What is a Manuscript Assessment? Writerful Books, 2 May 202316 October 2024 In the competitive and ever-changing landscape of the publishing industry, a manuscript assessment can become the vital tool for authors in getting their works published. Our manuscript assessment service can provide constructive feedback and advice to authors on how to enhance their work before publication. A manuscript assessment is an in-depth analysis of the story and craft of a novel or nonfiction book after the most recent draft has been written. It is a deep-dive into the manuscript conducted by an experienced editor but can also be undertaken by an industry expert, such as a literary agent, to evaluate the potential of the manuscript by providing valuable feedback to the author. It is different than a book review or beta reading which is usually focused on the content rather than the structure and craft of a manuscript. Manuscript Assessment FAQs A manuscript assessment is also known as an editorial evaluation and can uncover ways to strengthen the storytelling and correct any issues before the book is sent out to agents and publishers. The result of this assessment is a comprehensive report that provides feedback on elements such as the plot, characterization, dialogue, style, and grammar, as well as suggestions for improvement and overall marketability. What Should Authors Expect from a Manuscript Assessment? Authors should expect an honest evaluation of their work in the form of a comprehensive manuscript assessment report. The assessment will provide detailed commentary on the authors’ strengths, weaknesses, and improvements needed, as well as marketability ratings to prepare the author for the traditional publishing or self-publishing process. “The best thing an author can do to increase their chances of success is to have their work assessed,” advises Maria Loboda, a senior acquisitions editor at HarperCollins. “A manuscript assessment can provide a much-needed objective opinion on the work and provide actionable insights and recommendations on how to bring out the best in the story.” How to Prepare a Manuscript Before Submitting it? Prior to submitting a manuscript for assessment, authors should ensure that it is in its absolute best shape. This means that the manuscript should be proofread with a number of rounds of revisions and self-editing, to reflect professionalism and give a good first impression. It should also be formatted correctly, as per the correct guidelines or industry norms, as incorrect formatting can be a huge deal breaker for agents and editors. Be Open to Constructive Feedback When authors receive constructive feedback, they have the opportunity to make significant improvements to their manuscript and improve their writing. They can strengthen the plot, develop their characters, and improve the overall writing style. This, in turn, increases the chances of securing a publishing deal or signing with a literary agent. As a result, authors must remember to take the feedback seriously, revise their work as best they can, and resubmit it for review. Can a Manuscript Assessment Boost Your Chances of Being Published or Land a Literary Agent? A manuscript assessment can help authors determine whether their manuscript is ready for submission and increases the chances of successfully signing with a literary agent or obtaining a publishing deal. It can give authors the confidence needed to move forward in the publishing process and also provides them with a competitive edge when approaching agents and editors. “An assessment can give authors encouragement to take the next steps in their publishing journey,” says Allison Freedman, a literary agent from the Ross Yoon Agency in Washington, DC. “It can also give authors the knowledge they need to make improvements to their manuscript, and identify potential issues that might limit their ability to successfully sign with a literary agent or acquire a publishing deal.” A manuscript assessment is an invaluable tool for authors seeking to increase their chances of success in the publishing process. By providing an independent review, it gives authors feedback on where they can improve their work and strengthens the possibility of success with either a literary agent or a publishing deal. How to Prepare a Manuscript before Submitting it for an Assessment? Before submitting the manuscript for assessment, authors must proofread and review their work to the best of their ability. It should be error-free and easy to read. The manuscript should be in the correct format and meet the submission guidelines provided by the assessment service. Recommended: How a Manuscript Assessment Can Help You Find Your Voice as a Writer Are you Ready to Have Your Manuscript Assessed? A manuscript assessment can be a valuable tool for writers, especially those who might be new to the publishing process. The feedback you will receive can help you shape your work in a way that can make it irresistible to agents and publishers. Our manuscript assessment reports contain constructive and insightful feedback that can help you as a writer to improve your work before submitting it to an agent. The more polished your work, the higher the chances of it being noticed by the agent and securing a publishing deal. Manuscript Assessment FAQs Here’s what our authors had to say.. - James R. Thank you for taking the time to read my book and provide your feedback! I think it is very helpful, and I've definitely got a lot of work ahead to try and cut it down some. Thank you, James R. - James R.Read Moreread less - Mary K. Thanks for your quick turnaround on the report, but even more importantly, thank you for your thoughtful and constructive comments. I've been hesitant to contact the victim's family but you've encouraged me to give it a go and see what happens. Truthfully, in my mind this book is about possibly getting justice for Tatanisha as well as Dell. Thanks again for your excellent suggestions. Sincerely, Mary. - Mary K.Read Moreread less - Heather P. Thanks so much for this report, having had a quick read over I’m extremely happy with it. Everything that’s been said is fair, great food for thought and really helpful. I feel much more confident now about self-publishing, so kudos to the reader for not only doing this in such timely fashion but also with such style and understanding. - Heather P.Read Moreread less - Jupiter H. Thank you guys so much for the feedback! I’m sorry the first part was so hard to get through. I had concerns with a lot of the things that were mentioned, especially regarding pacing and if I started in the right place. This cleared up a lot of that and hopefully I can address a lot of the issues pointed out. - Jupiter H.Read Moreread less - Kathryn H. Thank you very much for returning this so quickly. I appreciate the kind words and support. That gives me the courage to try to get an agent for this story, although I haven't had luck finding an agent in the past. Best wishes, Kathryn. - Kathryn H.Read Moreread less - Mel K. Thanks for your feedback. Its quite critical, but better to get it now than later. Mel. - Mel K.Read Moreread less - Bob L. Thanks for the insightful comments. Beautifully written critique and I will use it to polish the manuscript. Regards, Bob Levey. - Bob L.Read Moreread less - Tom F. Sorry it has taken so long to get to you. I’ve been swamped with day-job work. I also want to thank you for reading and providing thoughtful comments. - Tom F.Read Moreread less - Hanif M. Thank you for your concise report which was quite helpful in highlighting the areas which need to be worked on in the manuscript. Indeed the middle part did seem to go off point and there is no need for several characters/situations. Additionally your comments on the appropriate dialogue and South London lingo are well noted. There were some attempts to highlight the disillusionment the protagonist faced when arriving Nigeria. That was also supposed to be part of his journey. However It's clear that the manuscript does require a good plot overhaul/change in the sections mentioned Naturally the services of a developmental and copy editor would be engaged. The point of this assessment was to ensure if the story had some potential. Best regards Hanif - Hanif M.Read Moreread less - Janene W. Thank you for these timely reports. Please pass on my thanks to the beta reader for his or her report. It was extremely helpful and I think I've gained a much better insight into my manuscript from his/her useful and honest comments. I have read them and have been chewing on the comments. There are many points listed in the reports that align with my instincts regarding the manuscript. These give me areas I can directly attack as I head into my next draft, and I appreciate that. - Janene W.Read Moreread less - Geoff M. Thank you very much for the comprehensive review, Declan! I very much appreciate it. I am going to see if I can combine the first three chapters into two in order to get things moving more quickly. Thanks again! - Geoff M.Read Moreread less - Rob D. I am happy with the advice you have provided, it is practical and identifies real areas on how I can improve it further. Seems I underestimated how “ready” the manuscript is and may explain why there has been a lot of rejection. - Rob D.Read Moreread less - John B. Thank you for providing a very informative and constructive critique. I feel most of the observations were quite valid and I will proceed with further refinements and edits. Thank you again, John. - John B.Read Moreread less - Frank Thank you for your report by Carrie. Please pass on my thanks to her also, particularly for her involvement in the story. I have made some changes in accordance with Carrie's recommendations. [...] Well Declan I guess it is time to test the publishers. I am still deliberating on whether to use a Literary Agent or just go direct to Publishers. Any ideas on this would be gratefully received. All the best, Frank. - FrankRead Moreread less - Peter B. I received your beta report and I first want to thank you for the kind comments you made about this story. Your suggestions and ideas were right on, and I’ve already made most of the corrections. I was stunned by the number of typos, etc. in the manuscript. I thought it was pretty clean. Thanks for pointing them out. I know that proofreading my own work will never be perfect, and to compound things, I’ve been proofing four different novels of mine all at the same time. I can see now that I need to take a different approach with it comes to proofing, and that means that I should probably follow your suggestion to hire a proofreader. That will free me to continue writing the new stories that keep swirling around in my head. 🙂 - Peter B.Read Moreread less - William Thank you so much for the invaluable feedback on Zoa's Arks. I am grateful for the cogent points you brought up. - WilliamRead Moreread less load more Our team of experienced editors is committed to providing you with the highest quality service possible. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with the quality of our work, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We will work with you to address any issues or concerns and either redo the service to your satisfaction or provide you with a full refund. We are dedicated to exceeding your expectations and helping you create the best book possible. You can have full confidence in our commitment to quality and client satisfaction. Book an Assessment Below! 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