Submission Package ReviEW
Preparing your work for agents
A focused, professional review of the materials you'll send to literary agents, so you can query with confidence
Querying agents is a particular kind of pressure. After months or years of drafting, you have a few thousand words to make a first impression: a query letter that has to spark interest in a paragraph, opening pages that have to earn the next page-turn, and the constant doubt that something you can't quite see is holding the package back.
A Submission Package Review gives you experienced editorial eyes on those materials before they go out. It's a clear, honest assessment of how your submission is working, where it's strongest, and what — if anything — would benefit from refinement before you press send.
What's reviewed
A Submission Package Review covers the two materials agents read first, and which determine whether they request more:
Your opening pages — up to 10,000 words of manuscript material (typically the opening chapters of a novel, or the equivalent opening section of a memoir or narrative nonfiction work). I'll assess how the writing is working at a structural and stylistic level, where your voice and narrative are landing strongly, and where any early-pages concerns might give an agent pause.
Your query letter — a careful read of the letter itself, with feedback on hook, clarity, pitch, comparable titles, and overall impression. Query letters are notoriously difficult to write well, and a fresh editorial perspective often makes the difference between a query that intrigues and one that gets passed over.
The review focuses on these two components because they're what agents actually read first, and because getting them right is what earns the next request.
What you'll receive
A bespoke editorial report, typically 4–6 A4 pages, providing:
A clear assessment of how your opening chapters are working: voice, pacing, structural choices, character introduction, and reader engagement
Specific feedback on your query letter: what's working, what could be sharpened, and how it reads against current submission expectations
Practical, actionable suggestions for refinement before you submit
Honest perspective on whether your materials feel query-ready, or would benefit from further development first
You'll also receive one round of follow-up questions by email within 7 days of final payment, so you can clarify any feedback before applying it.
Who it's for
A Submission Package Review is designed for fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction writers preparing to query literary agents, particularly those who:
Have a complete or near-complete manuscript and are preparing to submit
Want professional editorial perspective on their materials before sending
Are unsure whether their query letter is doing the work it needs to do
Would value an experienced second pair of eyes at a high-stakes moment
Have queried before without success and want to understand what might be holding the package back
This service assumes you've drafted a query letter and have opening chapters in submission-ready shape. If you're at an earlier stage — still drafting, or unsure whether your manuscript is ready for querying — a Manuscript Critique is likely a better fit.
Pricing
£165 for opening chapters (up to 10,000 words) and query letter review
Includes a bespoke editorial report covering both components, plus one round of follow-up questions by email within 7 days of final payment.If your opening section is slightly over 10,000 words, you're welcome to get in touch, as I'm happy to advise on scope and fit. If you'd like a more comprehensive review of your full manuscript before querying, my Manuscript Critique service offers structural feedback across the complete narrative arc.
Genres I work with
I enjoy working with thoughtful, committed writers preparing to submit work in:
Genres I frequently work with
Literary fiction
Historical fiction
Contemporary fiction
Psychological fiction
Upmarket / book club fiction
Memoir
Narrative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction (including essays and reflective writing)
Speculative genres I enjoy
Science fiction
Dystopian fiction
Horror
Literary / atmospheric horror
Slipstream and soft speculative fiction
Selected projects
Crime and thriller (particularly where voice and character take precedence over plot)
Outside my current focus
Epic or high fantasy
Children's fiction
Heavily technical genres
If you're unsure whether your work is a good fit, you're always welcome to send a short sample.
How it works
1. You get in touch
Send a short message with a brief overview of your project, the manuscript's word count and genre, and a note about where you are in your querying journey.
2. We confirm fit and timing
I'll confirm availability, answer any questions, and make sure the service suits your needs.
3. You secure your booking
Once agreed, I'll send a short booking form, your Terms of Service, and an invoice for 60% of the total fee. Your booking is confirmed once payment is received.
4. You send your materials
You submit your opening chapters and query letter (in Word or Google Docs) by the agreed date. I'll take it from there.
5. You receive your feedback
Your editorial report will be delivered by email, along with your final invoice for the remaining 40%. Your feedback is yours to reflect on, return to, and apply.
6. You ask follow-up questions (if you'd like)
Once you've had time to absorb the feedback, you're welcome to send one follow-up email with any questions. This support is included as part of the service.
FAQS
Do you also review synopses?
Synopsis review isn't currently included in the standard package. Synopses are a specific form with their own conventions, and I want to make sure I'm offering the strongest support I can in the areas this service covers. If you'd like brief comments on a synopsis alongside your package review, mention it when you get in touch and we can discuss whether it can be added to your project.
Will you be kind?
Yes. Always.
I believe editorial feedback should build, not break. Querying is already a vulnerable moment; you don't need a harsh review on top of it. I'll be honest, constructive, and respectful of the work you've done so far, and the courage it takes to send it out into the world.
What about nonfiction proposals?
For memoir and narrative nonfiction writers, agent submissions sometimes include a book proposal alongside opening chapters, particularly for narrative nonfiction. The standard package review covers your opening pages and query letter, which is what most memoirists submit alongside the query. If your project requires a full proposal review (including chapter outlines, market positioning, and synopsis), please get in touch and we can discuss whether it can be added to your project, or whether a different approach would suit you better.
How is this different from a Manuscript Critique?
A Submission Package Review focuses specifically on the materials you'll send to agents — your opening chapters and query letter — rather than your full manuscript. It's a tighter, more targeted review designed for a specific moment: the point at which you're preparing to submit. A Manuscript Critique offers comprehensive feedback on the complete narrative arc of your full manuscript and is better suited to writers preparing for major revision rather than imminent submission.
If you're looking for line-level refinement rather than developmental feedback — polishing your prose, catching inconsistencies, and ensuring your manuscript reads cleanly — my Copy Editing & Proofreading services may be a better fit. Many writers commission a Manuscript Critique earlier in their journey, complete a revision, then move on to copy editing or proofreading once the structural work is done, and book a Submission Package Review closer to the point of querying.
Will you tell me whether my work is ready to query?
I'll give you my honest professional perspective on how your materials feel. If I think they would benefit from further work before submission, I'll say so clearly and explain why. If they feel query-ready, I'll tell you that too. The decision to submit is yours; my role is to make sure you're making it with informed editorial perspective.
Will you fix my grammar or rewrite my query letter?
No. This is a focused editorial review rather than a copy-edit or rewriting service. You'll receive a structured report with feedback and suggestions, not tracked changes or rewritten passages. The aim is to give you the editorial perspective you need to refine the work yourself.
Ready to share your work?
If you're preparing to query agents and would like experienced editorial eyes on your materials before they go out, I'd love to hear from you.
Send a short message via my Contact page or email hello@lfpstudio.co.uk, including a few lines about your project and where you are in your querying journey.
Availability: Each project I work on receives dedicated, thoughtful attention, so I take on a limited number of projects at any one time. If you're considering working together, I'd love to hear from you. I'm always happy to discuss timelines and availability.