A Whole Novel Evaluation

Joanie on Ile d’Orleans with Quebec City in the background.

In August I’ll attend my first ever Whole Novel Workshop at Highlights. I’m submitting my middle grade novel, No Dogs Die in This Book, the story that landed me an agent two years ago.

The admission process to Highlights’ workshop includes submitting the first 15 pages of the novel that you want to work on. Before I submitted my application, I reread the opening pages of my dog novel. I hadn’t read them in several months. With that distance, I was able to quickly spot some pacing problems, which I fixed before hitting “submit.”

Next, I need to submit the whole manuscript, which is about 33,000 words (they take up to 80,000 words). Since I revised it comprehensively during the summer of 2023 based on feedback from my then agent, I debated reading through the rest of it.

But since it’s short, I went ahead and reread it. I made some small tweaks, but ultimately I was still happy with it.

I suspect I’m blind to its flaws.

Which is why I need fresh eyes on it.

I could have found a book coach or a developmental editor to read it and give me feedback. But the idea of being in a community of fellow writers again, 16 years after I finished my MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts, appealed to me.

I like spending time with fellow writers in person, chatting over meals or during walks. And I’ve never attended any Highlights events before, so I’m eager to try it.

Also, one of my book coaching clients has attended this workshop in the past and raved about it.

Another part of the appeal is the travel opportunity. The Highlights Foundation Retreat Center is located in rural northeast Pennsylvania. It’s not a super easy place to get to. I plan to drive, taking the scenic route through Michigan, southern Ontario, and New York.

Along with the whole manuscript, I’m also submitting a cover letter. Workshop participants were asked to explain in our letter the story behind the story, who’s read it, how many times it’s been revised, what we love about the story, and what questions we have about it.

Oof, questions. What to ask?

Does this story work? That’s my big question. Where does it fall flat? Where is the pacing off—either too slow or too fast?

In my letter, I listed all of the different things that I’d worked on in my last major revision, like character motivations and clarifying the stakes.

I hope my faculty reader has enough to go on.

Workshop participants are primed to expect big picture feedback rather than line edits. Big picture feedback is the kind I like to give and receive.

In-person, whole-novel workshops are not super common. If you’re looking for feedback on your complete MG or YA novel, I now offer whole novel evaluations.

If you’re not sure that your manuscript is ready for that, I’d be happy to talk about it with you during a free, intro book coaching call or just email me at bookcoach@micheleregenold.com. There’s more than one way to get effective, helpful feedback on your work.