Constructive critique and fast fixes for your NOVEL, NONFICTION, OUTLINE, or QUERY LETTER.
Discuss your current writing project in a 15-minute ASK THE EDITOR session. It’s free!
Constructive critique and fast fixes for your NOVEL, NONFICTION, OUTLINE, or QUERY LETTER.
Discuss your current writing project in a 15-minute ASK THE EDITOR session. It’s free!
For all documents you send us, we recommend but do not require:
Our recommended settings yield an estimated 250 words per 8½ by 11” page. Query letters are often single-spaced, but the draft query letter you send for critique may be double-spaced.
If you upload files in other formats, we will try to convert them into Microsoft Word. This allows us to include feedback and suggestions in the same file. Our response will also include a PDF file that is readable or printable without Microsoft Word software.
If we cannot work with a file, we will cancel that order item and refund the original payment source.
File uploads can be done from the Checkout Page, the last step when placing an order. The top right corner of that page has a blue box with a white “Choose Files” button. When you click that button, a file selection window opens, and you can upload one or more files.
You should upload a copy, not the original file, because we do not guarantee the return of the original file.
You will receive a second email within five days of your order. It will confirm receipt of files we can read and review, or it will request that you re-upload the document.
To re-upload a file, use the form on the Contact Page. It includes a Choose File button. The order number requested there is optional but appreciated.
We confirm the file size of any part of an order that specifies a page count. If a file exceeds the amount purchased, we will work with the number of words purchased.
Here’s the formula we use:
PAGE QUANTITY * 275 = # OF WORDS PURCHASED
All Second Eyes critiques involve two or more readings of your work.
During the first read-through, we follow editorial rubrics that are tuned to the type of critique, to find what’s working best and where further ideas could bring benefit.
In a second read-through, we revisit those areas and write comments and recommendations, sharing the strengths and opportunities we see.
When you send us DOCX or TXT files, we open them in Microsoft Word then add comments and recommendations.
We send a PDF version of the file we have annotated. That way, if you do not have Microsoft Word, you can view and print our comments and recommendations using any of these apps:
We also send the annotated file in DOCX format for further editing if you have Microsoft Word.
We reserve the right to decline services for any submitted file. We typically reject content that involves plagiarism, explicit sexual material, extreme violence, or animal cruelty. Other factors may also lead to refusal, though we won’t provide specific reasons.
If a file is declined, a full refund will be issued for that item.
Refunds are issued for individual files, and only for these reasons:
We will not share your plot, character descriptions, outline, or any other content you send us unless you request that your work be shared.
You can always direct us to erase the data we hold about your work, excluding information we must keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
A premise sparks curiosity. revealing what’s at stake and why that matters. Strong themes build on the image, adding resonance and room for reflection. Together, they set your novel on course, avoiding narrative drift as you envision scenes and link chapters meaningfully.
Your notes can bring characters to life. Realistic, emotionally resonant characters elevate a story’s impact. Attention to speech, behavior, and background adds that essential spark.
Backstory issues can distance the reader in three ways: overflowing, vanishing, or wandering from the narrative heart. Given the right amount of well-placed backstory, past events will sustain plot momentum.