One-on-One Manuscript Review & Developmental Editing with Pam Houston
Hi writers,
Given that we all find ourselves with more time on our hands than we ever imagined, I have decided to make myself available to read and critique manuscripts (novel, short story collection, memoir, personal essay collection OR individual essays or stories). I have done this all of my adult life, in graduate programs at the University of California Davis and At The Institute of American Indian Arts, at workshops and residencies around the country and around the world and in the organization I cofounded, Writing By Writers, and over the years with a few private clients. I still encourage you to come and see us (assuming that one day we will be able to see each other again) at Writing By Writers Bootcamp or one of our other offerings. But that time and venue does not work for everyone, so if you have a manuscript you would like read I am available now and for the foreseeable future.
When I approach a student manuscript, my goal is to be always reading two stories at once: the story that is on the page, and the story that the writer is trying to get onto the page--I hope to see, structurally, metaphorically, emotionally and stylistically a story’s most ambitious intent. My hope is that in that process, the writer feels understood and responded to specifically; I am not a fan of the one-size fits all critique. When I return work to the student it will have marks on it throughout, as well as a page or two or three of notes at the end, depending on how global the revision I am suggesting. When I am finished reading the manuscript we can schedule a zoom or Skype or phone session to go over my thoughts.
If you are interested, please email me below. I will ask you for a synopsis, and if it is a longer work, I will ask you for a sample of ten or more pages. This will allow me to see if I think I can be the best reader for you. If I do not feel that way it will be better for the manuscript if you find a different reader. At that point we will talk about fees. I charge by the hour, but only after I have seen the manuscript can I make a guess about how many hours it will take me.