Manuscript Critique

Kathryn Kysar—Poetry Critique

Open to: Poetry

Limit: Please check on projects more than 80 pages

What You’ll Submit: Collections of poems from 20 pages to full manuscript of 80 pages 

What You’ll Get: Kathryn Kysar will help you discover, clarify, and hone your poetry. You’ll receive detailed page-by-page manuscript 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 3–5 page letter that examines themes, organization, presentation, and cohesiveness. As well as feedback on individual poems, the full manuscript review will include suggestions on ordering/sequencing of poems and an hour-long phone/Skype/Facetime follow-up call after you have had a chance to review the feedback.

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. 

• $100 (base price) + $16.50/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 80 pages of poetry): 8 weeks