Stop and Think

“I read today that mostly people speak with the intention of making themselves sound more important or invoking sympathy from the listener. I’ve been saying a lot less since I read that.” – Royce Vagg.

Better Living

Every day you should:

1. Make a decision that improves your health.

2. Compliment someone.

3. Do something to help the environment.

That way, you have a good excuse when your neighbor catches you planting trees on their nature strip at 3am.

Accountability

This is for all the would-be writers:

You could be writing right now. Stop browsing the internet. Even if you only write 100 words today, it’s 100 more than you’ll write browsing lolcats and 4chan for the next two hours. Yes, I see what you did there…

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About Me

First Chapter Services

Last Updated 1st January, 2012

 

Why is the first chapter important?

Some literary agents will let you submit the first scene of your novel with the query. When agents and editors ask for a partial, they won’t bother to read past the first scene if it doesn’t catch their interest. In just the same way, potential readers in a bookstore or on Amazon will read the first few pages to decide if they want to buy the book.

Virtually no one will keep reading if your first scene isn’t good. It’s critical to your success that the first chapter is a riveting read, drawing the readers into the conflict and characters, right from the first paragraph.

 

What services am I offering?

I can work with you to make sure your opening scene catches the reader right away and draws them into the novel, that your world makes sense without having too much detail early on and that your readers are invested in your character’s conflicts.

This feedback will come in the form of a report, as well as line edits throughout the first chapter if in doc or docx format. Sometimes it may be necessary for me to see more than the first chapter of your manuscript to help you find the perfect conflict to open with.

 

Are my services right for you?

If your novel is finished and you are ready to start querying, or someone has asked to see a partial, I can help you make sure that your first chapter is the very best it can be.

If you’ve only just started your novel and all you have is the first chapter, you should not be editing or hiring someone else to edit your work. Detailed critique and suggestions for changes at an early stage will be off putting and may make it difficult to proceed. Finish the novel first, before looking for outside feedback.

 

What are my prices?

I charge $50AUD an hour and can give you an obligation free quote. It’s entirely up to you if you set the amount you want to pay at the beginning and I will work on your chapter for that length of time—plus any debriefing phone calls or emails. Or we can work on your chapter, back and forth, until you are satisfied.

In general $50AUD will get you a rather basic overview of what I feel can be improved, assuming the first chapter is 4, 000 words. $100AUD will get you a detailed line-edit of the same.

Payment is required before the delivery of goods.

The payment methods I will accept are:

Paypal
Direct deposit
Money order (in AUD)
Personal Check (if in Australia)

I will not accept cash or overseas checks.

 

Copyright Talitha Kalago. 2011.