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Services

Welcome to Ink and Insights - thriller manuscript critiques and 1:1 author support from a bestselling author with over ten years of experience. Whether you want to strengthen your opening, sharpen a full draft, polish your query package, or get ongoing guidance while you write, you’ll receive honest, encouraging and practical feedback focused on what makes thrillers unputdownable: hook, tension, pacing, stakes, twists and payoff.

Not sure which service fits? Scroll down for a quick guide, or email me at hello@inkandinsights.co.uk and I’ll point you in the right direction.

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Opening Pages Critique
The Page Turner Opening

Your opening has one job: make the reader need to continue. This critique focuses on hook, voice, stakes and momentum - and what to change to increase “read-on” tension.

 

Best for you if:

  • you’re revising your first chapters and want to ensure they’re gripping

  • you’re preparing to query and want your opening pages to shine

  • you’re worried the opening is slow, unclear, or not tense enough

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What’s included:

  • A detailed critique of your first 10,000 words

  • Feedback on hook, pacing, tension, stakes, character introduction, clarity and scene impact

  • A clear list of priority fixes (what to tackle first)

  • A 1-page summary of what’s working and what to strengthen next

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What I need from you:

  • Your first 10,000 words (Word/PDF)

  • Your genre/subgenre and a 2-3 sentence “what the book is about” summary

  • Any specific concerns (e.g., “does this hook work?” or “is it tense enough?”)

 

Price: £300
Turnaround: 7-10 business days
Rush: 3-5 business days - £375 (limited availability)

Manuscript Assessment
Tension & Pacing Audit (Structural Report)

A full-manuscript, big-picture critique designed to strengthen plot, pacing, tension, stakes, character motivation, plausibility and payoff - without changing your voice. You’ll come away with clarity and a practical plan for revision.

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Best for you if:

  • you’ve completed a draft and want to know what’s working and what isn’t

  • the middle sags, tension dips, or the ending doesn’t land

  • you want a clear revision roadmap before querying or self-publishing

 

What’s included:

  • Full manuscript read-through

  • A 10-15 page editorial report covering:

    • overall structure and pacing

    • tension, escalation and stakes

    • plot logic, plausibility and set-up/payoff

    • character motivation and emotional investment

    • twists/reveals and whether they feel earned

    • ending strength and reader satisfaction

  • A revision roadmap: your key priorities and next steps

 

Please note: This is a structural critique, not a line edit/proofread. I won’t correct every sentence, but I will highlight patterns and issues affecting readability and impact.

 

What I need from you:

  • Your manuscript (Word/PDF)

  • Word count + genre/subgenre

  • A short synopsis (5-10 sentences is fine)

  • Your top 3 concerns (e.g., pacing, character, plot holes, ending)

 

Prices (by word count):

  • Up to 60,000 words - £600 (Rush: £750)

  • Up to 100,000 words - £775 (Rush: £970)

  • Up to 120,000 words - £925 (Rush: £1,155)

  • Over 120,000 words - +£75 per extra 10,000 (Rush: +£95 per extra 10,000)

 

Turnaround: 3-4 weeks
Rush: 2 weeks (limited availability)

Optional add-on: 30-minute follow-up Q&A call - £95

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Query Letter & Synopsis Review
Submission-Ready Pitch

If you’re preparing to query, this service helps you pitch your story with clarity, hook and urgency - so an agent or publisher can quickly grasp what makes it compelling.

 

Best for you if:

  • you’re querying soon and want professional eyes on your materials

  • you’re struggling to condense your plot without losing the spark

  • your query feels flat, vague, confusing, or too long

 

What’s included:

  • Detailed feedback and edits on your query letter (hook, stakes, voice, structure)

  • Feedback on your synopsis (clarity, emphasis, readability, flow)

  • Practical rewrite suggestions where helpful

  • Notes on what to cut, what to foreground, and how to sharpen the “sell”

 

What I need from you:

  • Your query letter

  • Your synopsis (any length is fine)

  • The genre/subgenre + word count

  • Optional: a 1- 2 sentence pitch line if you have one (elevator pitch)

 

Price: £250
Turnaround: 5-7 business days
Rush: 72 hours - £315 (based on +25%, rounded for simplicity)
Second pass (after revisions): £85 (Rush: £105)

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Author Mentoring (1:1)
Plot, Pace & Payoff Support

A focused session for writers who want guidance and accountability while drafting or revising. Bring the problem you can’t untangle and we’ll map out a plan you can actually follow.

 

Best for you if:

  • you’re stuck on plot direction, pacing, or structure

  • you’re revising and need help making confident decisions

  • you want a clear action plan and accountability

 
1:1 Mentoring Call (60 minutes) - £150

Includes:

  • 60-minute Zoom session (or phone/WhatsApp audio if preferred)

  • Pre-call questionnaire so we use the time well

  • Clear action steps by the end of the call

  • Short follow-up email with bullet-point next steps

Availability: sessions are usually available within 7-14 days

 
Upgrade: Call + Pre-read - £225

Includes everything above, plus a pre-read of:

  • up to 5,000 words, or

  • up to a 2,000-word outline

Materials due: 48 hours before the call.

 

Bundles (optional):

  • 3 sessions - £420

  • 6 sessions - £780

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