Hello, writer!

Do you need a critique?

Critiquing and editorial feedback are essential parts of preparing a manuscript for publication. Critiques help you consider how to move your manuscript to the next level for submission.

I love helping other writers improve their manuscripts. My feedback is direct and insightful. I work with writers seeking traditional publishing as well as those pursuing self-publishing.

What I critique

  • Nonfiction picture books

  • Fiction picture books

  • Rhyming picture books

  • Middle grade nonfiction

  • Young adult nonfiction

  • Query letters, cover letters, résumés

  • First page of a manuscript

I also offer Zoom consultations to help you navigate the children’s publishing industry and answer any and all questions you may have.

Fees

  • Prose picture book critique (up to 10 pages) - $100

  • Rhyming picture book critique (up to 10 pages) - $150

  • Query letter, cover letter, or résumé review - $40

  • First page of a manuscript - $40

  • Zoom/phone consultations - $75 per hour

How it works

  • To inquire about a critique or consultation, click here or email me: rebeccahirsch [at] mac [dot] com.

  • I’ll email you back in 1-3 days to answer any questions you may have and to iron out details.

  • For manuscript critiques, I’ll ask you to send a 1-2 sentence summary, your vision for the project, up to three specific craft-based questions, and an overview where you feel you are in the writing process.

  • You’ll submit up to 10 double-spaced pages. For picture books this means submitting the entire book. For longer books, this usually means submitting either the proposal or first chapter.

  • Please submit as a MS Word (or comparable) document.

What you receive

  • Comments written on the manuscript. Depending on what you want in a critique, this may involve line-editing or copy editing (editing for grammar and punctuation), or I can give you ideas and highlight areas to discuss further.

  • Questions and ideas to help you think more deeply about the project.

  • A 15-minute follow-up Zoom or phone conversation. This is your time to review my feedback with me and ask me questions about it.

Nonfiction Fest

Did you read my guest post on NFFest? If so, welcome! You’ll find the link for the picture book worksheet I mentioned here: