Manuscript Critique

Kathryn Kysar—Poetry Critique

Open to: Poetry

Limit: Please check on projects more than 100 pages

What You’ll Submit: Collections of poems from 20 pages to full manuscript of 100 pages 

What You’ll Get: Kathryn Kysar will help you polish, clarify, and hone your poetry manuscript. You’ll receive detailed page-by-page comments and a thoughtful letter that examines the larger concerns, issues, and themes in your manuscript. Kathryn can also present marketing, publication, and promotional ideas to help launch your writing into the world.

For shorter manuscripts, you’ll receive a 1–2 page assessment letter and a manuscript annotated with Microsoft Word’s Track Changes tool for notes about grammar, spelling, sentence structure and style, punctuation, and word choice. Kathryn’s in-depth comments will explore the scope and vision of the manuscript and detailed craft issues, such as line breaks, use of sound and image, and stanzas and structure. Longer manuscript evaluations will include a 3–4 page letter that examines themes, organization, presentation, and cohesiveness. As well as feedback on individual poems, the full manuscript review can include suggestions on ordering/sequencing of poems. The process will culminate in an hour-long phone or Zoom meeting after you have had a chance to review the feedback. (Two half hour meetings before and after the critique is possible as well.)

Testimonial: “Kathryn brought detailed knowledge of the publishing process and the expectations of editors to her critique. She was insightful in her evaluation and provided clear direction. Together, we created a working manuscript that is organized and thematically tight.” —Laura Hansen, poet

Pricing:

Loft poetry critique consists of a flat base price, plus a per page fee. You can enter your page count below and the system will calculate your price. 

• $200 (base price) + $17/page

Turnaround:

• Up to 20 pages of poetry: 2 weeks
• Up to 40 pages of poetry: 4 weeks
• Up to 60 pages of poetry: 6 weeks
• Full manuscript (up to 100 pages of poetry): 8 weeks