#231 An initial consultation (Zoom, telephone, WhatsApp or email) or Synopsis feedback or Feedback on your first 5000 words from Sensitivity Reader Laura McKendrick

A great opportunity to have your work read by a sensitivity reader to ensure you're approaching issues correctly in your narrative and to make sure your work is sensitive and engaging for readers.

What is a sensitivity read?

Sensitivity readers work with authors who are writing outwith their own experience to ensure that people from marginalised groups are not represented by authors who do not share that marginalisation in a harmful or offensive way. This might include highlighting errors and giving  feedback on tropes, stereotypes, harmful word choices, clichés, plot points and depiction of culture, religion and societies. Suggestions may be given for alternative ways of approaching issues. We read for biases which the author might not realise they have.

About Laura:

Laura offers mental health sensitivity reading services for mood and anxiety disorders, and PTSD. See www.eilidhlawrence.com/mh-sensitivity-reading/ for further information.

Testimonial:

“Laura read my romantic novel prior to publication as a sensitivity reader for mental health topics–anxiety and PTSD in particular. She picked up on problematic language use with a high degree of precision and gave well thought-out advice on each scene where the topics arose. She showed a clear understanding of both the way characters with mental health problems can be sympathetically portrayed and how a reader with mental illness would experience the characters. She also asked probing questions so I understood more clearly what I was trying to achieve with the mental health representation and make sure that was reflected in the finished book. Her input has ensured the manuscript can make a positive contribution. – Leonie Mack, author of My Christmas Number One (Boldwood Books, September 2020)