detailed professional analysis
Manuscript assessment
A manuscript assessment provides you with:
what you get
Service includes…
You’ll receive a comprehensive editorial report (10–20 pages). This will focus on key big-picture elements: plot, structure, characterisation, setting/world-building, your target market, and any other specific areas you may need help with, such as broader areas of writing craft. The report will be constructive and solutions-focused, with some examples from your manuscript included to guide you in implementing feedback.
I’ll also send you a manuscript revision guide to help you plan your changes, and a customised resource sheet so you have plenty of further reading on anything covered in my notes.
After the assessment, we can have a 30-minute follow-up call to go over any questions so you feel confident about where to take your next draft. Feedback on a revision plan (up to 5,000 words) is also included.
What’s the difference between developmental editing and a manuscript assessment?
I know this can be confusing – I’ve written an entire blog post to explain this.
Both of these services are forms of developmental editing. The key difference between developmental editing and a manuscript assessment is the intensity. They both focus on the big picture, but a developmental edit is more hands-on, since it also includes marginal comments and examples within the manuscript itself.
A manuscript assessment covers the same big-picture areas in the form of an editorial report. It’s a detailed, thorough evaluation, but leaves out the more intense aspects of a fuller developmental edit, like the marginal comments. It’s ideal for authors who want professional feedback but worry about being overwhelmed by too much intensive commentary, or who don’t have the budget for a full developmental edit.
not ready for a full assessment? try the…
Mini assessment
This is a short diagnostic report covering my initial editorial impressions of your manuscript, and 1–3 key areas for improvement. I’ll also provide you with feedback on the overall marketability of your manuscript and guidance on next steps – such as whether further self-editing, rewrites, or additional targeted revisions might be useful.
Best suited for authors with an early draft who want general editorial impressions on their story and concepts before deciding whether to revise or rewrite.
still unsure?
What other writers are saying
Fantastic
This is exactly what I was needing and I genuinely cannot express how grateful I am. Your notes are fantastic and have really helped me to see a clearer direction for the rewrite. They’ve really helped things click into place for me and your ideas on how to strengthen weak areas, bits to cut and add etc. are exactly all of the things I’ve been stuck with and brainstorming ideas to try and expand on. It’s given me a new burst of excitement to start thinking of the revision and take this from a somewhat good idea to a great story.
She is simply amazing
The manuscript assessment I received from Rachel was extraordinarily helpful. I was blown away by Rachel’s thoughtful and thorough work and there is no doubt that my novel will be incalculably stronger because of Rachel’s feedback. She is simply amazing. If you are a writer in search of professional editing services, you found them. End of search.
A valuable resource
Rachel was a professional from start to finish. Her feedback was comprehensive, but also concise and direct. Her different service offerings make her a valuable resource for anyone working on a manuscript at any stage. Her professionalism, dedication to the craft of writing, and general literary acumen reflected great credit on her, and I would highly recommend her services.
I feel much more immersed
Thank you so much for your feedback – it’s really helped me cut away all the fat from the story and streamline it, and to really focus on the story that I want to tell and what I want readers to get out of it. I’d struggled to explain my book to others and I see now that this was because I was throwing too many plotlines and characters at the wall and seeing what would stick. I’ve re-written around 50,000 words from scratch and it already feels so much better and is more snappy than the earlier draft. I feel much more immersed as I feel I know the characters and the world better than before.
An injection of energy
Rachel’s manuscript assessment taught me so much, and unlocked a completely new way of looking at and understanding what did and didn’t work in my manuscript. Her notes were incredibly thorough, thoughtful and detailed, returned in a well-structured document with constructive ideas for fixing the big issues. I felt such an injection of energy after working with her, it has been invaluable for me.
Inspiring
Your manuscript assessment was exactly what I was hoping for. You confirmed some thoughts I had, raised plenty of new ones and helped me see where things were working where otherwise I had doubts. My head was nodding throughout and I found your suggestions/explanations inspiring. I can’t wait to get to work. Thank you so much.