Critiques

For Full Manuscript Critiques, you receive:

Comprehensive Editorial Letter broken into strategic sections:

✓ Overall Impression – My reaction as a publishing professional and reader
✓ Analysis – Deep dive into what’s working and what’s not
✓ Areas to Improve – Specific problems identified with guidance on fixing them
✓ Areas of Excellence – What you’re doing really well that you should preserve
✓ Action Plan – Prioritized steps for revision
✓ Recommendations – What type of editing or next steps you need
✓ Follow-up Consultation – Link to schedule a phone conversation (typically 1 hour) within 2 weeks to discuss the critique, ask questions, and clarify anything that needs explanation.

For First Five and First Chapter Critiques:
Focused feedback (not a lengthy editorial letter) on whether readers would be hooked and specific ways to strengthen your opening.

What makes my critiques valuable: My BA in publishing and extensive experience mean I evaluate your manuscript through multiple lenses. I consider craft quality, genre expectations, reader engagement, and market positioning.

You receive honest professional assessment with actionable guidance for improvement.

Typical timeline: 2 weeks for average-length manuscripts

Why it takes this long:

Week 1: I read your full manuscript and take detailed notes as I read, evaluating structure, character, pacing, prose quality, genre conventions, and marketability.

Break period: I intentionally wait a few days before writing your editorial letter.

Why the wait matters: This allows me to process which elements of your manuscript are still dominating my thoughts days later. Those are the pieces (whether strengths or problems) that most need addressed in your critique letter.

Week 2: I write your comprehensive editorial letter with specific guidance.

Variations:

• Shorter manuscripts (under 50K words): May finish in 1 week
• Complex or longer manuscripts: May request 3 weeks

Rush critiques available for authors with deadline pressure—contact me to discuss expedited options.

Yes—I offer two tiers to accommodate different budgets and needs:

OVERVIEW CRITIQUE
Starting at $400 (for manuscripts up to 50,000 words)

• Editorial report: 3-5 pages
• Covers key strengths and weaknesses
• Actionable guidance for improvement
• Follow-up consultation included

Best for: Authors who want professional assessment without extensive detail, or who have specific questions about their manuscript.

COMPREHENSIVE CRITIQUE
Starting at $850 (for manuscripts up to 50,000 words)
$1050 (for manuscripts 50,000-75,000 words)

• Editorial report: 10-25+ pages
• In-depth analysis of every major element
• Detailed feedback on structure, character, pacing, prose, marketability
• Specific revision guidance
• Follow-up consultation included

Best for: Authors who want thorough professional evaluation before investing in editing, or who need detailed guidance for revision.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES:

First Five Critique: Evaluation of just your opening pages
First Chapter Critique: Assessment of your complete first chapter

Both options provide focused feedback on whether your opening hooks readers and how to strengthen it without the investment of a full manuscript critique.

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Publishing and English—comprehensive 4-year training in editorial theory, market analysis, and publishing strategy

2. Experience: 25+ years editing fiction and nonfiction across multiple genres

3. Volume: 13+ million words edited during my career

4. Fiction judge: Multiple writing contests annually—I evaluate manuscripts and see what works (and what doesn’t) across writing styles and skill levels

5. Developmental editing expertise: I specialize in big-picture structural work, which means I’ve trained for identifying what makes manuscripts work or fail

6. Genre knowledge: Deep understanding of genre conventions, tropes, and reader expectations across the genres I critique

7. Teaching background: Former secondary English teacher and tutor—I know how to explain clearly and break down complex concepts

8. Publishing industry insight: My degree and experience mean I evaluate manuscripts not just for craft quality but for market viability and publishing potential

Bottom line: You’re receiving a critique from a publishing professional who understands both the creative and commercial aspects of books—not just someone who likes to read.

Yes! Like many aspects of publishing, the terminology isn’t standardized across the industry.

These terms mean the same thing:

• Manuscript critique
• Manuscript assessment
• Manuscript evaluation
• Manuscript report
• Editorial assessment

All refer to the professional evaluation of your manuscript’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential along with guidance on how to improve it.

What matters isn’t the terminology—it’s the quality of the evaluation you receive. My education, experience, and comprehensive understanding of both craft and market mean you receive a  professional assessment that helps you make your manuscript stronger.

I specialize in genres where strong narrative structure and character development matter most:

Nonfiction:

• Memoir and biography
• Creative nonfiction
• Self-help and personal development
• Inspirational and religious works
• How-to and prescriptive nonfiction

Fiction:

• Contemporary romance and women’s fiction
• Historical fiction (Civil War era onward)
• Middle grade fiction
• Biblical fiction
• “Clean” fiction (I prefer books without erotica or excessive gore.)

Why I’m selective: I critique best when I’m genuinely engaged with the story and understand the genre’s market expectations. My expertise in these genres means I can provide informed feedback on both craft quality and market positioning.

If your genre isn’t listed: Contact me to discuss whether I’m a good fit for your manuscript. I may still be able to help, or I can recommend another professional better suited to your genre.