Professional Manuscript Review & Evaluation
Wait! Don’t skip this step. Before you publish your book, get a manuscript review or an evaluation.
Many authors write in the vacuum of their own thoughts. That can lead to tunnel vision that prevents you from seeing the forest for the trees. Make sure you aren’t totally lost in the forest before investing in publishing. It could be a very expensive mistake.
I offer high-level advice on clarity, consistency, plot and character development to give you answers to questions and concerns like:
Get a realistic idea of whether or not you have a finished book. Here’s the truth, sometimes you’ve written 300 pages but you still don’t have a book. Sometimes you’ve written 300 pages and you actually have two books. Let a professional pair of eyes take a look and help you see your manuscript clearly.
Not every story is character but those that are need characters that are on point. Harry Potter couldn’t be Harry Potter without Hermoine and Ron–and Voldemort. Characters that the reader can see, make sense, and come alive can make a book unforgettable.
Variety is the spice of life, so the answer to this question is usually “yes.” But there are exceptions and nuances. Knowing who your audience is and where to find them can make the difference between a wasted effort and a happy pay day.
The short answer is almost always going to be “yes,” but like everything in life, there are levels to it. You may be in a great place and only need a bit of spot proofreading. Or you might need some serious overhauling developmental editing. I will be honest, transparent, and as pain-free as possible in letting you know where your manuscript stands and how I can help you over this hurdle.
The more you stare at something, the less you see it. When you are writing your story, it is almost impossible for to see the wholes in it. Let my fresh eyes take a look so that your eyes can get a much needed rest.
A good review can uncover issues that you’ve never even considered. So take the time to have a professional like me take a quick looksey. It could save you a few headaches in the end.
What's the difference between a Review and an Evaluation?
The difference between a review and an evaluation is the level of feedback I provide you. Both a review and an evaluation give you feedback on your use and structure of language, character development, story pacing, logical progression, tone and voice consistency.
A review provides an overview critique of your manuscript as a whole. I will not provide any specific observations on any particular pages. Instead I will write a 1 to 5 page review providing feedback on each major category of manuscript development:
- language use and structure
- character development
- story pacing, plot and narrative flow
- logical progression and readability
- tone and voice consistency
- and marketability
Includes an up-to-60-minute follow-up call, where desired.
An evaluation offers in-depth, page by page commentary. I will provide everything included in a review, plus insights, questions, and observations on a page by page basis. this gives you rich, specific, in-line critiques of every aspect of your manuscript.
Includes an up-to-60-minute follow-up call, where desired.
*Please note: 250 words is considered one manuscript page in the publishing industry.