“My kids’ friends have read my manuscripts, and they always say they love them
because there’s that personal connection. For an objective critique, it’s important
that
a young reader not know the writer. TeenSpeak fills that niche.” — Elizabeth Shreeve,
author of the Hector Fuller Series (Simon & Schuster)
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There’s no substitute for well-focused, objective, target-age feedback. To receive yours, contact TeenSpeak Critiques and request an Enrollment Package. We’ll email you basic info (including rates), along with your Author Questionnaire. Or, feel free to contact TeenSpeak with questions at any time.
To enroll as a TeenSpeak author, email us your completed Questionnaire—plus the following, which we’ll share with your potential critiquer:
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Book Jacket Blurb: Maximum 150 words; minimum 75 |
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The Why: One to three sentences |
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Manuscript Excerpt: The first approximately 500 words |
 Descriptions
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Book Jacket Blurb (the cover flap your audience will read when taking your book off the shelf): Create a marketing blurb for your completed or in-progress fiction. Unlike traditional queries or synopses, the book jacket blurb should not reveal the story’s ending. But do indicate the protagonist’s age and main conflict, problem, or goal; and the setting and time, if not contemporary. Study published book jacket blurbs, then practice writing yours. Your agent and/or editor will appreciate this marketing aid to promote your book! |
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The Why (optional, but helpful): In one to three sentences, share why you want to tell this story. What riveting question or situation spurred you to writing? Avoid the didactic “I want to teach kids_______,” or similar. Instead, provide an engaging window to the writer’s world—directly or indirectly indicate how you arrived at your story idea, and why you had to write it.
Sample from the TeenSpeak author of an in-progress novel: “The Unfound Door evolved from my fascination with the hidden meaning and real-world power of dreams—secrets we keep even from ourselves.”
Consider including experience that helped or inspired you to write this story—e.g., you have the same quirky hobby or habit (fatal flaw?) as your main character. Enjoy unveiling your “Why”! |
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Manuscript Excerpt: Stop at a gripping spot. |
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Email your completed Enrollment Package to the address indicated on the form. Within a few days, we’ll notify you of your critiquer—a TeenSpeak graduate who has reviewed your Book Jacket Blurb and requests to read your novel. (See critiquers' profiles here.)
We’ll also send guidelines for payment, and for submitting your manuscript by postal mail.
Allow four to five weeks’ turnaround; less for a rush job.
Additional, distinctive TeenSpeak Critique bonuses include:
- Feedback on your book jacket blurb
- Responses to two questions about the manuscript
—before and/or after your critique
What’s the typical outcome of a TeenSpeak critique? One writer advises her students and peers:
“The six-page feedback form is a fabulous progression from jacket flap to first sentence, to first page, first chapter, and then the full excerpt. Reading my critiquer’s responses to each section was extremely enlightening. I learned that my novel started slowly, but was interesting enough to keep my reader going. That told me exactly where I needed to work.” — Doraine Bennett, author of Jackie Robinson, Jimmy Carter, Georgia Habitats, and more (State Standards Publishing)
TeenSpeak graduates are literate, articulate youth who’d love to help bring your manuscript
to fruition. For rates and an enrollment form, contact TeenSpeak Critiques. |
