Fiction Consultations with Beth Mayer

As a fiction consultant, I see my role as that of a curious and well-intentioned reader. My first job is to listen to you. With your insights to guide me, I aim to be honest, helpful, and kind in my critique. So, how do we get there? Writers who decide to work with me will be coachable and committed to revision as a process, understanding that our exchange will likely bring further work ahead. In your submission notes or at the top of your manuscript, please include a short background paragraph describing your goals for the piece; how “far along” the submitted draft is in your estimation; strengths and problems that you recognize; and what you seek to do in this round of revisions. After your background paragraph, please ask two authentic and open-ended questions about your piece to help focus my critique. And what can you expect to get back from me? Specifically, you won’t see line-edits or detailed revision notes on passages. Instead, I will do my best to address your questions. I will tell you what I see happening on the page; ask you some clarifying questions aimed toward further discovery; offer approaches you might consider, when appropriate; and (perhaps) recommend further reading that you may find instructive or inspiring.