for authors submitting their writing to agents
Submission packages
Are you thinking about submitting your writing to a literary agent? I can help with your submission material! I’m signed with an agent and published by Hodder, an imprint of Hachette, one of the largest publishing houses. It took me a long time to get there, so I know what a struggle it is to get your work noticed. I can help you strengthen your query letter, refine your opening chapters, and nail down your synopsis. Some of the authors I’ve worked with have gone on to sign contracts with literary agents for their writing and have been shortlisted for awards judged by professional agents. While nothing is guaranteed when it comes to success in the publishing industry, one thing we can control is the writing and how we present ourselves – and I’m here to help you put your best foot forward so you have the best chance possible.
Please note that I only offer these services for fiction.
Query letter editing
two editing rounds included
You’ll receive detailed feedback and edits on your query letter to make it more snappy and engaging. I’ll edit it using Track Changes to remove redundancy, repetition, and fix any errors in spelling and grammar, as well as suggesting changes to your author bio and any comp titles. Depending on how rough your query is, I may do some heavier rewriting and restructuring. If your query letter is too long or too short, examples for how to expand or scale back will be provided.
An example of a revised query letter will be included to give you a point of reference for revising. After you’ve made your own changes, I’ll do one more round of editing.
Email follow-up and a resource on where to find agents included.
Opening chapters
I will provide an in-depth assessment and comments on your opening chapters, up to 10,000 words. The focus will be on on helping you to make them as strong as possible, with a clear hook and an engaging start to your story to keep agents interested. I’ll provide around 5–10 pages of feedback on the different elements of your story, including the plot, characters, your target market/genre, and strengths and weaknesses in terms of craft. I’ll also annotate the manuscript with in-line comments.
Email follow-up and a resource on where to find agents included.
Premium package
The premium submission package covers your entire submission package all at once.
This services includes both the query letter editing service and the opening chapters service described above. I will also provide 1–3 pages of notes on a full synopsis, along with in-line comments.
Email follow-up and a resource on where to find agents included.
Literary agent research
Finding the right literary agent to send your work to can be time-consuming and overwhelming. This service is for writers who want a targeted list of agents without the stress of doing the research.
I will read your opening chapters (up to 10,000 words) and your query letter before carefully selecting 10–15 agents who are a good fit for your manuscript. You’ll receive a curated list including contact details, submission requirements, and why they’re a good match for your work.
Please note: This is a research service only. I do not critique your submission materials or submit your work to literary agents on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
can you write my query letter for me?
I only offer query letter editing. I do not write the query letter itself, so if you don’t have one, please do that before you get in touch with me. Writing pitches is something all authors have to do, even when they land an agent and a publisher! So it’s an important skill to learn. Even if it’s a rough query letter, we’ll have something to work with, and I can help you to shape and polish it.
Can you refer my project to your literary agent or publisher?
No, I don’t do referrals.
Can you guarantee i’ll get an agent for my writing afterwards?
This isn’t something anyone can guarantee. Unfortunately, finding an agent is very difficult and although I can help you make your submission package as strong as possible to give you a solid chance, so much of writing and publishing is subjective. Don’t give up if you don’t find an agent for your first manuscript – it often takes multiple attempts. It took me several years to finally sign with an agent, and another five to get a book deal!
still unsure?
What other writers are saying
Surpassed my expectations
Working with Rachel surpassed my expectations because of her thoroughness and attention to detail. Rachel finds the positives in your work and offers practical and constructive feedback that genuinely shapes your manuscript into something so much better. Her advice has helped, not only for this book, but it will undoubtedly feed into my future work. Her communication and professionalism is faultless. Deadlines were clear and upfront, making her incredibly easy to work with. I would not only recommend hiring Rachel, but would definitely look to work with her again.
