Update: I am currently closed to critiques. Please check back in a month for an update. Thank you for your patience!
Becoming a children’s book writer is a challenging, often frustrating, and very emotional journey. It takes a great deal of time and effort to create work that stirs the hearts and minds of young readers. It also takes great courage to share that work with others. Getting critical and objective feedback on your stories is essential to making sure you can take your work to the next level and ultimately in the hands of a child.
I have critiqued hundreds of manuscripts, many of which have been subsequently published or are on their way to publication, for writers from beginner level to agented and published. My critiques are honest and thorough evaluations of your manuscript. My goal is to highlight both the weaknesses and strengths in your work, offering positive feedback as well as input on how to improve your work. If what you seek is a “good job/keep going” kind of critique, I am probably not the right fit for you.
My critiques are done in MS track changes and the feedback I provide assesses your manuscript both from a writer’s standpoint and the reader’s point of view. I always include comments explaining the reasoning behind my feedback, and I may also refer you to certain articles, books, or mentor texts that can help you further on your journey.
I greatly value the trust you place in me as a critiquer, and I take this work very seriously. If you are serious about taking your manuscript to the next level, please consider one of the following packages*:
Critiques
$90 for up to 1,000 words (price will increase for longer manuscripts)
Critique includes in-line comments and separate written feedback. Depending on the manuscript needs I will analyze the following:
- story structure and plotting
- story book ends (beginning/ending) and first-line hooks
- concept/theme
- development of tension
- page turns
- illustration potential
- conclusion
- point of view
- showing vs. telling
- dialogue
- character development
- formatting
- title
- grammar
I will also address any specific issues or concerns you may have.
I offer discount critiques for manuscripts I have already reviewed.
Please contact me for any questions or drop me a line at karla.p.valenti [at] gmail [dot] com.