If you want a book deal with a traditional publishing house, your first step is to get a literary agent. This is because most publishing houses will not take on unrepresented authors. A literary agent will be your advocate, your contract negotiator, your shepherd throughout the publishing process, and so much more. In many cases, literary agents will represent authors throughout their entire career.

A full manuscript is required for development editing services.

A developmental edit is a thorough evaluation of your manuscript with a focus on big picture revisions. For fiction writers and memoirists, this might include notes on tone, pacing, plotting, character development, dramatic tension, etc. Nonfiction writers might receive notes on structure, tone, creating clear takeaways, expanding upon ideas, etc. This service helps you to identify your project’s opportunities for improvement offers clear recommendations for revision.

A query letter is a brief letter that is used to pitch your book to a literary agent. It provides agents with the essential details of your manuscript—genre, word count, title, etc.—while also selling the premise of the work, the quality of the writing, and the marketability of the project. When submitting your work to an agent, this letter will go in the body of the email (though some writers prefer to send hard copies of their submission).

A book proposal is a document designed to sell your idea for a nonfiction book and can, in many cases, be submitted in lieu of a manuscript. This pitch will include important information about the work —such as a book description, sample chapters, a table of contents, etc.— while also highlighting the author’s platform and credentials. A proposal should also include a competitive titles analysis and any promotional plans that could show the project’s potential in the marketplace.

For any editorial service, you will be asked to submit the first 15 pages of your manuscript.

For query letter and proposal review services, you will be asked to send your full query letter or book proposal.

Your privacy is my top priority. Any information or materials submitted to Newton Literary Services will remain confidential and will not be disclosed to any third parties without prior written consent. If we do not ultimately enter a contract for services, your manuscript materials will be promptly and safely discarded.

I do not write or review book synopses at this time.

Samples are available upon request.