Filter Testimonials
I loved the event!
I loved the event! It was my first time interacting with agents in a panel and was happy that two of my questions were answered. I ended up with a page of helpful notes, even though my query and first page were not chosen to be read.
Kayleigh Carpenter
October 9, 2020
It was extremely helpful and loads of fun.
A terrific learning experience. The team took the time to read the first lines of many of the participants and point out their strengths. So helpful to those of us struggling with the “hook!”
Sandra Dethlefsen
October 9, 2020
She offered feedback that will make my manuscript better.
I highly recommend a consultation with Alyssa! She asked questions to understand my manuscript and she offered feedback that will make my manuscript better. I also loved that her approach didn’t make the 10 minutes feel rushed.
Mandy Yokim
October 8, 2020
Really helped strengthen my query!
I had a super session with Stephanie Winter. My novel is dual perspective, and I’ve struggled trying to get both protagonists stories in the query. But Stephanie provided some great ideas and really helped strengthen my query!
Linda Simoni-Wastila
October 8, 2020
Unsurprisingly, she was awesome!
I won a Ten Minutes with an Expert chat from a Facebook live first pages event and was thrilled to find a coveted meeting with Jessica available in July. Unsurprisingly, she was awesome! She didn’t mind working through technical issues with me to ensure I had her comments in front of me as we chatted (even though she was running behind schedule and had already had a long day running a Manuscript Academy event), and provided excellent feedback that helped me understand the strengths and weaknesses in my query letter. Now as I rework my blurb, I have high hopes that the finished product will be a lot better thanks to her notes.
Sarah Adler
October 8, 2020
She also answered my questions concisely and honestly
Ms. McDonald was amazing. She had a lot of insight on my first page, not only because she gave me suggestions but also WHY she felt those suggestions were necessary in order to help build a stronger hook. She also answered my questions concisely and honestly, which I appreciated.
Heather Cardona
October 8, 2020
I feel well-positioned and excited to finally begin the query process.
I enjoyed a very instructive chat with Caitlin. She expressed enthusiasm in the project, and pointed out several ways I hadn’t thought of to strengthen my query and help it better express the scope of the work. I feel well-positioned and excited to finally begin the query process, and would definitely recommend Caitlin as a wonderful source of guidance.
Carolyn Swanson
October 8, 2020
I came away from our meeting eager to rethink not just the first ten pages but parts of the whole thing.
I enjoyed talking to Caitlyn. She was highly analytical and professional. Her reading was astute–she picked out inconsistencies and unclear spots in a piece of writing I have read at least 300 times. She helped me see the writing from the point of view of the reader, which is not always easy to do. She clearly really thought about the piece and packed in a lot in 15 minutes. I would of course love to work with her as I came away from our meeting eager to rethink not just the first ten pages but parts of the whole thing.
Elaine Ostry
October 8, 2020
Objective and experienced
The greatest value of spending 10 minutes on the phone with an agent and former editor, was that I could get feedback from someone who is objective and experienced. Whitney provided a few nuggets of advice that were helpful in rewriting my first sentence. She was encouraging and kind. She also helped me think more about comp titles and how to categorize my manuscript.
Lori Narlock
October 8, 2020
I’m excited to proceed forward with confidence with the querying process.
I really enjoyed my 1-on-1 critique session with Stephanie Winter. I feel my manuscript 1st page has been “turbo-charged.” In a mere ten minutes, Stephanie combined her erudite literary insight, knowledge of the publishing industry, and experience as avid reader and writer’s advocate, while always displaying a diplomatic balance of both praise and criticism, for her succinct and powerful recommendations to improve the first page of my manuscript. Now that I see the result, I’m excited to proceed forward with confidence with the querying process.
Dave Elliott
October 8, 2020
She knew what I needed to move my story along!
Samantha was wonderful! She was very positive, and knew exactly what I needed to move my story forward.
Kathi Most
October 8, 2020
I will definitely be doing one of these again
Alyssa was awesome to talk with. I knew as soon as I saw her name on the list that I wanted to talk with her. It was so easy to ask her questions and an amazing help to hear a quick answer rather than deliberating for months about a certain aspect of my project. I will most definitely be doing one of these again and will also be re-reaching back out to Alyssa! Thanks for this opportunity!
Rachel DiNunzio
October 6, 2020