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Incredibly astute in his observations of a new author’s work, Patrick Miller advised me to concentrate on a single story line, as opposed to the four in my original manuscript. Following his lead, my story began to flow as it never had before. Taking the time to motivate a new author, he also kept me on track. His responses were prompt, his editing excellent. I will be consulting him again very soon, for the second book in the LILITH A. WILITH series for children. Patrick ‘saw’ the series right from the start. — Susan Krauser, author of Lilith A. Wilith (Lilith & Co., 2002)

 

 

ARE YOU wondering if your book project has what it takes to get published? Have you been turned down by too many agents or publishers without getting a clue about what you could do to improve your chances? Do you wish you could have the input of a literary professional with little cost — and without waiting for months?

The Fearless FAST ASSESSMENT Service is designed to address these needs. For $900 you will receive an informed assessment of your book project, and in most cases you will get it within two weeks of submission. (We will let you know if the assessment will be delayed because of a scheduling backlog.) The sample you submit will be read by Fearless Literary founder D. Patrick Miller, a working author and veteran editor who regularly consults with literary agents, and can provide agent or publisher referrals when appropriate. You’ll receive both literary and marketing advice, as well as specific direction on the most sensible “next step” for your writing project.

The FAST ASSESSMENT is based on the same principles that D. Patrick Miller has used for years in writing scores of full literary critiques for authors, agents, and publishers — a service currently priced at $1800. Full literary critiques offer a detailed assessment of completed manuscripts. The FAST ASSESSMENT gives you a quick response to a fiction sample or nonfiction proposal — exactly the same material you would initially submit to a literary agent or publisher.

Here is what you need to send for your FAST ASSESSMENT:

For the fastest turnaround, all these materials should be submitted in a single text or Word file and e-mailed to Assessments@fearlessbooks.com. Alternatively, you may send a hard copy to:

FEARLESS BOOKS
Fast Assessments
2104 California Street
Berkeley CA 94703

PLEASE NOTE THAT RESERVATIONS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN FOR ASSESSMENTS & CRITIQUES. If you would like to reserve a start date for the next available Fast Assessment or Critique, write Critiques@fearlessbooks.com and we will get back to you with the current schedule and reservation information.

SOME
FAST ASSESSMENT
FAQS  

How can my book manuscript be assessed on the basis of a 50-page sample?
The fact is that agents generally make their first assessment of a writer’s work based on far less than 50 pages. Often they get no further than a cover letter before deciding to turn down a project. Both the virtues and problems of anyone’s writing style will be adequately revealed in a 50-page sample. Please note that the sample should be either one continuous section of the manuscript or two sections of approximately equal length.

Why must I submit a cover letter?
Because it is a more important selling tool than your manuscript when you are making the first approach to agents or publishers. Send the same cover letter that you would submit to an agent or publishing house, describing your project and yourself as concisely as possible. (For more hints, see the Fearless “How to Get Published” page.) Don’t be surprised if your FAST ASSESSMENT has just as much to say about your letter as your writing sample. Often the cover letter is the “weak link” in a writer’s presentation when he or she has been concentrating on the manuscript. Busy agents and editors often turn down projects on the basis of unimpressive cover letters!

What’s the purpose of the synopsis or summary?
The synopsis (plot summary) for fiction, or the summary (or table of contents) for nonfiction shows how well you understand your own writing project, and how well it has been plotted or organized. With a writing sample and synopsis or summary, it’s easy to grasp the readiness of the project as a whole without spending much more time (and thus more of your money) examining an entire manuscript.

Can I send in poetry for a FAST ASSESSMENT?
Yes, and the price is only $500 — with no cover letter or synopsis/summary required. For close analysis of poetic style and structure, the maximum submission is five poems, totalling 200 lines or less. You may also submit a collection, in which case the assessment will provide a general overview of the work, including market recommendations, if any.

What is the difference between a FAST ASSESSMENT and a full literary critique?
A literary critique analyzes a full manuscript, and may be useful when you are polishing a project before it is submitted, or troubleshooting a manuscript that has been turned down before. A critique will focus on both literary and marketing aspects; a Fast Assessment chiefly helps you improve the presentation of your idea.

How does the FAST ASSESSMENT differ from other critique services?
Your FAST ASSESSMENT will be written by a widely-published author and editor who has experience in both mainstream and independent publishing, as well as many current contacts with agents and publishers. With more than a decade of experience in assessing hundreds of writing projects at all levels of sophistication, D. Patrick Miller has refined the skills necessary to assess writing projects quickly and helpfully. His knowledge is neither academic nor once-removed from the contemporary challenges of writing and publishing.

More questions? Send them on before submitting your material and payment for a FAST ASSESSMENT.

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