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Jessica was HUGELY helpful in working through my query and first ten pages. She was able to share clear insights into what was working and what could be strengthened in my query from an agent’s perspective. I so deeply appreciate her actionable advice and kind communication. I took notes on everything she said — and the day after our call, I submitted my revamped query package to a new round of agents. I received a submission request for my full manuscript within two hours! Great experience and, fingers crossed, great results already. Thanks, Jessica!
Sarah Goehrke
April 20, 2025
Anjennette was helpful in two things: 1) She did not have either negative comments nor corrections to my query letter, so that was a confidence booster. 2) She confirmed that my “auto-fiction” work reads like a novel and not autobiography, which is what I was looking for.
However, she did say two things that bothered me. 1) she seemed concerned that the first few pages of my first chapter were “too slow.” It is the first time I have heard that comment (I have had several readers), but coming from an agent it make me wonder if agents are thinking that readers do not have the patience to build a story but want to get right to the sound bites. Is there no longer a market for literature? (2) As to my title: JOHN CHRISTIAN: Warrior-Shaman, she seemed to say that the word “shaman” was too provocative and would not be received well by the reading public and, therefore, by publishers.
Basically, she seemed to indicate that both my query letter and the quality of my writing are good, but that my style and the subject matter that I have chosen to write about is problematic for the agents’ perceptions of the general reading publics collective tastes and cultural and scholastic literacy. I have read some pretty dumbed down stuff in both fiction and nonfiction, and if that is what agents are really looking for, I am not encouraged about the possibility of finding an agent for my book. Nonetheless, your own list of 72 agents possibly interested in my hybrid genre of auto-fiction/magical realism gives me a starting point to continue with queries in seeking publication.
I do not know Anjanette, so I can only take her as representative of the agenting profession in general. I did not receive much encouragement for the uniqueness of my work and, in fact, was left with the impression that agents are not really looking for unique and original works, even when they say that they are (that, of course, goes back on the mainstream publishers). Reading between the lines, my interview with Ms Barr gave me a lot of information about literary agents and the profession of representing writers. I guess the fact that it is not what I wanted to hear is probably irrelevant, unless I want to change my style and subject matter to something more generic and dumbed-down.
Robert Mitchell
April 20, 2025
Jessica was thorough, thoughtful and efficient with my 10 page, 15min consultation. I would definitely recommend her!
Felix Barber
April 20, 2025
I enjoyed my meeting with Vanessa and found her feedback on my query and first ten pages to be really insightful and encouraging. I’ve been workshopping my query and first chapters for quite some time and it was wonderful to hear that aside from a few tweaks (adding a few sentences with details for the reader) she thought the idea was fresh, the query well done, and the writing strong. This confirmed to me that this story is ready, unique, and marketable, and now I can wait with more confidence for the agent who will feel that special spark.
Michelle Sanchez
April 20, 2025
I’ve paid for services like this in the past, but always felt disappointed in the end. This time, we were able to discuss what the main issue was, and at least in the opinion of one agent, it wasn’t my writing. It was my query letter and perhaps my approach to agenting. So at least I can walk away and hone in on this point. So in this sense, I would recommend people check the services from Manuscript Academy out. Definitely helped me feel less crazy and deflated.
Colin Culbreth
April 20, 2025
My meeting with Alice went well. She is kind, encouraging, gives positive feedback on both my errors and what I’m doing well. I was also able to discuss a revision of chapters. Afterwards, I felt motivated to rewrite my query and revise my manuscript. Alice Speilburg is a 10 out of 10 in my book.
Carol Dean
April 20, 2025
I always go to Manuscript Academy when I’ve done all I can on my own and want guaranteed expert help. Agents and editors are the trusted ones out in the cutthroat industry everyday so understanding their perspective is priceless. With my synopsis critique, Renee gave me insight that pointed me in the right direction not only for this activity but also for my manuscript in general. I had been struggling with confidence about if all the scenes / characters in my story really needed to be there, and her feedback addressed this without her knowing! Renee is patient and clear and a fantastic resource for any writer hoping to sharpen not only their writing skills but also their overall approach to the classic, three-act story structure. Look at her website for additional tools and services!
Susana Kuehne
April 20, 2025
ReneeÃs expertise was invaluable in shaping my query letter for agents. Her feedback was precise, insightful, and encouraging, showing me where to enhance emotional impact and sharpen the pitch. Her guidance brought out the best in my query, leaving me confident and ready to approach agents. She went above and beyond expectations. Highly recommended!
Rand Briggs
April 20, 2025
Ismita’s written critique and live consultation were professional, succinct, and insightful. Literary novels aren’t easy to pitch because there’s no blueprint for them. Ismita, as an agent who prominently represents literary fiction, clearly understands this. I’d recommend a consultation with her to anyone brave (or crazy) enough to shop a debut literary novel in the current marketplace!
Edward Huddleston
April 20, 2025
Carina jumped right in and covered a lot of ground in our meeting. It was clear that she had prepared notes on my pitch letter and pages in advance. She showed me specific lines that she liked as well as ones with room for improvement and commented on the overall voice, pacing, and scene structure. Overall she was knowledgeable and encouraging.
Grace Harrington
April 20, 2025
I had the pleasure of working with Molly Cusick on my query letter and I couldn’t be more grateful for her expertise. Molly’s keen eye for detail and insightful feedback transformed my letter into a polished and compelling representation of my work. She not only helped me convey my ideas more effectively but also boosted my confidence in the submission process. I highly recommend her services to anyone looking to elevate their writing!
Mother Moon
April 20, 2025
Caitlin was incredibly insightful with her comments about the first 30 pages of my WIP. It was clear that she had carefully read the pages and had taken detailed notes. She read back several passages from my manuscript that she used to illustrate how I could make my writing more impactful. Her feedback was not only constructive, but she delivered it with kindness. She gave me several amazing ideas to make my worldbuilding stronger. I would highly recommend booking a consultation with Caitlin.
Sylvia Westphal
April 20, 2025