Manuscript Review

You've finally finished your first draft. Now it's time to get down to the hard work of editing.

When we think of editing, we tend to think of sparkling prose and error-free sentences. But while polish is an important part of the process, the bulk of the work comes earlier, during the developmental editing phase.

Development is where rough drafts become whole stories. It's where writers take an honest, hard-nosed look at their work, determine what their stories still need, and learn to let go of what they don't. A manuscript review, sometimes called a developmental evaluation, is the first and most important step in the developmental editing process, offering a big-picture assessment of your story’s structure and the strength of your narrative as a whole.

Unlike a developmental line edit, which focuses on improving writing and storytelling at the scene and sentence level, a manuscript review is intended to identify broad structural issues, address potential publishing pitfalls, and provide professional recommendations for revision, allowing the author to create a stronger and more marketable story.

As your reviewing editor, I'll take a deep dive into your work, detailing its strengths and weaknesses in plot, pacing, theme, voice, and character development. I'll also conduct a brief market evaluation to help you understand where your work fits in the current market. We'll then meet to discuss your goals, questions, and concerns. Together, we'll create a comprehensive roadmap to guide you on your editing journey.

• I'll read the entire manuscript and produce a comprehensive ten-to-twenty-page editor's letter and critique comprised of the following:

—a summary of my thoughts and impressions, highlighting the story's strengths and weaknesses

—an in-depth evaluation of individual story components (plot structure, character development, etc.)

—a brief market evaluation, including comps and related masterworks

—an editing “action plan” that makes specific recommendations for broad developmental revision

• Once you've received your critique and had time to review it, I'll join you for a one-hour "coffee date" phone conference where you may ask for clarification or pose any additional questions.

• A manuscript review is a developmental tool intended to help authors self-edit their work. It is not a copyediting service and is not intended to provide line edits or correct grammar, spelling, or style mistakes. You will not receive a markup of your manuscript. Detailed editing is generally unhelpful at this point in the process anyway, as substantial revisions often follow a review. If you would like your draft copyedited, I'm happy to do so at my regular rate. (Ask about multiservice discounts.)

• Regrettably, I am not an author/editor and a lawyer, and I cannot provide any legal answers or advice regarding copyrighted material or anything else.

• While I enjoy keeping in touch with writers after a review and usually have no problem answering questions via email, the amount of time I can spend working with non-active clients is limited. I can't read and assess your revisions or engage in further development unless I've been hired to do so.