Mary Carroll-Hackett: Poetry and Prose

I offer multiple consultation options. Choose the one best suited for your schedule and needs!

General Editing Services

Throughout the manuscript consultation and editing process, my goal is to help you craft work that supports and reflects your talents as a writer, as well as working together with you to help your work become what you hope it will be.

The process is rigorous and comprehensive, providing insight and detailed written feedback, ranging across genres: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Specialties include developmental and content editing, line-editing, copy editing, proofreading, and creativity prompts and exercises.

Having writing in which you have invested so much closely critiqued can be difficult. As a writer myself, I know that. But I also know how incredibly beneficial a good close read can be. I’ll do my best to bring both an honest detailed eye and a kind heart to the work we decide to do together.

Explore the pages for details, and let me know how I can help.

Let me bring my broad experience as a writer, educator, and editor to help make your beautiful work be the best it can possibly be.

Email me at carrollhackettma@gmail.com with any questions or to schedule a consultation.

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Full Weekend Retreat at The Porches: Face to Face Manuscript Consultation

No minimum length required! Let’s start where you are and see where your beautiful work will take us!

A three-day intensive one-on-one weekend totally focused on your manuscript at the beautiful and inspiring writers retreat The Porches in Norwood, Virginia. $750 includes in-depth line-edited full manuscript consultation, food and lodging for two nights at The Porches.

Details by genre for full critiques are listed below.

Poetry: The manuscript–free or formal verse, prose poems must be submitted to me electronically at least three weeks prior to our workshop, and I will have closely read and made editorial comments before we arrive. We will spend time discussing those suggested edits, as well as discussing elements of poetic craft, prompts and exercises for promoting creativity and revision. We will also work on new ways of seeing and finding poems.  Suggestions for further reading will be made based on the aesthetic demonstrated in the submitted manuscript. The weekend will conclude with a close-out of the weekend’s work, including suggestions on ordering, overall structure, submitting, marketing and promoting the manuscript. (No minimum but No More than 60 pages)

Fiction:  A manuscript–collection of short stories or novel must be submitted to me electronically at least three weeks prior to our workshop, and I will have closely read and made editorial comments before we arrive. We will spend time discussing those suggested edits, as well as discussing craft, characterization, structure, consistency, and other elements of well-made fiction as demonstrated by the submitted work. We will also work on language and new ways of understanding and crafting voice and storytelling. Suggestions for further reading will be made based on the aesthetic demonstrated in the submitted manuscript. The weekend will conclude with a close-out of the weekend’s work, including suggestions on ordering, overall structure, submitting, marketing and promoting the manuscript. (No minimum, but No More than 250 pages, unless we discuss otherwise)

Creative Nonfiction: A manuscript–collection of essays, personal narrative, memoir, travel writing, food writing, lyric, any nonfiction–must be submitted to me electronically at least three weeks prior to our workshop, and I will have closely read and made editorial comments before we arrive. We will spend time discussing those suggested edits, as well as discussing craft, characterization, structure, consistency, and other elements of well-made nonfiction as demonstrated by the submitted work. We will discuss research and reportage, and work on language and new ways of understanding and crafting voice and storytelling. Suggestions for further reading will be made based on the aesthetic demonstrated in the submitted manuscript. The weekend will conclude with a close-out of the weekend’s work, including suggestions on ordering, overall structure, submitting, marketing and promoting the manuscript. (No minimum, but No More than 250 pages, unless we discuss otherwise)

Distance One-on-One Manuscript Consultation Proposal

A Month By Mail, Focused Completely On Your Work!

Week 1: I receive and focus on a close reading of your manuscript.

Week 2: I will closely read a second time, this time making line by line editorial comments, returning the line-edited manuscript to you, and a detailed 6-8 page letter with initial response and suggestions by mail at the end of the first week. Upon your receipt of the manuscript, we’ll have an initial phone call (these usually last around 2 hours) to discuss those suggested edits, focusing that first week primarily on characterization, consistency, voice, the perceived goals of the narrative.

Week 3: I’ll compose a second detailed letter, this time focusing on structure and control of the narrative throughline, as well as any other elements I see presenting in the submitted work. This I’ll email to you by midweek, and again, we can schedule a phone meeting at week’s end to address this second editorial run through.

Week 4: I’ll ask that you send to me a list of your questions or comments early in the week, which I’ll address in writing, as well as sending you another detailed critique letter, focused on language and new ways of understanding and crafting voice and storytelling. We’ll finish with a third phone meeting to tie up any loose ends, address any remaining questions you might have on the critique provided.

So that’s Full Line Edits, Three Critique Letters, and Three Phone Meetings.

Contact me at carrollhackettma@gmail.com for a quote and scheduling.

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Partial Manuscript or Individual Poetry Consultation

Individual poem critiques will include line-editing, notes on language, imagery, movement, structure, tension, and clarity. Will include a detailed critique letter, 2 pages, single-spaced.

Manuscript critiques will address all of these areas, as well as considering the manuscript as a whole, ordering and structuring, rise and fall of tension throughout the read, and considerations of thematic concerns throughout the manuscript as a collection. Will include a detailed critique letter, 4-6 pages, single-spaced. 

One Read One Packet of 5-8 poems:$50

Chapbook of 20-25 pages: $200-$250

Book manuscript of 50-60 pages: $500

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Fiction/NonfictionConsultation

All individual fiction and nonfiction critiques will include line-editing, notes on language, craft, characterization, character weaknesses, backstory, structure, development of the story arc, loose plot threads/plot inconsistencies, narrative consistency, contradictions, tone, balance of scene versus summary, dialogue and dialogue tags, pacing, telling rather than showing, setting, description, tension, and clarity.

Fiction/Nonfiction Services include:

In-Depth Line-Edit Single Short Story or Essay Critique: up to 7500 words. Will include a detailed critique letter, 2-3 pages, single-spaced. $100

Partial Collection or Multiple Pieces: Manuscript critiques will address all of these areas, as well as considering the manuscript as a whole, ordering and structuring, rise and fall of tension throughout the read, and considerations of thematic concerns throughout the manuscript. Detailed critique letter, 4-6 pages, single spaced. $3.50 per page

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Excerpt Critiques

First 10 pages Critique-Will include a detailed critique letter, 2 pages, single-spaced. $50

First 50 pages Critique-Will include a detailed critique letter, 3-5 pages, single-spaced. $200

Partial Manuscript Critique (100-199 pages) Will include a detailed critique letter, 5-7 pages, single-spaced. $3.50 per page

Other Editing Services

Proofreading:

Proofreading identifies errors in the grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Proofreading is ideal for those who consider their polished, revised piece “ready” for publication, and it ensures the piece is grammatically error-free. Proofreading does not comment in any way on content.

$5 per page, 5 page minimum.

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Copy Editing:

will include notations about the following:

• Mechanical, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage errors
• Proper alignment and spacing of text
• Formatting: dates, headlines, numbers, and alphabetized, bulleted, and numbered lists.
• Sentence clarity and word choice
• Awkwardness of language, transitions, redundancies, and hyperbole
• Any biased language or stereotyping
• Any shifts in point of view, without a clear sense of who is telling the story
• Proper formatting of dialogue and success of speech tag constructions

Note: Copy editing will not include in-depth content, character, plot, or structural suggestions.

$10 per page, 10 page minimum

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OTHER SERVICES

One Time Grad School Application Review

A close reading and detailed line critique of your MFA application. The service and fee includes discussion notes on application instruction specifics, initial read and critique each of writing sample and personal statement and one follow-up revision.

$250

Grad School Application Process Coaching

One on one guidance through researching and selecting programs, gathering information for the application process, dissembling of the application for completion of the required elements, and development and revision of personal statement and writing sample. $50 per hour, 4 hour minimum.

College Application Essay Review

Close reading and detailed line critique of college application essay. The service and fee includes initial read and critique each of creative work sample and personal statement and one follow-up revision.

$125

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Questions on pricing? Contact me at carrollhackettma@gmail.com