Work with Me!
I am available for readings and classroom visits (in person or online), guest lectures, and a variety of consultation and editorial services.
One of the most rewarding parts of being a literary citizen and a teacher is helping other writers bring their work to the best place it can be. Therefore, I'm thrilled to offer a number of services for writers. As an experienced editor, an award-winning poet, and an educator with over a decade of experience, I will treat your work with the same care I would my own. Though I have focused my own published work on poetry, I am eager to read all genres of work. My specialties are poetry, creative nonfiction, and literary fiction.
Small Group Online Craft Classes
Coming soon! I'm developing a series of classes to be offered online starting in Spring 2024. Sign up for my newsletter (it's free!) to be notified about these classes.
CV/Resume and Cover Letter Consultation:
$25+ depending on amount of time
I've been on the submitting and receiving end of many cover letters and resumes, and I love helping folks sound their best on the job market. I can give your materials a quick proofread, or help you with more in depth feedback and editing.
Sensitivity Reader
Pricing varies, depending on the project. 12 cents a word is standard for long projects.
A sensitivity reader is simply a reader who represents a certain culture or experience that you, as a writer, do not have. If you want to write from the perspective of another culture or experience, you will be well served by engaging a sensitivity reader to make sure you are telling a nuanced and authentic story involving this culture or experience. I can read your project--whether it's a novel, a memoir, a roleplaying game, a DEI statement, etc.--with an eye toward representation of the LGBTQ+ community, Jewish people, and the disability community. For more information, reach out and message me. I love doing this work, and helping you make your project the best it can be!
Basic Consultation & Editorial Services
$5-$10 a page, depending on project
This is a good option if you want someone to take a more cursory look at your work without a lot of detailed line editing. Prices vary depending on the type and length of project.
For more in-depth feedback, I offer a few different tiers. Prices vary by length of project and the level of detailed feedback I provide.
Overall Consultation:
$150+ depending on length and type of project and level of feedback desired.
This option is a less intensive option, ideal a for groups of poems or chapbook manuscripts, a chapter of a novel, an essay, or a short story/group of short stories. I will line edit a few pages as needed, and write a letter of advice for revising the work. I will also discuss overall strengths and resources, and offer helpful tips about placing the pieces for publication.
In-Depth Manuscript Consultation:
$250-500 depending on length of manuscript
I love reading books in progress. Over the years, I've been honored to help friends bring their books from the beginning stages to published form and have helped edit a number of books that went on to win awards and contests. i've also served as a reader and judge for numerous poetry contests. I would be thrilled to work with you! This package includes more detailed line editing, in-depth discussion of strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript, suggestions for example, on poems to cull from the manuscript, advice about organizing the book as a whole, and anything else you'd like advice on.
Mentorship Package:
$1000+ depending on length of time we work together
My mentorship packages allows you the opportunity to work one-on-one with me over a longer period of time. The package includes several Skype conversations, close editing of either a manuscript or a smaller group of poems several times, once at the initial phase of the mentorship, and again after we have worked together for a few months and you have had the opportunity to revise. I can also offer suggestions and advice about publication. It includes detailed line editing (basically, I note everything I see that could be polished or improved, line by line), inclusion, ordering, title brainstorming, and discussion of overall strengths and weaknesses, and whether or not I think the manuscript will be ready to submit for publication after revision, and if so, my suggested potential venues for publication.
Ready to start? Send an email to me at valeriewetlaufer [at] gmail [dot] com and let me know how I can help! I'll let you know my current availability schedule. Please note that I do offer a sliding scale, and if these prices are a barrier to you, we can chat about an arrangement.
Testimonials
In Valerie Wetlaufer, I found the book doula of my dreams. As a new author, I wanted to make sure I worked with an editor who truly understood the nuance I was conveying through my novella – the multicultural and diverse piece, the raw sense of humor, and the depth and complexity of the storytelling. Valerie “got” my writing from the get-go. Her feedback was key in strengthening my work. I am forever grateful for Valerie’s thoughtful approach to editing and providing counsel. And, we had a lot of fun in the process! I am looking forward to working with Valerie again and highly recommend her as an editor.
-Isabel Peña Alfaro, author of Taming Jackal
"Valerie has provided me with valuable feedback on multiple manuscripts and poems over the years including my most recent collection A History of the Unmarried. She has a great eye for strengths and weaknesses within individual poems and a keen sense of how a manuscript should fit together. Her comments are specific, thoughtful, and always honest. She helps create an open dialogue about your work that provides you with excellent support for growing and improving. I highly recommend her services."
"Sending my short story to V for editing was the smartest thing I’ve done all year. I now have the confidence to submit it for publication, and the inspiration to work harder toward my writing goals.'
—Jessica Booth
Questions? Email me and ask away! Pricing plans are available, as well as a sliding scale. Just ask!
Prices are approximate. Depending on the extensiveness of the editing required, and the length of time involved, prices may be different.