Manuscript Evaluation

What is a Manuscript Evaluation?

A Manuscript Evaluation provides a bird’s-eye view of your story’s main strengths and weaknesses. It lays out practical, craft-based solutions you can implement to shape a stronger, brighter, more engaging narrative.

What kind of feedback goes into a Manuscript Evaluation?

In a Manuscript Evaluation, I’ll assess how well your vision for your book is landing on the page. In service of supporting your creative aims and appealing to your future readers, I’ll examine your narrative structure, plot and character development, pacing, point of view, themes, marketability, and much more.

I’ll ask the following questions of your work:

  • Is your premise compelling, fresh, and believable? Does it have market potential?

  • Are you meeting (and subverting) your target audience’s expectations for your genre?

  • Is the point of view effective and consistent?

  • Is your narrative arc soundly structured, or are key beats missing or misplaced?

  • Have you nailed the story’s pacing or does it drag in parts? 

  • Are the characters three-dimensional? Likable? Relatable? Are their arcs satisfyingly introduced, developed, and resolved?

  • Is the setting immersive? Does it successfully elicit the reader’s five senses?

  • Does your dialogue breathe with life or are some exchanges wooden?

  • Do your core themes come across as you intended? Will readers “get the point?”

  • What else would support your ability to connect with your readers and tell a meaningful, memorable story? 

What form does the Manuscript Evaluation take?

☑ A custom feedback report of 4–10 pages or more, depending on the length of your manuscript

☑ A 30-minute follow-up call to go over my feedback, ask questions, and firm up a revision plan

Is a Manuscript Evaluation right for you?

Maybe you have a hunch that your manuscript is a little wobbly in some areas, but you’ve read it so many times, you’re starting to go cross-eyed. You want an external set of eyes on your work to point you in the right direction—ideally, from a seasoned industry professional who will cheerlead your creative vision while giving you useful constructive feedback.

If that sounds like you, a Manuscript Evaluation might be just what you need! I often recommend this option as a first step of the editing process.

If you aren’t sure which kind of editing would best serve your book, feel free to get in touch and I’ll gladly provide you with guidance.

Shine a light on what’s working well in your story and what’s still rough around the edges.

Contact me for a free quote

FAQ

  • We’ll make a great team if you write…

    🚀 Middle grade fiction — Realistic & imaginary worlds

    🌩️ YA fiction — Character-driven with all the big feels

    🎇 Picture books — Fiction & nonfiction

    🔮 Speculative fiction — Urban fantasy, high fantasy, magical realism, soft sci-fi

    ❤️‍🔥 Romance — Contemporary, paranormal, romantasy, LGBTQ+

    🕰️ Memoir — Identity, coming of age, relationships, family, nature & environment, travel, health & wellbeing, visual art, dance, music… or hit me with your wackiest topic!

    🎴 Graphic novels — Junior, Middle grade, YA

    1. Please contact me and share a brief description of your WIP, along with an excerpt of the first 5000 words or so (or the full manuscript of a picture book).

    2. To familiarize me with your creative vision and publishing goals, you are welcome to fill out this questionnaire.

      Or, if you prefer, we can schedule a free 15-minute tea & chat to get acquainted and discuss your editing needs.

    3. I’ll email you a quote and a free sample edit to help you decide whether we’re a good creative fit.

    4. Once we’ve decided to partner up (hurrah!), I’ll send you a brief agreement. Signature of the agreement plus a 15% deposit guarantees your slot in my calendar. Payments may be sent by e-Transfer (Canada) or PayPal (US & international).

  • A Manuscript Evaluation is a lighter, more hands-off edit.

    In a Manuscript Evaluation, I identify recurring problems in your manuscript and give you an example or two of how they manifest; it’s up to you to locate the rest.

    In a Developmental Edit, I flag the problem areas all the way across your manuscript and discuss how you might address them in each context.

  • 100% Human Editor

    I do not employ LLMs such as ChatGPT to edit manuscripts. I won’t feed any part of your work to an LLM; nor will I use AI to inform my editorial judgment or draft my communications.

    100% Human Author

    I do not accept submissions of manuscripts that are partly or fully AI-generated. If you didn’t create the storyline and characters, or the prose isn’t entirely your own, we aren’t a good editorial match.

    Using a spelling and grammar checker to correct typos is perfectly fine.

Other Editing Services

“Laura’s manuscript evaluation was broad in scope and exhaustive in detail, providing an excellent roadmap for moving forward. Her ability to spot inconsistencies, track timelines, and catch subtle details is remarkable. She was masterful in helping me refine pacing, heighten tension, enrich scene vividness, and build trust with my readers.

Laura isn’t the kind of editor who simply hands back your manuscript with the wrinkles ironed out. Instead, she teaches the why behind every improvement, empowering you to elevate your writing to its best.”

— Joseph Keon, Memoirist

“Laura delivered valuable suggestions on deepening characterization and flagged areas where I needed to activate readers’ emotions. I’m grateful for the gentle push to delete scenes in favour of a more dynamic plot. Highly recommend!”

— Tawnia Courage, Middle-grade & YA author