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.. - Rudy S. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I wanted to say the notes were extremely helpful and gave me alot to think about. I don't know if too much time has passed by now but I thought I should try. My only question for the reader to clarify on is that I forgot to mention that this book is the first of a planned series. And she said the characters didn't feel developed, and i'm just wondering if knowing that changes anything? I hope the Covid didn't knock you around too much and that you're feeling better. I've read the notes and first wanta thank you for the feedback. I genuinely appreciate it. - Rudy S.Read Moreread less - Jo D. Thank you for the report. I like my premise for this work, but clearly I’m having trouble pulling it off. Thanks for catching so much. Best, Jo - Jo D.Read Moreread less - Jeffrey M. I totally get why it took longer to read. I feel a little goofy pestering you so much, I just wasn’t sure. You have nothing to apologize for. You were right, this was a top notch reading which will greatly help my revisions. - Jeffrey M.Read Moreread less - John D. That’s terrific, exactly what I was hoping for (would have been better if I’d sent the final edit version). I would like to purchase another $110 worth in a couple of weeks, if available. John Dawson. - John D.Read Moreread less - Sean C. Thank you so much for your report. And I agree with, say, 95% of it. I always wanted to better describe the technical aspects of the business and I could have written 200,000 - 300,000 words, but I learned as I went along that that was not the route to take. I’m happy now to say hello again to the text and begin to revise it pretty much in the manner you suggest. I must say that it’s the journey of writing the book that is so satisfying – I suspect I will be lost when it’s actually finished (although I have an idea for another one). Good luck with Heart of Darkness, one of my favorites; you’ll easily breeze through it since it’s so short, then think, “what was he actually talking about”? Enjoy! - Sean C.Read Moreread less - 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 - Jim C. Thanks for the feedback. I have gone through about half of it so far and find myself in agreement with most of the points and having a good think about some broader issues they raise. Will probably have a few questions once I have had time to digest things a bit. Best wishes, Jim. - Jim C.Read Moreread less - Mark M. Hi Declan, what can I say? I'm thrilled and flattered by your response to the book, and I can't thank you enough for your thoughtful commentary. The report was so well structured and insightful, extracting multiple examples and delving deep into the complexities of the characters and plot and themes and subject matter... I don't know how you were able to process everything so quickly but I'm beyond impressed. I almost wish I had more work for you! So please feel free to weigh in on the other aspects! 😉 As you know, I was hesitant to get into the report... partly because you turned it so quickly I assumed you had a miserable experience! but mainly because it's difficult for me to anticipate or accept any form of praise after so much rejection (even more difficult to actually feel authenticity from someone you *hire* for their feedback). That said, and at the risk of overusing superlatives myself, I am appreciative of your work and your in-depth attention to the story---for both what was on the page and not. [...] I digress. In short, thank you for giving me a bit more confidence in what has so far been a soul-bruising journey. Looking forward to your thoughts. Cheers, Mark - Mark M.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 - Patricia L. I took a quick read of the report yesterday and will focus in today. It appears I have a lot of work to do to create a book people will buy. Appreciate the honesty. Patricia - Patricia L.Read Moreread less - Jennifer B. Thank you so much. This feedback was extremely helpful and I think it will be crucial in assisting me to tell the story I want. I greatly appreciate it! Sincerely, Jennifer Byrd - Jennifer B.Read Moreread less - Lulu K. Thank you so much for the report and for all your observations within it. Having this professional guidance is what I have been yearning for since I started writing the book. I am an early school leaver and also suffer from dyslexia so I knew there would be many grammar mistakes as well restructuring to be done. I sometimes overwrite things as what I am trying to express gets tied up in my mind in knots of confusion. - Lulu K.Read Moreread less - Margaret D. To cut a long story short. Could you improve the story and if so what would it cost me to do so. I'm thinking that a bit of tweaking will help the story tremendously. Margaret - Margaret D.Read Moreread less - Philip K. Hello Declan – I have been through your further assessment, thanks for those insights I can certainly work with those and will follow up on the contacts you suggest asap. I’m pleased to report that after many months of research and writing I have finally been able, this week, to self publish on Amazon the novel named “Treaty or Treason”! A close call with Penguin Ireland sadly didn’t work out for traditional publication. I would like to pass on particular thanks to Declan at Writerful Books (Dublin and Melbourne) who assessed the manuscript and helped me with many comments and kept me trudging or swimming on. Some famous author once commented that writing a book is like swimming the English Channel, you don’t know where you are, don’t know how far you have come or how far it is to go, but you have to keep swimming! Couldn’t agree more. Philip Kerrigan. - Philip K.Read Moreread less - Morgan V. I appreciate your quick and efficient work on this. As a writer, my biggest fear is that I'll bore people in the process of the read. Hopefully that wasn't the case here, though it sounds like it did a bit in the middle. I think my plan is to go the self publishing route. Perhaps that will make a difference in my word count. I did shave off about 10,000 words before I gave it to you. I don't know how in the world I'd ever get it down to 90. Then again, if it is in the YA category, perhaps it needs to be. Which brings me to that. Where do you think you would find it on a Barnes and Noble bookshelf? And is there a certain niche readership that I would need to find for it to latch on? - Morgan V.Read Moreread less - Allison D. Thanks very much, Declan—impressively speedy! I’ve passed your report on to the editor. Allison Draper - HarperCollins - Allison D.Read 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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