Filter Testimonials
Valuable Manuscript Consultation Experience
My consultations with Manuscript Academy faculty have been SO valuable over the past month. I signed up for several, to get multiple opinions and a variety of input. My most recent consultation, this Monday, was with Jennifer Wills from the Seymour Agency. She had both general and very specific commentary on my query that really helped with the final stages of refining that elusive piece of the publishing puzzle. She was also easy to talk to and super supportive. I definitely recommend choosing Jennifer for a live consult!
Jayme Inman
March 24, 2025
Improved Query Meeting Success
My meeting with Ms. Bishop was excellent. It was my second meeting with her. For the first meeting, my query was terrible and she pointed that out and gave me suggestions. I did what she asked and in our second meeting she acknowledged that my second effort was much better. She gave me a few tweaks and answered all my questions like a professional.
Bill Denham
March 24, 2025
Exceptional Writing Critique
I highly recommend Linda. Iíve done several versions of critiques and edits on various platforms and Iíve found Linda to be the most engaging with great tips and wonderful insights into my writing and characters I didnít even realize. She was patient and went well past the allotted time. I actually felt bad as 10 minutes became 30 minutes.
I plan on having her critique my next WIP and if my manuscripts were on her MSWL, Iíd absolutely query her. I can tell sheís one of the most engaging people and deeply cares about her authors and friends.
Highly recommend her. Although I want to keep her a secret to myself, I know she can help advance your next steps for your WIP.
Wenjay Sung
March 24, 2025
Quick Fix for Manuscript Issues
I hired Caitlin for fifteen minutes to fix a problem after several agent rejections on the first ten pages. It was a problem I feared the pages had, but wasn’t sure how to fix them myself, and my beta-readers thought it all seemed fine. In just fifteen minutes, Caitlin was able to help me fix the problem, as well as fix a couple extra problems I hadn’t known about at all. I appreciated that it was not a session full of compliments–we got a lot done in that small amount of time. Money well spent. I believe it will probably save my future queries.
Darren McNaughton
March 24, 2025
Exceptional Consultations
I had consultations with both John and Molly Cusick and found them to be wonderful to work with. They’re friendly, smart, practical and very knowledgeable. Excellent resources and super pleasant people, too!
Jayme Inman
March 24, 2025
Like Gaining a Wise, Insightful Aunt
I had a written critique of my first ten pages done by Fiona Kenshole. It was amazing! Itís like having a critique done by your wise, funny, loving aunt (whom youíve never met) but who still always sends you the perfect thoughtful gift on Christmas and your birthday. But this aunt just so happens to be a professional literary agent who knows everything there is about publishing, writing, film and being kind, insightful and wonderfully genuine. Donít we all wish we could have a Fiona in the family. Well, now you can! Or, at least you can pretend to
Jonah Logan
March 24, 2025
Revitalizing Coaching
I had a 10-minute phone consult with John Cusick and I couldnít be happier. Talking to John was like being given a pep talk by your favorite coach growing up. That wily coach that knew how to bring out the very best in their players with kindness, compassion, wisdom and a sense of humour. That coach that still has their skin in the game (John is a successful writer) and still knows all the craftiest plays and sneaks. And he knows how to best wrap an injury (even if itís just your ego). That coach that has you play to your strengths but doesnít fail to point out your weaknesses. Get some critique coaching from John. You may not win … but at least youíll still enjoy playing the game.
Jonah Logan
March 24, 2025
Amazing
It was AMAZING! I was able to get redirected and encouraged to share more detail. We discussed character arcs and how things become relevant to readers in a query. I love her energy. This session will definitely make my query letter stronger.
Thalia Elie
February 24, 2023
Exceptional feedback
I am grateful for Samantha Wekstein’s insight. In ten minutes, she welcomed my questions first and then provided me the feedback she planned to share after reading my query. She let me know areas of the query that confused her, encouraged me to add more detail to the second paragraph about the book’s summary, invited me to add another paragraph for the story’s content to tell enough about the project, made a couple of minor edits, and told me to be specific about why I selected her that goes beyond “per your manuscript wish list” since she knows what’s on her wish list. I need to highlight in the first paragraph what it is about my book I think will interest her. My advice to other writers is to be certain you come with a list of your own questions, but not too many. Also, know that ten minutes is plenty of time to listen to the feedback to help inform the next revision. In hindsight, I regretted not recording the conversation on my handheld recorded. Writing the notes in the moment was messy; I spent the next thirty minutes rewriting my notes. Exceptional feedback and experience.
Danielle DeFauw
February 3, 2023
Very helpful
Melissa was very helpful. She pointed out which sentences were unclear and how to condense and change the order of some of it. I took her advice and sent out 8 new queries. Two days later I had a partial request from one of them!
Dee Garretson
February 3, 2023
Fantastic experience
Kayla was amazing. In 10 minutes she teased out my theme, structure and work needed to move my MS forward. Fantastic experience.
Judy Dercksen
February 3, 2023
Beyond my expectations!
I had a 10 min zoom meeting for my query letter with Molly Cusick. She was the most generous and kind person you can possibly ask for. I was at ease right away because of her friendly interaction. She gave me so many meaning full and practical feedback that I literary had two full page of note in just the 10 min. She allowed me to ask many questions, and responded very honest yet with care. I got so much out of this short session, and truly learned how to improve my query letter. Thank you Molly and M.Academy for this great opportunity. It went beyond my expectation!
Nadereh Fanaeian
February 3, 2023