Our Mission
At Feathered Messenger Press, our mission is to empower self-published authors at every stage of their creative journey.
As a micropress, we are dedicated to providing research-backed manuscript evaluations and flexible editing services that are both accessible and affordable. We tailor our services to meet the unique needs of each author, respecting their creative vision and offering personalized, actionable feedback.
Our commitment to affordability, accessibility, and respect for creative vision ensures that all writers—regardless of experience—have the support they need to succeed. We aim to break down barriers to publication, offering personalized, actionable feedback to help authors refine their manuscripts, enhance their storytelling, and confidently take their next steps toward publication.
Our Research-Backed Approach
At Feathered Messenger Press, our manuscript evaluations and editing services are informed by proven writing theory, which helps us provide feedback that is both strategic and effective. Drawing on concepts from The Online Writing Conference by Beth L. Hewett and The Longman Guide to Peer Tutoring by Paula Gillespie and Neal Lerner, we focus on two essential aspects of writing: high-order concerns and low-order concerns.
High-order concerns focus on the larger, structural elements of writing, such as plot, character development, pacing, and narrative style. These are the building blocks that shape your manuscript’s impact and overall effectiveness.
Low-order concerns address the technical details of writing, like grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. While important, these aspects come after the higher-level story elements are solidified.
While traditional publishing companies typically reject manuscripts containing high order concerns (often without comment or critique), Feathered Messengers Press can guide your journey at any stage!
By prioritizing high-order concerns first, we ensure that your manuscript’s foundation is strong before focusing on the technical aspects. This approach allows for actionable feedback that empowers authors to refine their manuscripts at every stage.
Our research-based methods are rooted in both academic research and years of hands-on experience, ensuring that the feedback we provide is both grounded in theory and refined through practice. Whether you're looking to enhance your manuscript’s structure or polish its final details, our goal is to offer guidance that helps you take your next steps with confidence.
Meet the Team
FOUNDER & EDITOR IN CHIEF
Lara Taylor Law is the founder and sole operator of Feathered Messenger Press. With a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Arts in both English and Japanese from the University of Kansas, Lara brings a rich academic foundation to her manuscript evaluations and editing services.
Through her time at the University of Kansas Writing Center as a Writing Consultant, Lara gained valuable insight into offering personalized feedback to writers across multiple genres. As a teacher with Teach for America and beyond, Lara has tested in K-12 and university level educational settings, successfully helping students develop critical thinking and writing skills. Additionally, Lara interned with Tupelo Press, where she supported author relations and managed marketing campaigns, and with Vizling, where she gained experience editing comics and multimedia content for the app, refining her skills in both visual storytelling and written language
As the sole operator of Feathered Messenger Press, Lara is dedicated to providing personalized, one-on-one feedback that helps authors refine their manuscripts, improve storytelling, and confidently move forward in their publishing journey. Her focus is always on supporting writers through research-backed revision techniques and constructive feedback to elevate their work and achieve their goals.