Know what your draft needs before you revise
An editor reads your whole manuscript and writes a detailed report on what is working, what is holding it back and where to focus your next revision, without a line-by-line edit.
- Free initial consultation
- Clear written quote
Sometimes the most useful thing an editor can give you is a clear map, not a rewrite.
A clear diagnosis at a lower cost
A manuscript assessment sits between beta readers and a full developmental edit. Your editor reads every page, takes notes on structure, character, pacing and point of view, and then writes a report that sets out the main issues in order of importance. There are no tracked changes in the text itself, which keeps the cost well below an edit.
Many authors use the report as a revision plan they can work through on their own. Others use it to decide whether a developmental edit is worth the investment, or to check a draft before querying agents. Either way, you come away with a specific, honest picture of the book and a clear sense of the next step.
What you gain with manuscript review & assessment
An editor reads your whole manuscript and writes a detailed report on what is working, what is holding it back and where to focus your next revision, without a line-by-line edit.
The whole book, read
Your editor reads the complete manuscript rather than a sample, so the report reflects how the opening, middle and ending work together and where momentum rises or falls.
Priorities, not a list
Feedback is ranked so you know which two or three issues will make the greatest difference, and which smaller points can wait until a later draft.
A sensible investment
Because there is no in-text editing, an assessment costs considerably less than a developmental edit, while still giving you professional, book-length feedback to revise from.
Market-aware comments
Your editor notes how the book sits within its genre, including length, tone and reader expectations, so you can position it realistically for self-publishing or submission.
From first read to final file
You are kept informed at every stage, and nothing moves forward without your approval.
- 1
Send the manuscript
Share the full draft with a short note about genre, intended readers and what you already suspect may need work.
- 2
Confirm scope
We confirm the word count, fee and delivery date in writing, and match you with an editor suited to your genre.
- 3
The read
Your editor reads the manuscript in full, makes private notes as they go, and then drafts the report around the most significant issues.
- 4
Report and call
You receive the report, take time to absorb it, and then talk it through with your editor to clarify anything before revising.
What our notes look like
Tracked changes and margin comments, each with a reason. An illustrative sample, not a client manuscript.
The ferry left at seven, and by the time Ada found a seat the coast had thinned to a pencil line. She checked the letter again, though she knew it by heart. She thought about her childhood summers at the house and the long walks on the dunes with her aunt, and the arguments, and the year everything changed. Her aunt had written two words, and nothing else.
Everything in the brief
The exact scope is confirmed in writing before work begins, so you always know what you are paying for.
- Writers with a finished draft and an uncertain next step
- Authors weighing whether a full developmental edit is needed
- Novelists wanting professional feedback before querying agents
- Full read of the complete manuscript
- Written report on structure, character and pacing
- Issues ranked by their impact on the book
- Notes on genre fit and overall length
- Chapter-by-chapter observations where helpful
- Suggested revision priorities and next steps
- Follow-up call to discuss the report
Let’s talk about your book
Share a few details and we will reply with practical next steps for manuscript review & assessment, and a written quote if you would like one.
- No obligation and no pressure
- We aim to reply to every enquiry within one business day.
- Your details stay private
Book a Manuscript Assessment
It only takes a minute.
An assessment is a report about your manuscript; an edit works inside it. With an assessment you get a detailed written analysis and recommendations, but no tracked changes or line comments. You then revise using the report as a guide, which is why it costs less than a developmental edit.
Ideally, yes. An assessment is most useful on a complete draft, because many structural problems only show up when the ending is in place. If you are partway through, a review of the opening chapters and an outline may help more, and we can suggest that instead.
No one can promise that, and we will not pretend to. What the report can do is show you how the book compares with what readers in your genre tend to expect, and where it may fall short, so you can make informed decisions.
Timing depends mainly on length. A shorter nonfiction book can be read and reported on faster than a long fantasy novel. We give you a firm delivery date when we confirm the fee, and say upfront if our schedule is busy.
Your editor's notes and report give any later edit a strong head start, and we can pass them to the editor who takes on the next stage. Whether any fee is credited toward a follow-on edit is something we confirm when quoting.
Often paired with
Ready to start on manuscript review & assessment?
Tell us where your book is today. We will read your sample and recommend a clear, honest next step, with no obligation.