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Jump-start your career
as a book author!
Why a manuscript assessment—also known as manuscript evaluation, critique, review, or consulting—is a good idea
- You get started positioning your book in the market in the right way.
- You receive a professional, objective evaluation so that you know for certain whether your work is ready to be presented to an agent or publisher.
- If you need to undertake revisions, the assessment gives you a clear direction for doing so.
- An assessment saves you time and editing costs.
- An assessment boosts your confidence as an author and increases your chances for successful publication.
What does the assessment include?
The assessment includes a close reading and analysis of your project. You then receive a full written report (2000–5000 words) covering the following:
- strengths of the work to be emphasized
- problems (if any) of presentation and formatting
- editorial issues (if any) and sample markup to illustrate typical problems and corrections
- problems (if any) of concept, structure, plotting, narrative style, dialogue, and characterization that might potentially reduce the market and publication appeal of fiction
- problems (if any) of concept, structure, content, style, and documentation that might potentially reduce the market and publication appeal of nonfiction
- practical suggestions for fixes
- thoughts on market positioning
- guidelines for preparing an effective synopsis and query
- step-by-step recommendations
- supplementary information documents geared to each client's project and needs
Options
Some clients stop with the assessment and do their own revision work; others return for full editing and/or book proposal preparation. Recommendations are made on an individual, no-obligation basis.
Assessments are best done using a Microsoft Word document sent via email attachment—this allows me to insert changes and comments into the MS using the editing tool Track Changes. Then, if you like the changes, you simply click to accept them. Please note that I no longer work with hard-copy MSS.
Turnaround time
Turnaround time, once the assessment begins, is usually 4–6 weeks.
Payment terms
Following the policy of professional editing and writing associations, I require full payment in advance for a first-time assessment. Ask me why...
Please pay by Interac email transfer, personal check, bank draft, or money order in US or Canadian currency, PAYABLE TO PATRICIA ANDERSON. I also accept Euro checks. Please let me know if you wish to have your fee quoted in Euros.
Find out your assessment cost
To find out what an assessment would cost you, email the TOTAL WORD COUNT of your manuscript.
I appreciate your interest in Helping You Get Published and wish you every success in your writing and publishing endeavors.
