Manuscript Critiques

This year Write! Canada is continuing its popular manuscript critique service. If you are keen to discuss a book or article proposal with a specific faculty member, requesting a manuscript critique is one of the best ways to obtain one-on-one time. You will receive written comments and a 15-minute appointment with the faculty member. This service is a bonus feature that is only available to conference registrants.

The reviewer will work with you on improving the quality of the writing, looking at aspects such as structure, flow, gaps in logic or information, description, characterization, dialogue, etc. (depending, of course, on whether the manuscript is fiction or nonfiction).

If the reviewer is an editor or publisher, he or she will also provide feedback as to whether or not the work would suit his/her needs. If the reviewer is a freelance writer/editor, he or she will try to suggest what markets might be suitable and how to submit your work.

Deadline

Manuscripts must be received no later than May 23, 2008 (earlier submissions are appreciated).

Eligible material

Articles up to 3,000 words
Short stories up to 3,000 words
Dramatic pieces with a 10- to 15-minute production time
Poetry up to 75 lines
The first chapter of a book, up to 3,000 words
Documentaries, up to 3,000 words or proposals up to 2 hours in length

You may request up to four separate critiques. You may submit the same manuscript to four different faculty members to get a variety of feedback, or you may submit four different manuscripts. Each entry should include:

Two copies of the completed critique submission form (one electronic copy e-mailed with the manuscript, one hard copy mailed with the cheque)
One electronic copy of your correctly formatted manuscript
A cheque to cover the fee of C$42.00 ($40 plus $2.00 GST) per critique.

Specifying a faculty member to critique

You may submit a manuscript without specifying a faculty member, and the manuscript critique coordinator, Jayne Self, will assign you to an appropriate person.

If you wish to direct your manuscript to a specific person, study the biographies of faculty members on this site.

Look up the publisher's or publication's Web site to get a sense of what kind of material they use. Read the writers' guidelines and review some past issues, if available. We will do our best to match you with you the faculty member you requested, but we cannot guarantee it. The coordinator will make the final decision, based on the faculty member's availability, the piece's genre, the writing quality, etc.

STEP 1: Format your manuscript(s) correctly
Your manuscript must be typed, double-spaced, one-inch margins on all sides, pages numbered sequentially. Use 12-point Times Roman font. Your name and address, plus the title of the submission, should be included in a header at the top of each page.

STEP 2: Fill out the manuscript critique submission form(s)
The manuscript critique submission form is available as a PDF (to fill out as a hard copy) or as an MS Word file. We prefer receiving both the manuscript and the submission form electronically, if possible. You need to fill in one form for each critique.

Note: If you key in your answers on the MS Word form, please use bold or a different font so your answers are easy to see.

STEP 3: Send your manuscript(s) and submission form(s)
Most faculty members prefer to receive manuscripts electronically. Therefore, please send your manuscript critique submission form AND your manuscript as Microsoft Word attachments to ismail:je_self%hotmail.com. Write "Manuscript Critique" in the subject line and include a covering e-mail note explaining what is in your attachment.

Exception: If you do not have Internet access, mail your hard copy manuscript along with your hard copy manuscript submission form by Canada Post so that it is received no later than May 23 to Jayne Self, 2 York Street, Orangeville, ON L9W 1L6. Please do not send cheques to Jayne Self.

STEP 4: Pay for your manuscript critique(s).
Make your cheque payable to The Word Guild. The fee is C$42.00 ($40 plus $2.00 GST) per manuscript. In the memo section of your cheque, write "Manuscript Critique."

Mail your cheque along with a hard copy of your manuscript critique submission form(s) to:

Manuscript Critiques
The Word Guild
Attention Jane Twohey
PO Box 34
Port Perry ON L9L 1A2.

If you have any questions, contact Jayne at 519-942-2896 or email ISmail:je_self%hotmail.com.