Mike Sirota Writing Services

What Mike’s Clients Say

“Ten years ago I began to write my first novel in a vacuum. I almost quit in exasperation until I heard about writing coach and editor Mike Sirota. I’m a firm believer in training. Writers are seldom born; most work hard to develop their craft. The learning curve is sped up, and pleasure in the learning process vastly increases by taking advantage of this kind of training. Mike’s coaching and critique groups optimize the learning environment, and all efforts are directed toward improvement of craft, regardless of genre. I cannot emphasize enough the benefits anyone will receive from Mike’s expert instruction.”
- Judy A. Bernstein, author of the acclaimed They Poured Fire on us From the Sky (Public Affairs Books, 2005)

“While writing my novel I heard dozens of well meaning, yet non-helpful versions of ‘It’s great. I like it’ from my friends and family members. Finally I found Mike Sirota, who gave me the straightforward, professional advice that I needed to get my novel published. His invaluable feedback prevented the dreaded rejection letters from agents. Instead, he helped me get a great agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, which led to an auction for my book, Always the Bridesmaid (Berkley Publishing, Spring 2004), and resulted in a two-book deal. Mike is the secret ingredient that every novel needs!”
- Whitney Lyles

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Services

Comprehensive Manuscript Evaluation

Mike will read your non-fiction or fiction book-length manuscript and provide you with a comprehensive evaluation, including many suggestions for revisions. This review will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the work, including style and content.

For a novel, the evaluation will focus on strengthening key areas. Does it grab a reader’s attention (the “hook”)? Are the characters believable? Is the dialogue powerful, and have you balanced it well enough with your narrative? Have you chosen effective point-of-view characters to tell your story? Is your setting realistic? Have you framed your plot well? Is your pacing consistent? Examples from your own manuscript will be cited to show you where you’ve succeeded, and where you need work.

While this evaluation does not include line editing, Mike will point out repetitive errors to enable you to fix as many of them as you can. He will also indicate the extent of editing that your manuscript currently needs to elevate it to a “professional grade” level. When your manuscript is finally in shape for line editing—often a time-consuming process—there will be that much less of it to do. This will be far more cost-effective for you.

Consulting/Mentoring

Subsequent to the initial evaluation Mike is available on an hourly basis for one-on-one coaching, consulting, and support as you work to make your book better than good. He will answer your questions, look at rewrites of scenes or chapters, and in general, be there for you.

Line Editing

A full line edit of your manuscript should only be done after all the other problems and concerns have been addressed. It should be the final step before the work is ready to begin submitting to agents. Mike will clean up all the typographical errors, the grammar, sentence structure, passive voice, word repetitions, etc. Make no mistake, this is important. Your story may be gripping, but the agent will never know because—once they read a page full of these kinds of errors—the manuscript will be put into the SASE and returned to you.

At the same time Mike will continue to make sure that all the changes noted in the comprehensive evaluation, or any subsequent evaluations, have been addressed. In addition, Mike is respectful of a writer’s unique “voice.” At no time will he attempt to change that voice.