Manuscript Appraisals
A professional manuscript appraisal can be worth its weight in gold. It can either confirm what you already believe - your book is ready - or it can help you determine exactly what is wrong - and how to fix it.
What to Expect
We will add comments to your Word document on areas that are not working and will offer suggestions on how to fix them. Not only that - you will also find comments on the areas that are fabulous just the way they are.
Teamed with in-manuscript notations, you will receive an overall report that answers questions about your manuscript including topics such as:
Is your book too short or too long, and, if so, why?
Have you missed any key ingredients or under-developed any scenes or topics?
Have you overwritten your story?
Are the characters original and fully developed?
Are there any issues with point of view? Is the backstory engaging and revealing or does it need work or perhaps deletion?
Is the plot original and compelling?Is there enough believability, suspense, action, conflict, and tension?
Are there any sections of flat or passive writing?
Are there any repetitive words or phrases?
Opening/Hook:
Does the opening “hook” intrigue readers and make them want to read more?
Does the story seem to start in the right place?
Character:
Is the protagonist someone readers can root for?
Do the protagonist’s motivations seem believable?
Is the protagonist unique, or in a unique situation?
Are the secondary characters interesting and believable?
Conflict:
Is the EXTERNAL conflict AGAINST the primary characters apparent and believable?
Is the plot original or told with a fresh twist?
Setting:
Do you have a clear sense of the story’s physical setting?
Do you know the place (eg. urban vs rural), time of year, when the story is set etc?
Dialogue:
Is there a good balance between interior monologue, description and exposition, action and dialogue?
Does the dialogue seem natural and in each character’s “voice”?
Is there anything else at all that you, as the author, could do to improve it?
A manuscript appraisal does not include editing or proof reading.
Prices start at $250 for up to 50,000 words. Contact me for a quote on your manuscript.
Teamed with in-manuscript notations, you will receive an overall report that answers questions about your manuscript including topics such as:
Is your book too short or too long, and, if so, why?
Have you missed any key ingredients or under-developed any scenes or topics?
Have you overwritten your story?
Are the characters original and fully developed?
Are there any issues with point of view? Is the backstory engaging and revealing or does it need work or perhaps deletion?
Is the plot original and compelling?Is there enough believability, suspense, action, conflict, and tension?
Are there any sections of flat or passive writing?
Are there any repetitive words or phrases?
Opening/Hook:
Does the opening “hook” intrigue readers and make them want to read more?
Does the story seem to start in the right place?
Character:
Is the protagonist someone readers can root for?
Do the protagonist’s motivations seem believable?
Is the protagonist unique, or in a unique situation?
Are the secondary characters interesting and believable?
Conflict:
Is the EXTERNAL conflict AGAINST the primary characters apparent and believable?
Is the plot original or told with a fresh twist?
Setting:
Do you have a clear sense of the story’s physical setting?
Do you know the place (eg. urban vs rural), time of year, when the story is set etc?
Dialogue:
Is there a good balance between interior monologue, description and exposition, action and dialogue?
Does the dialogue seem natural and in each character’s “voice”?
Is there anything else at all that you, as the author, could do to improve it?
A manuscript appraisal does not include editing or proof reading.
Prices start at $250 for up to 50,000 words. Contact me for a quote on your manuscript.
How long will it take?
Editing done well is a slow job, as it takes intense concentration and I want to help you produce your best work. Therefore I can only accept a limited number of documents per week.
Therefor you can expect your work returned to you:
It is absolutely possible that the job will be completed ahead of time, but in order to have some breathing-room in case of emergencies or difficulties, I set longer time frames than anticipated so as not to disappoint clients.
Therefor you can expect your work returned to you:
- 1,000 - 5,000 words: allow 3 days
- 5,500 - 10,000 words: allow 1 week
- 10,500 - 30,000 words: allow 2 weeks
- 30,500 - 50,000 words: allow 3 weeks
- 50,500 - 90,000 words: allow 4 weeks
- 90,000 plus ...: allow 6 weeks
It is absolutely possible that the job will be completed ahead of time, but in order to have some breathing-room in case of emergencies or difficulties, I set longer time frames than anticipated so as not to disappoint clients.
