A manuscript appraisal shows you where your book is working and where it needs work. It gives you direction and confidence to get to the next draft.
Most editors offer manuscript appraisals as a written report, but I offer them as a recorded video workshop, which has three advantages over a written report:
- we can discuss what you want to achieve and what you’ve already tried, which allows me to offer advice that’s specific to your skills and experience
- we can workshop issues and ideas and possibly come up with solutions together (two heads are better than one)
- it costs less than a written appraisal (hooray!)
I offer two appraisal options:
- mini appraisal for the first 10K words
- maxi appraisal for your complete manuscript.
A mini appraisal can be really helpful if you:
- would like to refresh your approach to self-editing
- want to know if you are on the right track
- need to reboot your confidence in your book
- have an endless draft that you can’t rein in (yes I can help you with that even when I only read 10K words).
A maxi appraisal is great for when you’ve written and revised as far as you can go, and are ready for some feedback.
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Manuscript appraisal workshops FAQs
What does the appraisal workshop cover?
As with a written manuscript appraisal, the workshop looks at all the building blocks of your book.
For fiction this includes:
- story arc
- character development
- rhythm, pace and tension.
For business books this includes assessing whether your book is:
- pitched correctly for your ideal client
- getting your key message across
- showing how you stand out from the crowd.
When is the right time to get a manuscript appraisal?
An appraisal can be helpful with either a finished draft or a work in progress.
- For a finished draft it will pick up any areas that need to be tightened or developed before the fine tuning of copy editing.
- For a work in progress it can pin-point opportunities for development, give you reassurance you are on the right track, or help you get back on track if you’ve wandered off course.
If you’ve not had your manuscript read by someone who is able to give constructive feedback, such as a fellow writer or a beta reader, I highly recommend you start your editing journey with an appraisal. It’s important to look at the big picture before you deep dive into detail. It will result in a better book and can save you money in the long run.
How much does it cost?
- mini appraisal (first 10K words) $350
- maxi appraisal (full manuscript) from $1150 for 80K words
What happens after the appraisal?
The aim of the appraisal is that you have enough feedback to get to final draft, ready for copy editing.
If you need further support to get to final draft, we can set up a writing coaching plan to help you through the next development phase.
Is a manuscript appraisal your next step towards being published?
Contact Lu