen. So, hooking up with a boy during an online game seems like the perfect solution… until Thia’s mom catches her emailing innocent pictures. Then she loses her computer for weeks. When Thia finally gets it back, she learns that Mike attempted suicide in her absence.


Out of fear and guilt, Thia gives Mike her cell phone number, because she doesn’t want to be responsible for his death. The burden becomes too heavy to bear, but she doesn’t know who to trust. She knows Mike would never lie to her, because he loves her, and she chooses to believe him over her friends and her parents. As her online relationship with Mike intensifies, Thia’s real world begins to crumble. Her friendships shatter, her lies come more easily, and her relationship with her parents teeters on the brink.

Thia’s life spins out of control when her mom calls the police after discovering text messages from Mike on Thia’s phone. But even after Thia is shown evidence of who Mike really is, she stills chooses to believe Mike… until he shows up on her doorstep as a forty-five-year-old man.

Inspired by actual events, The Education of Thia is a 62,000 word young adult novel.

This is a multiple submission, and four agents are currently reviewing the full manuscript. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Margo Kelly

Performance Anxiety

Truth. I currently suffer from performance anxiety.

I can stand up and speak in front of thousands of people, on the spot, with no preparation, and love every minute.

But, for some reason I lack the polished ability to write a stinkin' query letter. ACK.

Yes, I've studied the topic. Yes, I've written a gazillion versions for BOTH of my manuscripts. But, I just can't seem to hit the nail on the head.

Today, in the attempt to study the topic even MORE, I came across an uplifting post:
http://www.sarahjanefreymann.com/perfect_pitch.html

I like the idea.

What I liked most was her suggestion:
"It’s authenticity. By authenticity I mean the assurance and dignity that comes from being genuinely knowledgeable and truly intimate with the subject you are writing about; that you’ve immersed yourself in it; that you’ve walked the walk so you can talk the talk (or write the write). This authenticity makes me feel as if a book had to be written. Not just because the author would love to be published, but also because the author has something of importance to say, something to add to the world."

So, back to the drawing board. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

Are query letters easy for you to write? If so, wanna write mine?

Email In-Box... WAHOO!

Well, as my usual routine goes... I got my sorry butt out of bed this morning and immediately went to check email. Because... of course, agents only work during the midnight hour.  And guess what?! Not only did I receive six more Viagra emails, I also received a request for a partial manuscript from an agent! WAHOO!

Janet Reid, Literary Agent

Last night I enjoyed a fantastic dream...

Janet Reid, superstar agent, sent me a telegram (first clue it was a DREAM!). Her telegram read something like this:

Dear Margo. stop.
After seeing your blog. stop. And reading your short stories on your website. stop. I have reconsidered. stop. I made a terrible mistake rejecting your query. stop. Please send me a full right away. stop. Actually, forget the full. stop. I've enclosed a contract. stop. I want to represent you. stop.
Sincerely. stop.
Janet Reid, Literary Agent. stop.

HA Ha ha.

Then I woke up and checked my email...

Four new Viagra emails, but nothing from Janet or any other literary agent. *sigh*

If you'd like to read my short stories, check out my website:
http://www.margokelly.net/

If you'd like to know more about Janet (aka the Query Shark) visit her blog:
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/

Following the rules (choke, gag, cough)

I'm not sure an unpublished writer who follows all of the "rules" will ever get published. Seriously.

I finished my young adult novel back in July and began the query process. I was consumed with following the "rules" of proper query letter writing... I read and researched to learn the best ways to write it, submit it, and follow it. Rejection. Rejection. Rejection.

Then I found a series of posts on The Guide to Literary Agents' Blog. The series featured actual queries that snagged an agent. The agents commented on the query letters and explained why they were successful. I noticed a trend. Most of these letters didn't follow the "rules" I had found. I also noticed that many of the agents commented how the letter stood out from the rest of the slush.

I scratched my chin and thought, "They stood out because they didn't follow the rules and because their voice really shined through."

I rewrote my query as though there were no rules. I didn't limit my word count. I didn't limit my paragraphs to three. I didn't start by introducing the genre or the main character.

I sent the query letter out to eleven agents on the eleventh of November, at eleven p.m. HA. I'm actually serious... although, it wasn't premeditated. I figured, my favorite number was eleven. I should take advantage of it, right?

Well, either the number eleven worked for me, or breaking the rules did, because eleven days later (I KID YOU NOT!) on the 22nd of November, an agent emailed me and asked me for the full manuscript. Well, it's been more than eleven weeks, and the ms is still with the agent. She's been busy selling books (which is a good thing, yah?) and so she hasn't had a chance to get to it yet... patience is not my virtue.

So, I sent out a new batch of query letters. This time I tried to conform the letter to more rules. Rejections.

I'm going to write a new letter this week focusing more on the spirit and voice of the book. I'm going to break the rules again and see what happens.

Now, I meant to cover one more thing in this post, but since it's so long I'll save it for another post. While I think it may be necessary to break some rules to get noticed... I think other rules need to be followed. Oh, and one more topic for a future post... Who's writing the rule book and what makes them the authority?

Fishy fishy in the brook, come and bite my little hook...

I need a HOOK for my book so agents will look...

Couldn't I just attach a five dollar bill instead?

I will write an awesome query letter today with an awesome hook. 

Couldn't I just say, "Dear Agent, My book is awesome. Read it. Love it. Thanks." ???

According to Janet Reid (aka the Query Shark), you should not lead with a dependant clause. Oops.
http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

According to another agent, you should start with the story hook. Another agent says start with the title, genre, and word count. Another agent says give a bio. But another says a bio is irrelevant.

Here's the above paragraph retold in a joke format (borrowed from: Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog):

How many agents does it take to screw in a light bulb?


Agent 1: Sorry, we're not accepting screw in light bulbs anymore. Bayonets only, and we only get them from the store.

Agent 2: We considered your light bulb but it's a bit too modern. Have you tried turning it into a candle?


A3: Loved your light bulb. Great light. Lots of illumination. Unfortunately, the agency's decided to remain in the dark indefinitely.

Nice..

However, the agents all seem to agree that a HOOK is essential for them to want to LOOK at your BOOK.

Can you describe your favorite book with a one line hook?

Stay off the Internet!

Seriously... the Internet oftens sucks the time right off my clock! I say, "I'm gonna spend just a few minutes researching (yah, right!) blogs and then I'll get to work!" Is it my fault the world suddenly starts spinning faster? Although, I am CERTAIN only minutes have passed, when I look at the clock - BAM! - two hours, gone.

So... in an attempt to achieve a goal, I've stayed off the Internet the last several days (mostly). It's helped, quite a bit (sadly). I love my computer.

None-the-less... I'm continuing with my goal this week. "What's that?" you ask. Let me tell you, briefly, because I have to get off the Internet.

My goal is complete another revision of my debut novel, Manifested. My blog "research" has made it clear that many agents reject based on word count alone. Furthermore, my research indicates my orginal beginning needs to be thrown in the trash (ouch). So... by 1/31/10, I will have cut 25,000 (seriously) words from the original 99,000 word Young Adult manuscript and improved the beginning.

Wanna help? Read the revised first chapter in the "notes" section of the Margo Kelly fanpage on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Margo-Kelly/393322365522?ref=ts
and give me your brutal honest opinion. Personally, I think it still needs to be improved, changed, or trashed... sigh.

Back to work - in the world of Manifested. Oh, by the way, later today or tomorrow, I will put up a new (revised) description of Manifested on the http://www.margokelly.net/ website along with pictures from the Manifested "world." Check back tomorrow for more details.

Clicked "Send & Receive" Again!

Sometimes I don't even wait thirty seconds before hitting the "send/receive" button again. Sounds obsessive, eh? Well, I have an agent reading my finished manuscript titled "Manifested" right now. Her website says I should wait eight weeks before following up with her. Well, Sunday (that's two days away) will be the eight week mark.

As the mark draws closer, I keep thinking, "Surely, today will be the day I hear back from her." So, I click send/receive, again, in my Outlook Express. Nothing. (Well, there's other "stuff" that arrives in my email of course, but there's only one thing I'm really looking for in that inbox!)

Of course, most "success stories" tell how the agent PHONES the writer if interested in the manuscript. So, when the phone interrupted our family dinner this week (multiple times), I hopped right up and said to my family, "It could be my agent calling!" Nope. Not her.

Not yet!

So, Monday, I will write the dreaded follow-up email. Yes, dreaded. Why? Because so far, when I've written the dreaded follow-up email for previous query letters, an instant response followed: "Not interested."

Which amazes me... could they have not typed those two words weeks earlier and put me out of my misery of waiting? Sheesh.

Well, I should stop typing this post so that I can go click send/receive again. Maybe this time there will be an email from her. Maybe...

Going Green

It's a good thing so many agents in the publishing industry accept manuscripts via email these days. We need to kill less trees.

Here's a picture of my husband's truck loaded to the brim with Christmas trees.

Yup... trees.

Where did they all come from and where are they going?

There was a Christmas tree lot near our home. The day after Christmas, these people (along with their trucks, trailers, campers, poles, lights, and satellite dish) were gone. Piles of trees remained.

The young men at our church are having a bon fire for an activity (tonight, actually) and so my son tracked down the "owners" of the fallen, abandoned, left-behind trees and asked if he could have them. The owner said, "Please, take them all."

My darling husband and son loaded UP the truck.

The trees will be burned for "fun" by a bunch of youth tonight while they look on and eat donuts.

It's a good thing I didn't need those trees to produce paper... to print my manuscript... to submit to agents.