The Frost Place is pleased to offer a very limited number of manuscript reviews, provided by board member, Rachel Richardson.
If you’ve taken your book project as far as you can on your own, I can provide the perspective to help you see it more globally, sharpening its voice and arc. My particular strength and interest is the cohesive themed book project, but I am open to all sorts of collections. In my manuscript review, I provide an annotated reading of the work, offering line edits and guidance on individual poems as needed, with a larger focus on the book’s overall goals. Unlike the individual poem workshop, I will view the work as a book, considering themes, voice, tonal shifts, questions of arc and order, and more, to help you address big picture issues as well as zoom in on the smaller details that will polish your work to its most brilliant completion.
You will receive an annotated manuscript (via Google Doc or Word) as well as a detailed letter highlighting central takeaways to consider. During a follow-up Zoom meeting (approximately one hour), I will discuss my findings with you and address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your next steps in editing and publication.
Rachel Richardson has taught for two decades in Creative Writing programs, including at UNC Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, Stanford, and most recently as Distinguished Visiting Writer in the MFA program at St. Mary’s College of California. She has directed dozens of students’ graduate theses, many of which have gone on to become prize-winning books of poems, as well as consulting as a freelance editor with working writers at all stages of manuscript development. Rachel has been awarded an NEA Fellowship and a Wallace Stegner Fellowship for her poetry, and her work appears in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Orion, American Poetry Review, and elsewhere. She is the author of three books, most recently Smother, released in spring 2025 by W. W. Norton & Co. Rachel lives and writes in Berkeley, California, and serves on the Board of The Frost Place.
You can expect the reviewer’s feedback in 4-8 weeks, depending on the length of your submission.
Manuscript review will not begin until payment is made. The cost will be determined by the number of pages, as described below.
Note: Each poem should begin on a new page. Front matter, section headers, and other notes are not included in the total page count — only pages with poems.
Email frost@frostplace.org with any questions, or submit your work below. We look forward to hearing from you!