Individual Feedback Services

Manuscript Feedback

Have a manuscript you want another pair of eyes on? Meg reviews poetry full-length and chapbook manuscripts, as well as novels. Her feedback may include recommendations of places to send the work to upon completion.

Rate: $10 a page (standard manuscript format: one poem per page, prose: double spaced, 12 pt font)

Individual Poems, Cover Letters and Query letters

Meg will provide thorough feedback on your poems and even cover and query letters for submissions to magazines and presses. 

Rate: $10 a page (standard manuscript format: one poem per page, prose: double spaced, 12 pt font)

Discounts available for longer manuscripts

Mentorship

Want more than just a one-time read on your manuscript? Check out my current mentorship program offerings! Below you can find more info on my following offerings:

• Finish your Kidlit Novel!: One-on-One 6-Month Novel Mentorship Program

• Poetry 6-Month Mentorship Program

• Other Mentorship Programs List

• Custom Mentorship Program (email Meg for more info!)

Finish your Kidlit Novel!: One-on-One 6-Month Novel Mentorship Program ($4495)

This is an immersive one-on-one course designed to encourage hardworking kidlit writers, and identify the next steps for their individual project (writing, revision, querying agents, publication, etc).  

The ideal applicant should be a writer seriously interested in writing middle grade or young adult novels, who has started or completed a manuscript in their given age category. They should be willing and interested in actively reading books in their age category that have been published within the past five years, and have a spirit of willingness to receive and consider feedback to make their work as strong as it can be. While applicants of all experience levels are welcome, this program is best for writers who have been submitting their work to agents and publishers and received positive feedback, but are not sure how to take their work to the next level, or writers who have completed projects in the past but feel stuck or unsure about their new project. Applicants should have a goal for the 6-Month program when applying.  

Whether you are still working on your idea or are well into writing it, this mentorship will meet you where you are, and motivate and inspire both beginning and advanced kidlit novelists. Writers accepted into the program will already have a basic knowledge of the tools and craft of writing fiction and are looking for an intensive experience without the cost of a graduate program. Interested applicants will understand that growth in craft requires critique, consistent work, and an eagerness to grow. Accepted applicants will agree to be punctual in submission of work. This is in fairness to Meg, the other students in the course, and themselves.

How It Works:

-Upon acceptance into the mentorship program, you will schedule an initial one-on-one call with Meg to discuss your project and goals, allowing Meg to get a sense of your previous experience and preferences around feedback. Together, you’ll create a work plan for the next six months. This is largely a text-based mentorship, with periodic one-on-one check-ins, ideal for writers who need a flexible, accommodating program. 

-Revision will be a key part of the mentorship. Writers will be expected to revise at least once over the 6-month mentorship program. The bulk of the mentorship will consist of Meg giving personalized feedback and advice within the manuscript itself, as well as via follow-up emails that will develop organically. Critique will include feedback on what’s working well and what could be clarified or improved, particularly focused on character, plot, voice, dialogue, POV, and market/industry perspective. Meg will recommend additional resources that she thinks will benefit the writer. 

-The number of pages due for each packet will depend on the writer and their project, and will be worked out in the initial conversation. With each packet submission, you can also send an informal reflection where you can note areas of concern and victory during that month, as well as any questions you may want Meg to particularly focus on addressing. Sharing your own sense of victory is as important as sharing the areas of challenge.

-Meg will probably request a synopsis for at least one of the packets. This is a great way for us to talk about your novel from a big picture perspective. Information on how to write a synopsis will be provided in the program.

This Six-Month Mentorship Consists of the Following:

• One-on-one check-in via zoom or email, up to twice a month 

• Personalized calendar for achieving your project goals

• Accountability

• Access to mentor via email for six months

• Five critiques of new pages, including line edits and bigger-picture notes and questions (done in Microsoft Word using Track Changes) (up to 75 pages per month)

• Personalized readings and assignments based on your specific development needs, including access to course videos on relevant topics

• Access to optional networking via discord with other mentees in the program

Mentor’s Input:

• Emails that discuss individual monthly goals and progress

• In-line comments and critique on submitted manuscript pages

• When applicable, mentor will suggest new readings or exercises to aid in growth

• Available to answer questions and provide encouragement via email

Mentee’s Responsibilities:

• Send pages to mentor based on individual project goals negotiated with mentor

• Process-reflection letter discussing achievements and areas of growth for the month

• Read materials mentor may assign to aid growth in specific areas

• Participate in email conversation with mentor to review individual progress and areas of growth

Tuition Payment:

Full Tuition for the 6-month program is $4495. Accepted writers must commit to the full six months and meet all assigned deadlines. You can pay the tuition in full or opt for equal monthly payments.

General Dates for 6-Month Novel Mentorship with Meg Eden Kuyatt:

• Jan

• 1-8th: Initial consults scheduled

• 22nd - Packet 1 due

• Feb

• 5th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #1

• 5-12th: (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 26th - Packet 2 due

• Mar

• 3th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #2

• 3-10th: (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 24th - Packet 3 due

• Apr

• 7 - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #3

• 7-14th - (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 28th - Packet 4 due

• May

• 4th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #4

• 4-11th - (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 25th - Packet 5 due

• June

• 2nd - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #5

• 9th – (Optional) Packet 6 due

• 26-30th - Wrap-up consults scheduled

 NOTE: Shifting some dates around may be necessary but any changes will be communicated well in advance, if possible.

 Mentor Meg Eden Kuyatt is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at colleges and writing centers. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children’s novels, most recently “Good Different,” a JLG Gold Standard selection (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at www.megedenbooks.com or on Twitter at @ConfusedNarwhal and Instagram at @meden_author. 

TO APPLY, EMAIL MEG AT mkuyatt AT megedenbooks.com with the subject line KIDLIT MENTORSHIP APPLICATION and answers to the following application questions copied in the body.

Application Form: 

• Name

• Describe your current project, where you are with it, and your concrete goals for the mentorship program. 

• How much time would you be able to devote to the mentorship program? What parts of the program interest you most? Why do you think you're a good fit for this program? 

• What do you think your strengths are as a writer? What are areas you could improve in, or need help with?

• Share your writing experience thus far. Some questions you can consider are: Do you have previous experience in writing classes? If so, what courses/programs? What was your experience in them? Are you in any writing organizations or critique groups? Have you published any writing? How many manuscripts have you completed? In what ways have you already pursued learning the craft of writing in your genre? Have you submitted to agents or editors?

• Upload a writing sample (5-10 pages)

Poetry 6-Month Mentorship Program ($2200) - LIMITED AVAILABILITY

I get frequent requests for the ability to work with poets on an extended basis, so I’ve added this program! This is an immersive one-on-one course designed to encourage hardworking poets, and identify the next steps for their individual project (writing, revision, submitting a manuscript, etc). 

The ideal applicant should be a writer seriously interested in writing poetry, who has started or completed a full-length or chapbook manuscript. They should be willing and interested in actively reading poetry books that have been published within the past five years, and have a spirit of willingness to receive and consider feedback to make their work as strong as it can be. While applicants of all experience levels are welcome, this program is best for writers who have been submitting their work and received positive feedback, but are not sure how to take their work to the next level, or writers who have completed projects in the past but feel stuck or unsure about their new project. Applicants should have a goal for the 6-Month program when applying. 

Writers accepted into the program will already have a basic knowledge of the tools and craft of poetry and are looking for an intensive experience without the cost of a graduate program. Interested applicants will understand that growth in craft requires critique, consistent work, and an eagerness to grow. Accepted applicants will agree to be punctual in submission of work. This is in fairness to Meg, the other students in the course, and themselves.

How It Works: 

-Upon acceptance into the mentorship program, you will schedule an initial one-on-one call with Meg to discuss your project and goals, allowing Meg to get a sense of your previous experience and preferences around feedback. Together, you’ll create a work plan for the next six months. This is largely a text-based mentorship, with periodic one-on-one check-ins, ideal for writers who need a flexible, accommodating program.  

-Revision will be a key part of the mentorship. Writers will be expected to revise at least once over the 6-month mentorship program. The bulk of the mentorship will consist of Meg giving personalized feedback and advice within the manuscript itself, as well as via follow-up emails that will develop organically. Critique will include feedback on what’s working well and what could be clarified or improved, particularly focused on form, realizations, theme, imagery, and the poetry market. Meg will recommend additional resources that she thinks will benefit the writer. 

-The number of pages due for each packet will depend on the writer and their project, and will be worked out in the initial conversation. With each packet submission, you can also send an informal reflection where you can note areas of concern and victory during that month, as well as any questions you may want Meg to particularly focus on addressing. Sharing your own sense of victory is as important as sharing the areas of challenge.

-Please note that Meg heavily leans as a narrative poet (vs. lyric) with a particular interest in novels in verse and accessible, commercial-leaning work.

This Six-Month Mentorship Consists of the Following:

• One-on-one check-in via zoom or email, up to twice a month 

• Personalized calendar for achieving your project goals

• Accountability

• Access to mentor via email for six months

• Five critiques of new pages, including line edits and bigger-picture notes and questions (done in Microsoft Word using Track Changes) (up to 35 pages per month)

• Personalized readings and assignments based on your specific development needs, including access to course videos on relevant topics

Mentor’s Input:

• Emails that discuss individual monthly goals and progress

• In-line comments and critique on submitted manuscript pages

• When applicable, mentor will suggest new readings or exercises to aid in growth

• Available to answer questions and provide encouragement via email

Mentee’s Responsibilities:

• Send pages to mentor based on individual project goals negotiated with mentor

• Process-reflection letter discussing achievements and areas of growth for the month

• Read materials mentor may assign to aid growth in specific areas

• Participate in email conversation with mentor to review individual progress and areas of growth

Tuition Payment:

Full Tuition for the 6-month program is $2249. Accepted writers must commit to the full six months and meet all assigned deadlines. You can pay the tuition in full or opt for equal monthly payments.

General Dates for 6-Month Poetry Mentorship with Meg Eden Kuyatt:

• Jan

• 1-8th: Initial consults scheduled

• 22nd - Packet 1 due

• Feb

• 5th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #1

• 5-12th: (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 26th - Packet 2 due

• Mar

• 3th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #2

• 3-10th: (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 24th - Packet 3 due

• Apr

• 7 - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #3

• 7-14th - (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 28th - Packet 4 due

• May

• 4th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #4

• 4-11th - (Optional) Consults scheduled

• 25th - Packet 5 due

• June

• 2nd - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #5

• 9th – (Optional) Packet 6 due

• 26-30th - Wrap-up consults scheduled

NOTE: Shifting some dates around may be necessary but any changes will be communicated well in advance, if possible.

Mentor Meg Eden Kuyatt is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at colleges and writing centers. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children’s novels, most recently “Good Different,” a JLG Gold Standard selection (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at www.megedenbooks.com or on Twitter at @ConfusedNarwhal and Instagram at @meden_author. 

*

TO APPLY, EMAIL MEG AT mkuyatt AT megedenbooks.com with the subject line POETRY MENTORSHIP APPLICATION and answers to the following application questions copied in the body.

Application Form: 

• Name

• Describe your current project, where you are with it, and your concrete goals for the mentorship program. 

• How much time would you be able to devote to the mentorship program? What parts of the program interest you most? Why do you think you're a good fit for this program? 

• What do you think your strengths are as a writer? What are areas you could improve in, or need help with?

• Share your writing experience thus far. Some questions you can consider are: Do you have previous experience in writing classes? If so, what courses/programs? What was your experience in them? Are you in any writing organizations or critique groups? Have you published any writing? How many manuscripts have you completed? In what ways have you already pursued learning the craft of writing in your genre? Have you submitted to agents or editors?

• Upload a writing sample (5-10 pages)

On Mentorship and Feedback Availability

There are times that my feedback services are limited or unavailable. If that is the case, it means I am limited in the number of independent clients I can currently take on. I want to make sure to be able to give every client the attention and focus they and their work deserve! If I am not available at this time for a mentorship program or providing feedback, I’d encourage you to check out these programs below!

SCBWI MD/DE/WV Creative Coaching Groups

MTSU Write

Diverse Voices Mentorship Programs

WritingWorkshops.com

Testimonies

Student Publications/Announcements

Paul Ruffins won the SCBWI Emerging Writers prize for THE SPED SQUAD AND THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF SHORT BUS FOUR

Christine Kessis’s YA novel Magda, Standing

Ayla-Monic McKay's poem The Things You've Learned in Citron Review

Jessica Lawrence's poetry chapbook Terrible Little Stars

M Nicole Wildhood's poetry chapbook Long Division by Finishing Line Press

Tamar Anolic's short stories Dark Night, Bright Sky, Fallen Stars and Rumors of War

Lee Woodman's poems in The Ekphrastic Review (Jasper Johns, Rothko), and her collections Homescapes by Finishing Line Press and Mindscapes by Poets Choice Publishing

Deborah Goodman’s short story Virgin Matriarch

Ed Granger’s poetry chapbook Voices from the First Gilded Age by Finishing Line Press

John Benevelli’s poem Against the Day

Ben Weakley’s poem Hiroshima A-Bomb Dome

Alise Versella’s poetry collection When Wolves Become Birds

Marcella Simon