The Manuscript Academy
The Manuscript Academy is a Brooklyn-based online education platform that provides aspiring writers with monthly memberships, on-demand classes, and direct consultations with 60+ literary agents and editors, replicating the traditional writing conference experience in a virtual format.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Manuscript Academy does
The Manuscript Academy, LLC is a privately held, bootstrapped online education company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. It replicates the writing conference experience virtually for aspiring and unagented writers seeking traditional publishing, providing direct access to a curated faculty of more than 60 literary agents and editors. The platform bundles live video consultations, on-demand classes, written editorial critiques, and a weekly podcast distributed on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Spotify, with community engagement supported through a Facebook group and member lounge.
The underlying technology is a web-based platform rather than a native mobile application; live consultations are delivered through third-party video conferencing tools (Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and phone), while billing is processed via Stripe and PayPal. The proprietary components are limited to operational features: a member-priority booking system for consultations, an on-demand class library of 60+ hours of recorded content, and a written critique delivery workflow that returns editorial notes by email within 24 hours of the scheduled date. No APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML components are documented.
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly memberships (Basic at $49.99/month, Gold at $69.99/month with one included ten-minute consultation), supplemented by a la carte class purchases, seasonal workshops (e.g., Summer Academy at $39.99, Pitch Practice at $99), transactional live meeting fees, and a $10 revision submission fee. The Terms of Service restrict service to users located in the United States, limiting geographic scope despite virtual delivery. The company is co-founded by literary agent Jessica Sinsheimer (also creator of the affiliated Manuscript Wish List / #MSWL platform) and conference organizer Julie Kingsley, and operates without disclosed external funding.
The Manuscript Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Manuscript Academy
- Legal name
- The Manuscript Academy, LLC
- Website
- https://manuscriptacademy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Manuscript Academy is a Brooklyn-based online education platform that provides aspiring writers with monthly memberships, on-demand classes, and direct consultations with 60+ literary agents and editors, replicating the traditional writing conference experience in a virtual format.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Manuscript Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Writing and Publishing Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Writing Craft & Technique Workshops (Voice, Structure, Character, Style) (EDAMAMAH), Writing Retreats & Intensive Bootcamps (EDAMAMAK), Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)
Keywords
Where The Manuscript Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Manuscript Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Monthly Membership Subscriptions: Recurring monthly subscriptions providing access to all classes, member booking system for early appointment access, written critiques up to 100 pages, and member lounge. Automatically renews every 30 days.
- Agent and Editor Consultations: One-on-one live meetings and written critiques with literary agents and publishing editors. Includes 10-minute, 15-minute, and 30-minute meeting options with various faculty members.
- A La Carte Classes: Individual class purchases providing 30 days of access to specific classes or workshops without membership benefits. Does not include early booking or member library access.
- Revision Fees: $10 fee for sending revised materials for ten-minute meetings, with minimum 4-hour advance notice required.
- Seasonal Events: Special event packages such as Summer Academy featuring daily workshops, expert Q&A, and agent panels at discounted rates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Membership - All classes, events, and early booking access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Membership - Basic benefits plus free monthly agent consultation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | A La Carte Classes - Individual class access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Academy - Intensive seasonal event package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Revision Fee - Additional materials for meetings |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Manuscript Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Manuscript Academy is an online educational platform that delivers the writing conference experience virtually, providing aspiring and unagented writers with direct access to literary agents and editors through live video consultations, written manuscript critiques, on-demand publishing classes, and a recurring membership community. Core sellable offerings are tiered monthly subscriptions, individual classes, seasonal event packages, and fee-based consultation meetings.
Product overview
The Manuscript Academy is an online educational platform that replicates the writing conference experience entirely online. The core offerings include tiered subscription memberships (Basic at $49/month and Gold at $69/month with complimentary consultations) that provide access to on-demand class libraries and early booking for agent consultations. The platform also sells specialized workshop programs like Summer Academy and the Pitch Practice Workshop. Users can purchase live face-to-face video consultations with literary agents and editors via Zoom or Google Meet, as well as written manuscript critiques delivered by email. The company also produces a free podcast distributed through iTunes, SoundCloud, and Spotify featuring industry interviews and craft advice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Manuscript Academy: Shorthand brand name used alongside The Manuscript Academy for podcast and class branding.
- Manuscript Wish List
Products and services
- Basic Membership Monthly membership providing access to all recorded classes, all live events, and early booking privileges for agent and editor consultations. Priced at $49.99/month with automatic 30-day renewal.
- Gold Membership Premium monthly membership including all Basic Membership benefits plus one free 10-minute agent consultation per billing cycle (a $49 value). Priced at $69.99/month with automatic renewal.
- Summer Academy Seasonal intensive program featuring daily agent workshops, expert Q&A sessions, classes, and agent panel events. Offered at promotional pricing of $39.99.
- Pitch Practice Workshop Masterclass workshop with agents John Cusick and Fiona Kenshole, including a 1:1 literary agent meeting. Priced at $99.
- Live Meetings (Consultations) Face-to-face video consultations with literary agents and editors conducted via Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or phone. Members can book 10-minute, 15-minute, or 30-minute meetings to discuss queries, first pages, and manuscript excerpts.
- Written Critiques Professional written feedback service delivered by email, including detailed editorial notes on manuscript pages, query letters, synopses, and nonfiction proposals. Delivered within 24 hours of scheduled date.
- On-Demand Class Library Extensive library of 60+ hours of recorded classes and panels taught by publishing industry professionals covering query writing, submission strategies, craft development, and the publishing business. Available 24/7 to members.
- The Manuscript Academy Podcast Free weekly podcast featuring interviews with agents, editors, and authors, plus craft tips and behind-the-scenes content. Available on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
Quantifiable outcome
- One author's query revision resulted in a full manuscript request the next day
Companies that use The Manuscript Academy
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Manuscript Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature3 records
The Manuscript Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Manuscript Wish ListcoreCo-founded by Jessica Sinsheimer, Manuscript Wish List (MSWL) is an integrated platform and community resource that connects writers with agent preferences. The Academy leverages MSWL's network and brand recognition to drive awareness and provide members with access to industry trends and agent wish lists.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Manuscript Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LitReactor: LitReactor hosts online writing workshops, classes, and a community forum for writers. Directly comparable online workshop and craft-class offering targeting the same aspiring-writer segment with similar paid workshop monetization.
- The Writing Barn: The Writing Barn runs online and in-person writing retreats, workshops, and critique-focused programs for authors. Comparable to Manuscript Academy's intensive workshops (e.g., Summer Academy, Pitch Practice) and its community-driven, critique-heavy model for aspiring novelists.
- Jane Friedman: Jane Friedman offers publishing education through courses, webinars, and one-on-one consultations focused on the business of writing and getting published. Closely comparable to Manuscript Academy's publishing-strategy, query-letter, and submission-prep instruction delivered via online classes and expert access.
- DIY MFA: DIY MFA provides online writing workshops, courses, and community resources aimed at helping writers master the craft of storytelling. Comparable as an online-first writing education platform with subscription and course-based monetization serving the same aspiring-writer audience.
- Absolute Write: Absolute Write is an online writing community with workshops, classes, and water cooler forums for novelists. Comparable community-and-class platform serving aspiring published authors with paid workshop and educational content.
- Savvy Authors: Savvy Authors runs online workshops, courses, and literary agent events for writers seeking publication. Comparable event- and workshop-driven model with literary-agent faculty delivering instruction to aspiring authors.
- Writer's Digest University: Writer's Digest University offers online writing courses, workshops, and conferences on craft and publishing. Directly comparable to The Manuscript Academy's on-demand class library and writing instruction offerings, both serving aspiring authors with paid educational content.
- Writing Workshops (David Kerns): Writing Workshops offers online classes and individualized critique services taught by published authors and editors. Comparable in delivering online writing instruction and manuscript critique services to aspiring novelists via a faculty of publishing professionals.
Emerging players
- Bookfox: Bookfox provides free and paid writing-craft resources, blog content, and occasional workshops focused on novel writing and revision. Partially overlapping craft-instruction content aimed at novelists, though a smaller, blog-led offering rather than a full subscription platform.
Broad incumbents
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI): SCBWI is the largest professional organization for children's-book creators, offering conferences, workshops, and resources for writers pursuing traditional children's publishing. Comparable as a publisher-facing education and conference ecosystem, though much broader in scope and membership-based rather than subscription-driven.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Manuscript Academy social profiles
Digital presenceThe Manuscript Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Manuscript Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Manuscript Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Manuscript Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Manuscript Academy
What does The Manuscript Academy do?
The Manuscript Academy is an online educational platform that delivers the writing conference experience virtually, providing aspiring and unagented writers with direct access to literary agents and editors through live video consultations, written manuscript critiques, on-demand publishing classes, and a recurring membership community. Core sellable offerings are tiered monthly subscriptions, individual classes, seasonal event packages, and fee-based consultation meetings.
Is The Manuscript Academy a public or private company?
The Manuscript Academy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Manuscript Academy founded?
The Manuscript Academy was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Manuscript Academy based?
The Manuscript Academy is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Manuscript Academy make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Monthly Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are agent and Editor Consultations, A La Carte Classes, revision Fees and seasonal Events.
Who are The Manuscript Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LitReactor, The Writing Barn, Jane Friedman, DIY MFA, Absolute Write, Savvy Authors, Writer's Digest University and Writing Workshops (David Kerns). Bookfox is listed as an emerging player. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Manuscript Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Manuscript Academy.
What industry is The Manuscript Academy in?
The Manuscript Academy's product category is Writing and Publishing Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAMAI, Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals), with a secondary code of EDAMAMAH, Writing Craft & Technique Workshops (Voice, Structure, Character, Style). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.