Copyright Mary Buckham 2005 All rights reserved
Manuscript Evaluation Services
Are your pages ready for an agent or editor? If you hesitated to say “yes”
then you should get a professional opinion.
Mary Buckham is a national writing teacher, but more important – she’s a
professional author. The best advice you can get is from an author who
understands what it takes to get published. She’s also one of the two authors
who created the highly-successful Break Into Fiction® program taught
nationally. Mary works with both unpublished writers and published authors on
a limited basis as noted below.
Mary tells you what to expect from this service:
As both a fiction and nonfiction author, she is respectful and aware of the
effort we all put into our work. She believes in giving constructive feedback
that is grounded in examples from your own manuscript, with potential
suggestions of both craft issues and further resources for you to have options
if the work is not yet ready for submission. She makes a point of:
* explaining why a suggestion is made on your pages
* pointing out your strengths as well as areas you can improve
* looking at specific issues that impact fiction authors including pacing, conflict,
tension and character development [if applicable]
* focusing on plot development with specific suggestions on what is weak and
how to repair plot holes
Note - She will not do line edits or grammar though she can recommend
services for both.
PROCESS for submitting your pages:
Before submitting your work or paying any fees, email Mary at MaryBuckham.
com
Mary usually has several months of editing commitments and recommends
scheduling well in advance – the reason for why you must first send an initial
email. She will give you an estimated time for when to expect her analysis of
your pages. If you need something quickly, email her and she will a) let you
know if she can squeeze your work into her current schedule and b) tell you
what the additional rush cost will be. So if you have revisions to turn in or a
specific time frame for your completion date, please plan ahead accordingly.
Mary recommends a two-step process with either the first 5 or first 30 pages
reviewed before moving to the entire manuscript evaluation. The major
problems in most manuscripts are in the first chapters where set up is so
important. If you send a full manuscript with set up issues then Mary will likely
be marking the same mistakes repeatedly throughout your pages.
Once an agreement is made for consultation, follow these steps for submitting
work:
Submission of the agreed upon document is done so via email in either a
WORD or RTF format that Mary can download and edit on directly, as well as
address any specific questions or concerns you wish her to look at [within the
parameters of the service] in the body of an email.
*If you’d prefer to submit hard copy pages instead of electronically, note this in
your initial email to Mary so she can give you the mailing address. You must
include a return envelope with the correct postage in “stamps” (not metered)
and follow the same manuscript format guidelines.
If your manuscript does not follow these guidelines, it will be returned so you
can correct it:
* All manuscript pages double-spaced
* Courier, Courier New or Courier Dark font – in 12 point
* Margins are one inch all around
* Pages are to be numbered at top, right hand side
* For proposals, novels and synopses use a header that includes your title/last
name
* For query letters and one or two page synopses – single spaced with one-
inch borders, Courier, Arial or Times New Roman – in 12 point
Once Mary receives the manuscript pages and respective fee (listed below),
she’ll acknowledge receipt and begin work.
TURNAROUND TIME:
Standard time for evaluation of your query letter and up to 2 page synopsis is
three weeks unless otherwise agreed upon.
Standard time for evaluation of your partial manuscript is four weeks unless
otherwise agreed upon.
Standard time for evaluation of your full manuscript is six weeks unless
otherwise agreed upon.
Your pages will be returned via email. If you have a full manuscript reviewed
that comes with a phone consultation, the phone consultation must be
scheduled for a time no more than 2 weeks after return of full manuscript.
Mary respects your valuable time as a writer and trust that you will respect
hers. Please understand that once she returns your material and completes
any phone consultations your working arrangement is complete. She is always
happy to chat with writers at events and signings, but she can’t “take another
quick look” once you’ve revised your pages [unless, of course, you wish to
purchase another critique].
CONFIDENTIALITY:
She respects your confidentiality, either in written form or verbal discussion.
She never shares your work with others and will destroy any electronically-
submitted material you have sent to her two weeks after she has confirmation
that you have received and saved the pages.
LIMITS:
Mary is not an acquisition editor nor can she guarantee a sale of your material
though if she is aware of an editor/or agent who might be seeking what you are
writing she will share that information with you, if appropriate. She is not
responsible for unsolicited material and if pages show up without prior
arrangement they will be destroyed.
FEES:
All fees are noted in US dollars only
5 opening pages for $30 – Analyzed for Hooks in opening sentences, opening
paragraphs and at key points in the pages, ending hook, pacing, character
development
30 opening pages - $85– Analyzed for Opening Hooks, Pacing, Set-up. This is
a professional critical read-through and assessment of your manuscript’s
strengths andweaknesses
75 opening pages - $200 (Includes a 30 minute phone conversation if
scheduled within 2 weeks after return of pages.) This is the most critical part of
the story where the key introductory information is inserted, major hooks are
set, story questions are established and pacing must be strong.
Full manuscript up to 70,000 words - $350 (Includes a 30 minute phone
conversation if scheduled within 2 weeks after return of pages.) *If you had the
75 page partial of this manuscript analyzed within six months of submitting this
full manuscript deduct $75 from the $350 fee.
Full manuscript up to 100,000 words - $485 (Includes a 45 minute phone
conversation if scheduled within 2 weeks after return of pages.) *If you had the
75 page partial of this manuscript analyzed within six months of submitting this
full deduct $75 from the $485 fee.
Phone consultation [If after you’ve had 5 or 30 pages critiqued you would like
additional clarification email Mary to arrange a phone appointment] – 30
minutes for $35
(Available to USA and Canadian Clients Only)
Query letter: A query letter, consisting of a one-page cover letter (single
spaced) for $25
Synopsis: Short or long [up to 10 pages] – Mary will analyze your synopsis and
return her critique with a bonus set of templates you can use to repeat the
process on your own (one review of synopsis for fee) - for $75
Combination Query plus Synopsis (based on above stipulations): $90
Time sensitive material with specified deadline (must be arrange ahead of
time): add $30 for query/synopis/5-30 pages; for longer projects add $50 for
rush fee
Payment:
For 5 or 30 page analysis - Payment in full via either Paypal or by check prior
to submitting pages
For all other manuscript pages – 50% of fee is payable prior to submitting
pages and the 50% balance is payable when Mary notifies you that she’s
completed the review of your pages. Upon receiving the final payment, she will
send the pages. If a phone consultation is included, she’ll discuss a mutually
agreeable time via email.
Are your pages ready for an agent or editor? If you hesitated to say “yes”
then you should get a professional opinion.
Mary Buckham is a national writing teacher, but more important – she’s a
professional author. The best advice you can get is from an author who
understands what it takes to get published. She’s also one of the two authors
who created the highly-successful Break Into Fiction® program taught
nationally. Mary works with both unpublished writers and published authors on
a limited basis as noted below.
Mary tells you what to expect from this service:
As both a fiction and nonfiction author, she is respectful and aware of the
effort we all put into our work. She believes in giving constructive feedback
that is grounded in examples from your own manuscript, with potential
suggestions of both craft issues and further resources for you to have options
if the work is not yet ready for submission. She makes a point of:
* explaining why a suggestion is made on your pages
* pointing out your strengths as well as areas you can improve
* looking at specific issues that impact fiction authors including pacing, conflict,
tension and character development [if applicable]
* focusing on plot development with specific suggestions on what is weak and
how to repair plot holes
Note - She will not do line edits or grammar though she can recommend
services for both.
PROCESS for submitting your pages:
Before submitting your work or paying any fees, email Mary at MaryBuckham.
com
Mary usually has several months of editing commitments and recommends
scheduling well in advance – the reason for why you must first send an initial
email. She will give you an estimated time for when to expect her analysis of
your pages. If you need something quickly, email her and she will a) let you
know if she can squeeze your work into her current schedule and b) tell you
what the additional rush cost will be. So if you have revisions to turn in or a
specific time frame for your completion date, please plan ahead accordingly.
Mary recommends a two-step process with either the first 5 or first 30 pages
reviewed before moving to the entire manuscript evaluation. The major
problems in most manuscripts are in the first chapters where set up is so
important. If you send a full manuscript with set up issues then Mary will likely
be marking the same mistakes repeatedly throughout your pages.
Once an agreement is made for consultation, follow these steps for submitting
work:
Submission of the agreed upon document is done so via email in either a
WORD or RTF format that Mary can download and edit on directly, as well as
address any specific questions or concerns you wish her to look at [within the
parameters of the service] in the body of an email.
*If you’d prefer to submit hard copy pages instead of electronically, note this in
your initial email to Mary so she can give you the mailing address. You must
include a return envelope with the correct postage in “stamps” (not metered)
and follow the same manuscript format guidelines.
If your manuscript does not follow these guidelines, it will be returned so you
can correct it:
* All manuscript pages double-spaced
* Courier, Courier New or Courier Dark font – in 12 point
* Margins are one inch all around
* Pages are to be numbered at top, right hand side
* For proposals, novels and synopses use a header that includes your title/last
name
* For query letters and one or two page synopses – single spaced with one-
inch borders, Courier, Arial or Times New Roman – in 12 point
Once Mary receives the manuscript pages and respective fee (listed below),
she’ll acknowledge receipt and begin work.
TURNAROUND TIME:
Standard time for evaluation of your query letter and up to 2 page synopsis is
three weeks unless otherwise agreed upon.
Standard time for evaluation of your partial manuscript is four weeks unless
otherwise agreed upon.
Standard time for evaluation of your full manuscript is six weeks unless
otherwise agreed upon.
Your pages will be returned via email. If you have a full manuscript reviewed
that comes with a phone consultation, the phone consultation must be
scheduled for a time no more than 2 weeks after return of full manuscript.
Mary respects your valuable time as a writer and trust that you will respect
hers. Please understand that once she returns your material and completes
any phone consultations your working arrangement is complete. She is always
happy to chat with writers at events and signings, but she can’t “take another
quick look” once you’ve revised your pages [unless, of course, you wish to
purchase another critique].
CONFIDENTIALITY:
She respects your confidentiality, either in written form or verbal discussion.
She never shares your work with others and will destroy any electronically-
submitted material you have sent to her two weeks after she has confirmation
that you have received and saved the pages.
LIMITS:
Mary is not an acquisition editor nor can she guarantee a sale of your material
though if she is aware of an editor/or agent who might be seeking what you are
writing she will share that information with you, if appropriate. She is not
responsible for unsolicited material and if pages show up without prior
arrangement they will be destroyed.
FEES:
All fees are noted in US dollars only
5 opening pages for $30 – Analyzed for Hooks in opening sentences, opening
paragraphs and at key points in the pages, ending hook, pacing, character
development
30 opening pages - $85– Analyzed for Opening Hooks, Pacing, Set-up. This is
a professional critical read-through and assessment of your manuscript’s
strengths andweaknesses
75 opening pages - $200 (Includes a 30 minute phone conversation if
scheduled within 2 weeks after return of pages.) This is the most critical part of
the story where the key introductory information is inserted, major hooks are
set, story questions are established and pacing must be strong.
Full manuscript up to 70,000 words - $350 (Includes a 30 minute phone
conversation if scheduled within 2 weeks after return of pages.) *If you had the
75 page partial of this manuscript analyzed within six months of submitting this
full manuscript deduct $75 from the $350 fee.
Full manuscript up to 100,000 words - $485 (Includes a 45 minute phone
conversation if scheduled within 2 weeks after return of pages.) *If you had the
75 page partial of this manuscript analyzed within six months of submitting this
full deduct $75 from the $485 fee.
Phone consultation [If after you’ve had 5 or 30 pages critiqued you would like
additional clarification email Mary to arrange a phone appointment] – 30
minutes for $35
(Available to USA and Canadian Clients Only)
Query letter: A query letter, consisting of a one-page cover letter (single
spaced) for $25
Synopsis: Short or long [up to 10 pages] – Mary will analyze your synopsis and
return her critique with a bonus set of templates you can use to repeat the
process on your own (one review of synopsis for fee) - for $75
Combination Query plus Synopsis (based on above stipulations): $90
Time sensitive material with specified deadline (must be arrange ahead of
time): add $30 for query/synopis/5-30 pages; for longer projects add $50 for
rush fee
Payment:
For 5 or 30 page analysis - Payment in full via either Paypal or by check prior
to submitting pages
For all other manuscript pages – 50% of fee is payable prior to submitting
pages and the 50% balance is payable when Mary notifies you that she’s
completed the review of your pages. Upon receiving the final payment, she will
send the pages. If a phone consultation is included, she’ll discuss a mutually
agreeable time via email.