Testimonials for Mary Kole and Story Mastermind
“In early 2020, I was sitting on several picture book manuscripts that had been through numerous revisions and critique group sessions. I felt they were good stories, crafted thoughtfully and with characters I loved. Still, my queries and submissions netted nothing.
I learned of Mary Kole’s new offering, Picture Book Story Mastermind, and was drawn to her concept of bringing several completed manuscripts to small-group workshop settings for focused feedback. The program spanned six months and as promised, I came away with six manuscripts that were not only better stories but with more sales potential, in my opinion. Working collaboratively on my own manuscripts as well as those of the other participants, I learned to add more emotional layers to my stories and more depth to the characters.
Mary treated us all as serious authors. She and her team were endlessly kind and generous with their knowledge and feedback. I felt very much like a professional children’s book author, thanks to Mary’s approach as a teacher and thanks to the thoughtful participation of my fellow writers. And lest it seem as if all we did was work, let me make it clear that we had great fun and enjoyed one another’s company immensely (virtually, of course). Every session was a joy!
If you are ready to take the next steps in honing your craft and becoming an all-around better children’s book author, I strongly recommend that you make this investment in yourself.”
“Mary truly is amazing! Thanks to her, I have learned so much about writing good books. She’s also a whiz with editing. She made me laugh. She made me cry. She made me a better writer!”
— M. Churchill
“Mary is a one-woman MFA program.”
— Kim W.
“When I reached out to Mary, I really was at the end of my rope. Her comments were so helpful in helping me trim some of the fat from my book, and craft it into the novel I had always hoped it would become. Now I’ve got a manuscript that nearly levitates and I’m getting ready to query agents. This isn’t my first rodeo, but I’ve never had much luck with the query process. Yet I also have never approached agents with a book that I think they truly might find appealing.”
— Melissa
“I had a game-changing experience with Mary Kole's Story Mastermind. Mary's talent for storytelling and industry insights are brilliant, but what really set the experience apart was the casual yet focused vibe of our group meetings. Myself and two other Mastermind students all grew a lot as writers and peole during our months together. Also, the personal touch in my one-on-ones with Mary. Her feedback was always spot-on, pushing my manuscript from good to great. And guess what? With Mary's guidance, my novel, To Thine Own Self Be Roo, is now traditionally published. It's crazy to think how far I've come, and I owe a big chunk of that to Story Mastermind.”
— Rachel L.
“I'm an experienced writer, and Mary's feedback has given me terrific insight into the editorial process. I love that her critiques are detailed, direct, and challenging—while still offering up plenty of encouragement. She's suggested excellent ideas that have helped me take my stories in more nuanced and more exciting directions. Highly recommend!”
— J.M.
“Mary's feedback was honest, helpful and very insightful. I always understood what she meant in her comments and the reason behind them. Mary's genius will continue to inspire me, inform me, teach me, and nurture my dreams.”
— Alix
“Mary's edits and suggestions were the toughest thing ever, but the most pivotal thing ever. Mary is the best. She knows her stuff inside and out.”
— L. Bird
“Mary's edits aren’t just edits. Mary is actually telling me WHY things need to be changed. She gives me excellent context and a very thorough understanding of how and why things can and should be better. Thank you, Mary, for essentially providing me with a creative writing workshop of my very own. Every track change is pushing me to do better.”
— Laura B.
“Mary's review of my picture book manuscript in rhyme was superb. It served as an entire course on the subject.”
— John D.