“Like an old Brenda Lee 45, we spin on our backs for five seconds — looking back, that’s all it seems, doesn’t it — and then— poof! We’ve grown up. But it was a glorious five seconds while it lasted — glorious and funny and excruciating and fascinating and significant. Worth remembering. Worth paying attention to. Worth writing about. Worth reading about. ”
(Jerry Spinelli)
So, you have written a book for teenagers. Hurrah! Firstly, may I commend you for choosing to write in the most dynamic, compelling and creative sector of the publishing industry today (in my humble opinion). Secondly, well done on writing a book. Full stop. It's a huge achievement and one most people never attain in their lifetime.
You might be thinking the hard work is done now. And much of it is. By all means have a champagne, or some cake, or a well-deserved happy dance. But then start planning your next move. Because a manuscript is never completed at its first draft.
The first draft is a blurt, a babble, a spilling of the contents of your mind and heart on to the page. It's never a finished product. So please don't run to your local post office with a fat parcel of pages just yet. You're doing yourself a disservice and possibly harming your chances at publication, of this and subsequent novels. Your work has taken you a considerable amount of time already. It deserves to have just a bit more time spent on it, to make it great. The publishing industry is highly competitive. Your work needs to be outstanding to be rescued from that slush pile, or win that literary prize.
So what now?
Especially in the beginning, it pays to ask for help. Every novel should go through a critiquing process. By all means, ask your friends and family to read it but, for an objective view, it needs to be read by a stranger, preferably one with experience in the industry.
Kate Gordon is the author of three novels for young people, published by respected and successful publishing houses. She has experience in manuscript assessments and editing and has worked extensively with teenagers and young people. She holds a postgraduate qualification in literary studies, majoring in writing for young people and is in demand as a speaker at educational conferences. She is available to read your manuscript and give you advice to transform it from a blurt into a professional manuscript.
If your question is not answered below, please contact Kate directly.
How much does it cost?
YA Fiction Up to 50,000 words.....$250.00
YA Fiction Up to 80,000 words.....$280.00
YA Fiction Up to 90,000 words.....$320.00
YA Fiction Up to 100,000 words...$360.00
What do I get?
Kate will critique picture book manuscripts under 100,000 words.
If possible, try to edit your own work to less than this as the average YA novel is between 40,000 and 80,000 words. Books in the speculative fiction genre may be up to 100,000 words, but it's still about quality, not quantity. Pretend you have to pay one dollar per word you send to a publisher!
Check your spelling thoroughly and your punctuation.
A YA novel is broadly considered as being a work for readers aged 12-18.
DO NOT SEND SHORT STORIES, PICTURE BOOKS, GENERAL FICTION OR NOVELS FOR CHILDREN. PLEASE DO NOT SEND POETRY, ALTHOUGH KATE IS HAPPY TO READ VERSE NOVELS.
Kate will critique your work and send you a copy with notes and suggestions for editing and consideration. She will be available via email to answer any questions you might have following the critique.
How can I send you my work?
You need to email your work to Kate. Please do not mail hard copies. They are easily lost or damaged.
How long will it take?
Kate will endeavour to attend to your manuscript as soon as possible. The time frame will depend on how many manuscripts she has ahead of yours. It should not take longer than twelve weeks – in busy times – but will usually be less than this.
Will you recommend me to a publisher?
Sorry, no. This service is for critiquing and not for assessments. There are agencies that deal with assessments and recommendations. That is a more costly process and still does not guarantee publication. Many publishers are happy to accept unsolicited work and, more and more, publishers are setting up writing competitions and specific “unsolicited submission” days in order to find new and exciting works. Kate is happy to chat to you about these opportunities!
How do I pay?
Kate will send you her direct debit and payment process details when you send her your manuscript. She will require a $100 deposit up-front, with the remainder to be paid on completion of the critique. Once you have paid the deposit she will get to work on your manuscript. While you wait, enjoy a well-deserved break … or start another story!
You might be thinking the hard work is done now. And much of it is. By all means have a champagne, or some cake, or a well-deserved happy dance. But then start planning your next move. Because a manuscript is never completed at its first draft.
The first draft is a blurt, a babble, a spilling of the contents of your mind and heart on to the page. It's never a finished product. So please don't run to your local post office with a fat parcel of pages just yet. You're doing yourself a disservice and possibly harming your chances at publication, of this and subsequent novels. Your work has taken you a considerable amount of time already. It deserves to have just a bit more time spent on it, to make it great. The publishing industry is highly competitive. Your work needs to be outstanding to be rescued from that slush pile, or win that literary prize.
So what now?
Especially in the beginning, it pays to ask for help. Every novel should go through a critiquing process. By all means, ask your friends and family to read it but, for an objective view, it needs to be read by a stranger, preferably one with experience in the industry.
Kate Gordon is the author of three novels for young people, published by respected and successful publishing houses. She has experience in manuscript assessments and editing and has worked extensively with teenagers and young people. She holds a postgraduate qualification in literary studies, majoring in writing for young people and is in demand as a speaker at educational conferences. She is available to read your manuscript and give you advice to transform it from a blurt into a professional manuscript.
If your question is not answered below, please contact Kate directly.
How much does it cost?
YA Fiction Up to 50,000 words.....$250.00
YA Fiction Up to 80,000 words.....$280.00
YA Fiction Up to 90,000 words.....$320.00
YA Fiction Up to 100,000 words...$360.00
What do I get?
Kate will critique picture book manuscripts under 100,000 words.
If possible, try to edit your own work to less than this as the average YA novel is between 40,000 and 80,000 words. Books in the speculative fiction genre may be up to 100,000 words, but it's still about quality, not quantity. Pretend you have to pay one dollar per word you send to a publisher!
Check your spelling thoroughly and your punctuation.
A YA novel is broadly considered as being a work for readers aged 12-18.
DO NOT SEND SHORT STORIES, PICTURE BOOKS, GENERAL FICTION OR NOVELS FOR CHILDREN. PLEASE DO NOT SEND POETRY, ALTHOUGH KATE IS HAPPY TO READ VERSE NOVELS.
Kate will critique your work and send you a copy with notes and suggestions for editing and consideration. She will be available via email to answer any questions you might have following the critique.
How can I send you my work?
You need to email your work to Kate. Please do not mail hard copies. They are easily lost or damaged.
How long will it take?
Kate will endeavour to attend to your manuscript as soon as possible. The time frame will depend on how many manuscripts she has ahead of yours. It should not take longer than twelve weeks – in busy times – but will usually be less than this.
Will you recommend me to a publisher?
Sorry, no. This service is for critiquing and not for assessments. There are agencies that deal with assessments and recommendations. That is a more costly process and still does not guarantee publication. Many publishers are happy to accept unsolicited work and, more and more, publishers are setting up writing competitions and specific “unsolicited submission” days in order to find new and exciting works. Kate is happy to chat to you about these opportunities!
How do I pay?
Kate will send you her direct debit and payment process details when you send her your manuscript. She will require a $100 deposit up-front, with the remainder to be paid on completion of the critique. Once you have paid the deposit she will get to work on your manuscript. While you wait, enjoy a well-deserved break … or start another story!
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