NOVEL MANUSCRIPT CONSULTATIONS

Flat Fee: $2,500.00

Hey, I’m Mac and I’m thrilled at the prospect of potentially working with you. My manuscript consultation prioritizes compassion, empowerment, inclusivity, radical empathy, and collaboration, with an eye toward helping your book become the best possible version of itself through a detailed and deep understanding of the craft of fiction. What’s included:

  • A one-hour intro phone call to understand a bit about your manuscript, your needs, your goals, and what you are struggling with. I also want to hear about how this project came to be, what inspired you, and what you’re passionate about.

  • An extensive editorial letter beginning with the manuscript’s summary and strengths, followed by dedicated sections on:

    • Characterization

    • Character relationships

    • Story arc/narrative structure

    • Pacing/timeline

    • Character psychology/motivations

    • Voice

    • Language and dialogue

    • World-building

    • Anything else that a) you want to address or b) that comes to my attention while reading. (such as interiority, stakes, internal vs. external story, reader investment, tone, beginnings and endings, etc.)

    • The editorial letter will conclude with suggestions and ideas for how the overall manuscript might be improved. I will also include a list of questions that can help jumpstart brainstorming and revision and a list of themes I’m picking up on.

  • A one-hour follow-up phone call after you have processed the editorial letter, have any questions and/or would like to discuss your revision plan. During this call, I can also answer questions about the querying and publishing process to the best of my knowledge.

  • I will also include notes throughout the manuscript but not line edits.

  • All genres of fiction are welcome, including and especially speculative fiction.

  • Please email me (marisacrane12@gmail.com) the first 20 pages of your novel to see if we are a good fit.

  • Max word count: 100,000 words.

  • Sliding scale and payment plans are available for those with financial need. Please contact me so we can create a financial plan that feels manageable for you.

Testimonials

  • Mac came to my project when I was at a crossroads, unsure what the work needed and unsure if the world needed the work. When we spoke on the phone, I felt listened to in a way I never had before. They asked me the questions I needed to be asked and approached every line with a level of loving curiosity that brought the work back to life. Mac's wisdom, thoughtfulness, and generosity as an editor drove me to be a better writer. I can't think of a greater gift than that.

    Gen Greer

  • Mac sees right into the soul of my writing. Working with them is an intimate experience that required me to use my heart as much as my intellect. They understand the why and what of my novel with the heart of a friend and advocate, but has surgeon's precision. Hiring Mac is like having a friend fanboy over your writing with you, to make it the best, weirdest, most vulnerable and poetic version of itself. Everything I write is better when Mac reads it.

    Ellen O'Connell Whittett

  • I gave Mac a draft of my novel when it was in desperate need of a fresh pair of eyes. Not only did they help me smooth out some inconsistencies in plot and character motivation, but they showered it with the love it so sorely needed at that point. Mac is such a careful and compassionate reader, in tune with exactly what a book needs. They will push you to make your manuscript the best it can be, and I promise you'll be as grateful as I was. The perfect reader if you're looking for a hard taskmaster and a cheerleader rolled into one!

    Erin Swan

  • Mac has a true gift for seeing the heart of a project. They’re a close reader with a remarkable ability to give you actionable (not prescriptive!) notes that guide the manuscript into the best, most truthful writing it can be. Their encouragement gave me the push I needed to delve deeper into the vulnerable, emotional wreckage of my idea and put it on the page. My novel, and how I consider the work of writing, are better for having Mac’s editorial eye. Yours will be, too!

    Miranda Sanchez