My manuscript reading and appraisal service is suited to writers —
- Have completed a book-length manuscript (e.g. short story collection, creative nonfiction manuscript or novel) and want an appraisal before further revising and/or sending to agents, publishers, or competitions. This is an especially important role for me as a manuscript assessor, helping the writer judge when the manuscript is ready for sending out.
- Have short stories, micro fictions, creative nonfiction essays or other literary experiments they want appraised, along with suggestions as to potential journals and other opportunities.
- Who want a highly experienced and empathic editor and author to read their work and respond with expertise, care and engagement.
For short story or creative nonfiction essays, you can have your manuscript read before you send it in to a competitor or journal submission. For short works with a deadline approaching, try to make sure you leave enough time for me to read it assessment and for you to do further work on it if need be.
These days, it’s highly recommended to have an appraisal and feedback on a book-length manuscript that you’ve put years into, before submitting to an agent, publishers or competitions.
We begin with a friendly conversation via email or phone about your manuscript and what you’d like assessed, what your aims are for it, and how the work fits in with your other writing, and your publishing aims.
My report will appraise the work overall, taking consideration of its genre and intended readership/audience; structure of the whole and its parts (sections, chapters, scenes) ; characterisation; pacing; language etc. I will provide suggestions for further development of the work. I also provide extensive in-text feedback.
After the manuscript assessment is completed and sent to you, there’s opportunity to further briefly discuss the report. You can then raise questions, and clarify anything you’re unclear about.
I’m as supportive of genre writers as I am of others aiming to be innovative and bring new ideas and approaches to established audiences. I gladly work with diverse writers and have a commitment to being a diverse ally.
Start by contacting me to discuss your project.
Let me know the kind of manuscript it is and your writing history. From there we’ll have a conversation via phone, zoom or email about what you’re wanting to achieve. We’ll discuss the best format for sending the work to me; payment; time frames and any other questions you might have.