Manuscript Evaluations/Critiques, Fiction Query Letter and Synopsis Writing

manuscript book critique evaluation developmental editing

Author of Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade Novels

Anne Creal specializes in fiction and offers a unique editorial perspective as the author of eight novels. Her books include contemporary and historical children’s, young adult, and adult literature. She has worked with both small independent publishers, such as Roberts Rinehart and Brown Barn Books, and large publishing houses, such as Penguin Putnam and American Girl. She has seen one of her novels made into film and has won numerous literary awards.

She believes that even in today’s tough publishing climate, it is still possible for new writers to enter the business and succeed. Second to writing her own novels, she loves to mentor others to help them achieve their goals. She knows firsthand how writers benefit from the help and support of others writers and/or editors. Her goal is to help you make your unique writing shine.

ARTICLES

Writing Historical Fiction that Sells

The All-Important Opening

BOOKS PUBLISHED

Water at the Blue Earth, young adult historical fiction (Roberts Rinehart, 1998)

Nowhere, Now Here, middle grade contemporary fiction (American Girl, 2000)

The Magic of Ordinary Days, adult historical fiction (Viking Penguin, 2001)

Translated into Spanish:

Under a Stand Still Moon, young adult historical fiction (Brown Barn Books, 2005)

A Ceiling of Stars, middle grade contemporary fiction (American Girl, 1999)

Call Me the Canyon, young adult historical fiction (Brown Barn Books, 2006)

Nicki, contemporary middle grade fiction (American Girl, 2007)

Thanks to Nicki, contemporary middle grade fiction (American Girl, 2008)

AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS, AND HONORS

Winner, Colorado Book Award for Water at the Blue Earth
Winner, Pleasant T. Rowland Award for Fiction for Girls for A Ceiling of Stars
Finalist, Colorado Book Award for The Magic of Ordinary Days
Finalist, Willa Cather Award for The Magic of Ordinary Days
Winner, Independent Publishers Book Award for Multicultural Fiction for Under a Stand Still Moon
Bronze Award, ForeWord magazine Young Adult Fiction for Under a Stand Still Moon
Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, The National Council for Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council for Under a Stand Still Moon
Finalist, Willa Cather Award for Under a Stand Still Moon
Finalist, Willa Cather Award for Call Me the Canyon

Feedback

"Anne provided great input. I appreciate the time she took to thoroughly develop the editorial comments and critique. Also appreciate her expressing concerns on not hurting my feelings. She provided the type of feedback I was looking for providing the guidance I needed to take my project to the next level. Her candid feedback was very much appreciated and I look forward to incorporating all of her great suggestions." (On file with network coordinator)

"Anne's work was exceptional. I presented her with a manuscript that was close to 150,000 words and she helped me to achieve my goal of cutting it by a third. She was accurate in finding all those passages that were holding back the narrative and correct about what to leave in so that the story was intact. Her edits were skillful, considered, and indicative of a very careful reading. Her comments and corrections along the way were also helpful. I feel like I got a tremendous bargain and the book that I want." Clark Carlton

"I liked the bios displayed to help me understand the specialization of the editors. Anne was great. She read my novel first as a fan of the genre, and then went back through and suggested all sorts of improvements to greatly improve the manuscript. Here insight and abilities are rare, and her encouraging and positive feedback was invaluable." Randy Hice

"Anne was wonderful. She went above and beyond. She gave very constructive criticism and praise where both were due. She was worth every penny I paid. It was a very enjoyable experience. Would I recommend her to others? (No, just kidding. I'd rather prefer to keep her all to myself as my private freelance copy editor. I am sure she is in great demand. She taught me so much!)" Tammy Thompson, utilization/review RN

"Anne has provided expert level editing assistance to me in the writing of my manuscript. Her ideas and creativity have been invaluable to me." Kandi Hofmeister, author of the memoir, Held.

"Anne's insight and original input helped improve my novel and matched my expectations beautifully." Andrea Kolub, author of The Lady in the Cape.

"Anne is a masterful storyteller whose novels transport readers to other times and places they won't want to leave. She generously shares her expertise in character, setting and plot to help writers craft the best possible story." Jessica Swaim, author of Nick by Night and The Hound from the Pound

"Making all the elements of a book work into a cohesive story that also reads amazing is one of Anne's strongest gifts as an editor. She also devised a query letter for me that resulted in many requests to read my manuscript. Her help made all the difference." Renee Appleman, author of Would You Ever?

"Ann was wonderful. She helped me bring the story I wanted to tell to life. It was a pleasure dealing with her. I plan on using her for my sequels and recommend anyone who wants a creative angel helping with their vision to try and get Ann as your editor." Diane Duarte (services: developmental edit, query, synopsis)

Submission

Cut and paste the questions and answers into an e-mail:

EditMyBook@Gmail.com

Alternates
2010@Book-Editing.com
Help2010@Airmail.net
Contact@Editing-Writing.com

You may send your initial submission to all addresses to make sure it's received.

Required:
Submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript (Word/DOC or RTF attachment preferred). Large files should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started (e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).

A sample is required to receive an estimate
for editing services

Along with a sample, the following information is required. Ignore questions that do not apply to your project (e.g., footnotes).

(01) Word count of complete project (under "Tools" in MS Word):

(02) Put your 100-word (approx) synopsis/description here (or attach):

(03) Describe your genre and topic (e.g., nonfiction/self-help, science fiction, horror, romance, mystery, Western, young adult, children, poetry, Christian, creative nonfiction, literary):

(04) Deadline date, if any, for return of complete project. (Please be realistic. Remember that professional editors usually have a project in process.):

(05) If you have no immediate deadline, when do you want to start the editing process?: (For instance: within 30 days, within 60 days, within 90 days, 4-12 months)

(06) Level of editing desired/expected --

Copyediting / Proofreading / Line Editing (e.g., English corrections, typos, paragraph and sentence structure, word use)
Developmental (e.g., help with the big picture, such as flow/pacing, telling the story, characterization, structure, style)
Rewriting / Ghostwriting
Critique / Evaluation

(07) Number of charts/tables/pictures (if any):

(08) Writing style/format manual (e.g., Chicago Manual, APA, MLA), if applicable:

(09) Number of footnotes/references:

(10) Do you have a contract with an agent or publisher?:

(11) Do you plan to self-publish?:

(12) What is your budget for the entire project?
$ ________________
(Note: The editors will quote their regular rates, but having an idea of your budget allows the editors to tell you what services they can provide to stay within that budget.)

(13) Your name:

(14) E-mail addresses:

(15) Day/evening phone numbers (required -- in case the response to your e-mail bounces or the editors need clarification regarding the scope of service needed, deadline, etc.):

(16) City, State, Country (or time zone):

(17) The name(s) of the editor(s)/writer(s) you'd like to contact.
(If no names are selected, your e-mail will be sent to several consultants chosen by the coordinator):

(18) Do you want the coordinator to reroute your submission if you requested editors/writers who (a) are not available by your deadline date, (b) do not handle the type of material you submitted, and/or (c) do not perform the service(s) you want?

(19) How did you learn about our service?:

(20) Attach the first 50 pages of your manuscript (include prologue/preface, proposal, query)

Notes:

No hidden charges
We won't quote you one price and charge you another. When possible, we'll provide you with a per-word or per-page rate so you'll know up front exactly how much your project will cost. (Of course, we ask that you fairly represent the scope of your project.)

To learn more about the rates charged by professional editors, please see: Editorial Freelancers Association

It is a mistaken notion that freelance editors work "on spec" (speculation) with no payment to the editor. It is basically asking the editor to work for free. There's no guarantee that a book will see a profit (or even be published). The editors posted here do not work on spec.

LIVE AGENT

Note: Price quotes and time estimates for individual editors cannot be given over the phone or via chat. This is a network of freelance editors with varying prices and work schedules (see our FAQ). To obtain a price quote please follow the procedures listed on our quotes page. Contact live support if you do not receive a response within three hours. It is possible that your submission was not received. You may also page the network coordinator by leaving voicemail or sending a fax to 469-789-3030.

Please be as complete as possible in representing your project's scope and size so you will receive the most accurate estimate.

Disclaimer: Your agreement, whether oral or written, is with your freelance editor / proofreader / writer, not with the freelance network as a whole or its coordinator.