Literary agent submissions package

This package assumes you have a draft synopsis and manuscript chapters ready for review and editing.

1. STEP ONE: Synopsis and first chapter edit (combined total: 7,500 words)

This package assumes you have a draft synopsis and manuscript chapters ready for review and editing.

• I read and edit your draft synopsis (maximum 1,000 words) and first chapter of up to 20 double-spaced pages, providing my annotated comments and editorial suggestions in markup and/or comments in either Word or Google Doc format (first draft).
•  You review and respond to my feedback and send me a revised synopsis and/or chapter.
• I read and edit your revised materials (second draft), providing clear direction for further development if necessary.

2. STEP TWO: Agent and small publisher research

• In the meantime I undertake research into the most relevant literary agents for your work and smaller publishing houses that accept submissions directly from prospective authors. To avoid duplication, I need you to provide the names of any agents or publishing houses you might have already approached before I begin my research.
• You will receive a detailed list of the most appropriate agents and publishers for your project set out in a spreadsheet that includes contact details, precedent sales, and specific submissions guidelines.
• I will provide a minimum of 15  but potentially many more agents and publishers for you to contact.

3. STEP THREE: Zoom

We have a 50-minute Zoom meeting to clarify outstanding questions on your book proposal and discuss your submissions strategy and any other questions you have about the publishing process. In my experience this meeting is most usefully held between drafts of your materials and after I’ve shared publisher research with you.

I prefer to work on the query letter last because by then I am very familiar with your project, and I have everything I need to review your draft query or write one myself. The process for this part is:

• Based on your synopsis and our Zoom meeting, I will write or edit your query letter (the first draft).
• You review and provide missing information and annotated feedback in response.
• I then revise and send you a second draft.

• Confidence in the quality of your query letter
• Confidence in the quality of your synopsis or (in the case of a project that needs more than two rounds of edits) a clear plan of action towards its completion
• A detailed spreadsheet of the most relevant prospective agents and publishers for your work
• A publishing professional available for your questions as you go through the process of submitting your proposal (see Note 3).

1. This package is designed for editing and developing existing manuscripts.
2. This package does not include submitting work on behalf of the purchaser.
3. For the purpose of clarity, my ongoing availability to you—by email or Voxer voice-messaging—is for a period of six (6) months from the date of our Zoom meeting.
4. There is no guarantee that our work together will result in your getting a book publishing contract.
5. There are no refunds.