Curator Manuscript Feedback

Please use the instructions below to provide constructive, detailed feedback to your author. Remember that the time we invest up front in helping authors polish their manuscripts pays off greatly when we are producing books. Note that authors will receive an exact copy and paste of your feedback, so please write it with that in mind.

Important: If a story does not fit your vision for your anthology, please email Christian ([email protected]). As much as possible, we’d like to repurpose submissions for other anthologies instead of rejecting them because of thematic differences.

Your Name*
The Title of the Short Story Idea / Contribution Idea*

Please be careful to include the entire title.
Does the manuscript adhere to our non-negotiable editorial standards?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please provide (a) detailed reason(s) for why the manuscript is in violation of our non-negotiable editorial standards. These standards state that a manuscript should not: be discriminatory, have explicit sexual content, use profanity extensively, be poetry, fan fiction, or erotica. If you have questions about whether a manuscript adheres to these standards, please reach out to our Editorial Director Mark Heinz via email. [email protected]
Is the manuscript free of run-on sentences?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please give an example and link to the following resource that includes details for fixing this: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/runonsentences
Is the manuscript concise? Does it tell the intended story in the MINIMUM words required to do it justice?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please provide a target percentage of the word count to cut. Thirty percent is typically the largest percentage that can be cut, and even that is somewhat extreme. Use your best judgement and acknowledge that what you suggest is just that—a suggestion, and not an ultimatum.
Is the story written in a consistent tense?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please point out this issue and link to the following resource that includes details for fixing this issue: http://writing.umn.edu/sws/quickhelp/grammar/verbtense.html * Note that in some specific cases there could be exceptions. Please discuss with Mark Heinz, our editorial director. [email protected]
Does the story have a clearly defined purpose?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please provide detailed suggestions for how the author can make the purpose more clear.
Is the story free of cliches and weak words?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please provide a couple of examples and link to the following resources: https://smartblogger.com/weak-writing/ https://www.be-a-better-writer.com/cliches.html
Is the story written in active voice?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please provide an example and link to the following resource: https://jerryjenkins.com/fix-passive-voice/ * Note that in some specific cases there could be exceptions. Please discuss with Mark Heinz, our editorial director. [email protected]
Is the ending memorable and thought provoking?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please provide detailed suggestions for how the author can make the ending memorable.
Do you have any additional comments or suggestions for your author?
Is the story free of unintentional jarring transitions?
If you answered "yes," no additional comments are needed. If "no," please provide an example and link to the following resource: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/