Poetry

The Poetry Editor
    

The Poetry Editor
charges a small fee per double-spaced page or project for:

Poetry critiques
($5 or less per page with $25 minimum)

Critiques of brief poetic devotionals(same fee as poems)

Writing consult
for children’s picture book ($35) or book proposal package of full-length fiction or nonfiction for any age group ($125)

Final edit
only on final revisions of poems, devotional writings, or picture book text for kids

Each of the above services includes:

Thorough readings

Professional response

Objective feedback

Consideration of your readers and markets

Practical suggestions

Helpful comments

Workable solutions

For more info on each service, click the related button on the left or at the bottom of the page.


.

Since 1983, The Poetry Editor has helped poets and writers to become their own best editors.

Similar to a poetry critique, a writing consultation evaluates the overall effectiveness of your children’s picture book text or the book proposal for your full-length novel or nonfiction book.

For a minimal fee, your one-on-one writing consult with The Poetry Editor includes:

• Careful, respectful readings of your work
   
• Helpful, honest, encouraging feedback
   
• Professional assessment of each area of strength or weakness
   
• Objective assessment of the general impression and marketability of your manuscript
   
• Practical suggestions and workable solutions to help you improve your work and make your manuscript more marketable and reader-friendly as you revise

Children’s Picture Book

For a writing consult on your children’s picture book manuscript:

1. Briefly state your title, word count (usually 2,000 words or less), your theme or purpose, age of your intended readers, and your publishing hopes or plans. For example, if you plan to self-publish, say so.
    
2. Type the text for your children’s picture book double-spaced in 12 or 14-point Times Roman or Arial on plain white paper with no artwork, colored ink, or fancy flourishes.
    
3. To save paper, use the page numbers between lines of word-text to show where one page ends and the next begins.
    
4. Beneath the text for each page, describe (but do not include) the pictures you envision. [Hint: Every page needs something that can be pictured to be a picture book.] 
    
5. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with enough postage for the return of your children’s picture book manuscript along with the helpful ideas and suggestions you’ll receive.
    
6. Package the above with your certified check, money order, or personal check of $35.00 in U. S. funds only to Mary Sayler.

Mail to:

Mary Sayler, P. O. Box 62, Lake Como, Florida 32157-0062.
 

Book Proposal

To save yourself countless hours of time and frustration, get a writing consult for your book proposal before you write or finish your full-length fiction or nonfiction book.

Your book proposal for a nonfiction book or novel will help you to keep your writing on track as you write, even if you only have time to write in snatches. You will also use this same info in the book proposal package you send to the editor of a traditional book publishing company.

1. Type a one to two-page cover sheet, single-spaced, for your book proposal. Include your name and contact information. State your expected word count, your theme or purpose, your intended readers, and your publishing hopes or plans. In about 150 words, include a Bio that briefly summarizes your training or experiences related to the book. If your book fills a particular need, tell why.
    
2. Type subsequent pages double-spaced in 10 or 12-point Times Roman or Arial on plain white paper without any flourishes, colored ink, or artwork.
    
3. For your novel, a book proposal needs a synopsis of about 1 to 10 pages summarizing your story in present tense as though it’s happening right now.
    
4. For your nonfiction book, the proposal needs an outline instead of a synopsis. To prepare your outline, list each chapter title (or chapter number) followed by a brief description or summary of what that particular chapter will most likely contain.
    
5. If you have already completed the book, include the first and last chapters. If the book is unfinished, send up to 25 double-spaced pages of the manuscript.
    
6. Optional: Include the business letter you plan to send to the editor of the traditional publishing company you have chosen for your book proposal.
    
7. Gather the above and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with enough postage for the return of your book proposal package. Enclose your certified check, money order, or personal check (which takes longer to process) for $125.00 in U.S. funds only, payable to Mary Sayler.

Mail to:

Mary Sayler, P. O. Box 62, Lake Como, Florida 32157-0062.
 

For a writing consultation of your book proposal or your children’s picture book text, expect your manuscript to go back in the mail in about 2 to 3 weeks. Mailing outside the U. S. may take a few more days to arrive, of course, but it’s worth the wait!

Why? Through the postal route, you will have a print copy of your manuscript with the editorial remarks, corrections, helpful comments, and suggestions handwritten directly in the margins or between the lines. This way you can see exactly what and where something needs changing, correcting, strengthening, or improving before you send your manuscript to a publisher.