Do you have a draft manuscript you would like to edit and submit to a publisher, or prepare for self-publication?

Would you like in-depth feedback on your manuscript, and suggestions for possible improvements?

A second pair of eyes is a useful thing to have!

As well as being a writer and keen reader myself, I am an experienced assessor. I am also an experienced reviewer and have reviewed books across many genres, for radio and for print publications. I enjoy reading all kinds of books, and have a particular interest in narrative (I even wrote a PhD about it!).

A manuscript assessment includes:

  • Reading your work, with attention to detail

  • Compiling a written report of around 3000 words that will cover areas of strength, areas for improvement, and any other factors that may be relevant to your project. These could include (but are not limited to) potential ethical issues, potential market/ readership, and publication options.

The report will cover areas such as:

  • Structure, narrative and/or plot – Does your manuscript read in a coherent way? Does it make sense? Does it tell a story, and if so, is this story appealing?

  • Style, voice, and tone – Does the style of your writing fit with the intended audience? Is your voice developed? Is your tone consistent? How might readers respond to it?

  • Character – Where you have written about real or fictional people, how do they come across? Is their portrayal sympathetic or otherwise? Do they appear consistent and believable?

  • Ethics – Are there any potential issues, such as the use of material about real people, offensive or outdated ideas, plagiarism and/or copyright issues?

  • Potential readership and market – Who might your manuscript appeal to? Are there ways it can be tailored towards this potential readership?

  • If your work is a collection, such as a poetry or short story collection, I will look at individual pieces and how they fit within the whole.

I can give you general advice about publication options, but it is outside the scope of my work to advise you on finding an agent or making a successful pitch to a publisher. There is no magic formula to getting a book published through traditional publishing, and there is no guarantee that a book will sell well once it is out in the world. However, a manuscript that is well-crafted, polished and appealing will have a higher chance of success than one that is rushed, unfinished or underdeveloped.

A manuscript assessment will give you direction for editing your own work. It is not an editing or proofreading service. Please note that if your manuscript is accepted by a publisher, it is highly likely that you will work with an editor and make further changes. However, when submitting your manuscript for publication, you should make sure it is in as tidy a condition as possible.

Is my manuscript ready?

Your manuscript is ready for an assessment if:

  • You have completed a draft

  • You have checked for consistency and coherence, and your manuscript makes sense (ie, it is a fully developed manuscript rather than 100 pages of notes)

  • You are at the stage of preparing your manuscript for publication, but would like some ideas for the editing process

  • You are prepared to receive constructive criticism on your manuscript

  • You know what kind of book you are writing and have an idea of your target market. Different audiences will expect different things from a book – for instance, the feedback on a literary memoir will be very different to the feedback on a romance novel.

  • The manuscript was written by you, a human

Your manuscript is not ready if:

  • You haven’t finished writing it

  • You haven’t read through your draft and made sure it is structurally coherent

  • Your manuscript is still in an undeveloped first draft stage and is not ready for anyone else to read it

  • You are not willing to receive feedback that involves constructive criticism of your work

  • You have no idea what you want to do with your manuscript once you are finished (as above, feedback will differ depending on genre and target audience)

  • The entire manuscript, or substantial sections, have been written by AI (please note that this is a potential ethical issue, as well as a stylistic one, and most traditional publishers will not accept work fully or partly authored by AI)

If you are still working on the writing process, I offer a writing coaching service.

Timeframe, cost and terms

Turnaround time for a manuscript assessment is within 4 weeks.

Contact me for further information including a quote and terms

Manuscript assessment