Manuscript assessment
The manuscript assessment (8–12 pages approx) provides a full manuscript with specialist attention and involves a developmental critique and a 1 hour follow-up call with the editor post-report. This service is ideal if you have agent or publisher interest, are on the cusp of being published, or are looking for a more hands-on editorial approach.
The focus of a manuscript assessment is on developmental editing: looking at both the macro- and micro- level of story and scene to determine what’s working well and areas to improve further. The service is carried out by Core, Market, and Industry editors, and is akin to a reader’s report or editorial letter that editorial departments in publishing houses write.
Is this right for me?
This report is one of our more static services in the sense that you'll be given a detailed report with feedback to work from and editorial suggestions to implement. While you'll have a 60-minute call with your editor post-report, there is no other contact time, so this type of report is best for:
- Those seeking a full assessment of their work;
- Writers who feel confident making their own revisions;
- Authors who are near-submission with a sturdy draft, or who have been submitting to agents and are unsure what they need to do next.
What will I get?
Our editors will provide you with an 8-12 page assessment of your work, broken down with various relevant subheadings (e.g. Plot, Pacing, Characterisation), and this will be accompanied by some of our in-house documents on self-editing and Show not Tell, which we find are helpful for all writers at all levels.
Following on from the report, you'll have a one-month window to book in for the follow-up hour-long call with your editor to discuss anything from the report further.
How does the process work?
If you're interested in this service, please contact the office, and a member of the team will assess your work (this is complimentary) and your project's suitability for a manuscript assessment.
Once you've paid for the assessment, we'll ask you to fill out a short book questionnaire, and will then pitch that alongside your materials to 2-3 editors who would be a good fit, based on their experience in your genre and your manuscript's needs. You'll typically be able to choose from this selection of editors, and then we'll request your full manuscript to be passed on. Your editor will spend 4-6 weeks completing the report, and we'll then proofread it before sending it back to you.
At the time of returning your report, we'll also ask you to fill out a pre-consultation form, where you'll outline the topics you'd like to discuss with your editor. We'll then put you in touch to arrange the 60-minute call.
How long does it take?
Our reports take 4-6 weeks to complete, and we'll always keep you apprised of any delay to this. If you're looking for a report with a quicker turnaround time, we do offer a two-week turnaround service billed at a higher rate. Please contact the office to arrange this.