As of December 15, 2023, I am fully RETIRED from critiquing, editing, speaking, and writing. It's been a wonderful ride. THANK YOU all for your business, your trust, and your friendship. ~~ Marcia <3

I do critiques and/or line edits for MG and YA novels, query letters, and synopses. No picture books, easy readers, or nonfiction. 

My qualifications: 

--- 9 traditionally published books, including MG fiction and YA nonfiction, as well as hundreds of short pieces in local and national publications.

--- 16 years' experience teaching writing for The Institute of Children's Literature (ICL), working with students on fiction and nonfiction for all ages, including MG and YA novels and submission materials. Many of my students have gone on to become agented and published. 

--- 18 years' experience in freelance editing.

--- 2 years' experience copyediting for a small book publisher (adult NF).

--- I have served on SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) regional conference faculties, as speaker and critiquer, on a number of occasions.

--- I am a 2016 Pitch Wars participant.

Full Manuscript Critique: My most popular service! Critiquing addresses big-picture issues with minimal line edits. I recommend that you revise your first draft at least once, with the help of a critique group or beta readers if possible, before considering paying anyone for a critique.

You get: Generous marginal notes, an editorial letter of 5-7+ single-spaced pages, a free query letter pass, and opportunity to ask questions via one follow-up email. Optional: add the synopsis edit (described below) for half price ($30).

Fee: $15/1000 words.

Billing: Through PayPal. Payment due in full at time of booking, unless you schedule 4 or more weeks in advance, in which case you may choose to pay half at booking, with the second half due on the start date. 

Turnaround time: 2 weeks. 

To get in touch: contact me.

Line Edit: Line editing is intended for manuscripts that have already been developmentally edited (for big-picture issues such as character arc, structure, pacing, POV, world building, etc.). Line editing entails editing for word choice, phrasing, grammar, punctuation, consistency of style, and so forth. This option is excellent for those who need help with the mechanics before they begin querying, submitting, and definitely before self-publishing! 

You get: A generously marked-up manuscript that has been gone over line by line, an edit letter, a free query letter pass, and opportunity to ask questions via one follow-up email. Optional: add the synopsis edit (described below) for half price ($30).

Fee: $25/1000 words.

Billing: Through PayPal. Payment due in full at time of booking, unless you schedule 4 or more weeks in advance, in which case you may choose to pay half at booking, with the second half due on the start date.

Turnaround time: 3 weeks.

To get in touch: contact me.

Submission Package: Query letter, synopsis, and first chapter, including content, format, and line edits, 2 passes.

Fee: $120 

Billing: Through PayPal. Payment due in full at time of booking.

Turnaround time: 1 week.

Synopsis: 1-2 pages. Includes content, format, line edits, and 3 passes.

Fee: $60, but price drops to $30 if you include the synopsis with a Full Manuscript Critique or Line Edit.

Billing: Through PayPal. Payment due in full at time of booking.

Turnaround time: 1 week.

1st Chapter: Includes content, format, line edits, and 2 passes.

Fee: $50

Billing: Through PayPal. Payment due in full at time of booking.

Turnaround time: 1 week.

Query Letter: Includes content, format, line edits, and up to 3 passes.

Fee: $45

Billing: Through PayPal. Payment due in full at time of booking.

Turnaround time: 1 week.

Cancellation/Rescheduling: 

---If you cancel at least 3 weeks in advance, all monies paid for that job will be refunded in full.

---If you cancel less than 3 weeks in advance, you will receive a refund minus 20%.

---If you reschedule at least 3 weeks in advance, all monies paid for that job will apply to the newly scheduled dates.

---If you reschedule less than 3 weeks in advance, a 20% additional fee will be assessed.  

______________________

"I was so thankful for the feedback Marcia offered for my young adult novel. Her comments helped me add interest to an influential character that I never would have thought of on my own. I highly recommend Marcia's expertise. She is an extremely smart professional who can bring your manuscript to the next level!"

 -- Melissa Gorzelanczyk, author of Arrows (Delacorte)

"Think of a rare person you really trust for help--whether it be a doctor, coach, or car repairman. For writing, that person is Marcia." -- Constance Morgenstern, author of Waking Day (NorthWord) and One for Me, One for You (Roaring Brook)

"When your heart is on the page and you need a professional who will dig deeper and cut the flab without injuring your heart, trust Marcia. With great sensitivity and care, she critiqued my first complete (and what I thought was polished) novel. The revisions based on her thorough comments, questions, and copyedits made my manuscript ready for submission. Thank you, Marcia."  -- Vijaya Bodach, author of Ten Easter Eggs (Cartwheel/Scholastic), and Bound (Bodach Books)

"A good critique partner can tell you 'something's wrong here,' but Marcia has the ability to critique with an editor's intuition; rather than just pointing out what didn't work in my manuscript, she was able to pinpoint the exact moment when things went wrong and why. This helped tremendously as I moved forward in my revisions, and my new version went on to become a finalist in the 2013 Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children's Literature." -- Faith Hough, 2016 Pitch Wars MG Mentee, Tassy Walden Winner and 4-time Honoree

"Marcia Hoehne critiqued my manuscripts with an eye for the good and the bad. She was sensitive to the heart of this author, pointing out problems without causing pain. Marcia found the areas needing work that I couldn't find myself. I really like it when she points out good sections, too. Her positive critiquing helps me improve my stories and keeps me writing." -- Susan Manzke, author, columnist, and WWA Jade Ring Winner

"Marcia's critiques have been very helpful. Now when I write I always make sure I don't have 'talking heads.' She helped me recognize the value of having excellent settings." -- Sharon K. Mayhew

"When I wanted to learn if the first 1000 words of my novel would hook a reader, I sent it to Marcia Hoehne. I've found her critique to be clear, helpful and encouraging." -- Bish Denham

"I was thrilled to win one of Marcia's critique giveaways. Her thoughtful critique of the first 1,000 words of my YA novel contained encouragement as well as valuable insights and advice that I was then able to apply to the entire manuscript." -- Ruth Schiffmann

"Marcia provided me with a balanced critique of my middle-grade manuscript. She wrote a paragraph highlighting what was working with my novel, then several more paragraphs detailing ways I could strengthen character and plot. Not only did she write comments on the manuscript, but she added a full page of additional feedback, pointing out several plot/character inconsistencies that prior beta readers had missed. After one week of querying, I already have two full agent requests. No doubt, this is largely due to Marcia's keen editorial eye. I highly recommend Marcia and hope to continue working with her in the future!" -- Stefanie Wass, Pitch Wars Mentee, 3-time Mentor, author for numerous publications including 16 Chicken Soup for the Soul books

"Marcia has the ability to zero in on discrepancies and verbalize what works. I incorporated many of her suggestions into the manuscript she reviewed. It is currently out on submission. (Fingers crossed.)" -- Kim Van Sickler