Have you ever wondered about manuscript assessments and whether or not they are worth forking out the money to get? Maybe you’re unsure what stage of the writing/publishing process an assessment needs. Or perhaps you think your manuscript is perfect, but you’re struggling to place it with an agent or publisher?
Enter manuscript assessments!
Essentially, a manuscript assessment highlights what’s good about your novel and what needs work from an experienced editor who knows what publishers and agents are looking for. And we do it in a super easy-to-read report format that won’t feel overwhelming (trust us!).
While a manuscript appraisal points out specific issues and offers general advice on improving your manuscript, it doesn’t delve into detailed editing or advice for every scene. You won’t find many comments marked up on your manuscript. Instead, you’ll receive a detailed report that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript, as well as suggestions on how to improve and rework it before you take the next step toward editing, publishing, etc.
In this blog post, we will delve into the world of manuscript assessments, exploring their purpose, importance, and how they can help you elevate your work to a publishable standard.
What is a Manuscript Assessment?
In the realm of trade publishing, a manuscript assessment is an editorial report that evaluates the integrity of a manuscript. Its primary purpose is to assess whether the manuscript fulfils its intended objectives and to gauge the amount of editorial work required to bring it to a publishable standard.
Manuscript assessments provide critical insights into your story, identify strengths and weaknesses, and offer guidance on improving the manuscript’s overall quality.
When doing up your report, we’ll look at the following (among many, many other things):
- Story structure
- Character development
- Pacing, tone, voice, etc.
- Writing style
- Novel strengths and weaknesses
- General feedback and recommendations.
Understanding the Goals of A Manuscript Assessment
Assessing Conceptual Integrity
One of the core goals of a manuscript assessment is to assess the conceptual integrity of the manuscript.
What does this mean, though?
Well, essentially, it means that we’ll delve into how everything blends together and whether or not it all works within the genre of your book. It also means we’ll look at whether or not we can see your theme, goals, motivations, etc. and if they are clear and concise.
Overall, an assessment will analyse how well the story is constructed, ensuring it flows smoothly and captivates readers from start to finish.
Identifying Publishing Viability
Manuscript assessments also aim to determine the publishing viability of a manuscript.
By understanding the purpose of the publication, target market, and readership, an assessment will gauge whether the book aligns with market demands and trends. This information is crucial for those of you seeking to make your work commercially successful and appeal to a wider audience.
How Can Manuscript Assessment Help You?
Objective Feedback
Writing a novel can be a profoundly personal experience, and you may (should) develop emotional attachments to your work. You’re bleeding your heart and soul into the page and no doubt growing attached to certain characters, plot lines, settings, phrases, etc.
That’s where a manuscript appraisal can help. Essentially, it’s a way to get professional and objective feedback and allow you to see what works and what doesn’t. This goes beyond a beta read because you receive a professional report from someone who knows the industry!
Targeted Guidance
Understanding what works well and what needs improvement within your manuscript allows you to focus your attention on what needs to be changed in your manuscript. While this will ultimately make your manuscript stronger, it also gives you a better chance at landing an amazing agent or publisher.
Navigating the Publishing Landscape
For those of you seeking traditional publishing, a manuscript assessment will provide valuable insights into the marketability of your work. Understanding the target audience and readership preferences will help you align your books with the demands of the industry, increasing the chances of securing a publishing deal. This can also work for self-publishing authors, though there is more flexibility for creative control over that environment.
While the manuscript assessment isn’t always something you need when trying to get published, if you are struggling to land a publishing deal or are ready to take your novel to the next step but don’t want to hire an editor yet because you know your book isn’t quite there yet, an assessment can be a great way to get valuable feedback so you can move forward. They are an amazing, fun, and non-invasive way of helping you identify what needs amending before taking the next step, and we love doing them!
If you think your book is in need of a manuscript assessment, submit this form and we’d love to help! They’re one of our favourite things to do.
Happy writing!
