Manuscript Paid Critique
Manuscript Critiques
We would love to critique up to 10 pages of your fiction or non-fiction manuscript for you. When you submit one, please follow these guidelines:
- Double space
- 12 point, Times New Roman font
- One space between sentences (not two)
- Indent paragraphs
- No extra lines between paragraphs
We'll be looking at the marketability, structure, flow, transitions, style, clarity, content, grammar, punctuation, and consistency in your manuscript and we'll make notes in your manuscript as we go so you'll know what to fix when we send it back to you. For fiction, we'll also be looking at your plot, scene structure, character development, and point of view usage. We can handle your manuscript critique on paper or electronically (using MS Word's track changes and comments features). We know the value that some place on having a critique done on paper, but we encourage clients to submit manuscripts to us electronically so you can become accustomed to the electronic process, since that is what prospective publishers will require.
Book Proposal Overviews
We will examine your book proposal and offer our advice about how you can improve it before you send it to a prospective publisher or agent. We'll be looking at the marketability, structure, flow, transitions, style, clarity, content, grammar, punctuation, and consistency. For fiction, we'll also be looking at your plot, scene structure, character development, and point of view usage. We can handle your critique on paper or electronically (using MS Word's track changes and comments features). We know the value that some place on having a critique done on paper, but we encourage clients to submit proposals to us electronically so you can become accustomed to the electronic process, since that is what prospective publishers will require.
Book proposals consist of many parts. We prefer that you send us at least:
- An overview which should be single spaced and at least a half a page long up to a full page. The content should include three sections. You can label them as such or you can just cover all of them in the narrative. Here's what you need to cover:
- A description of the problem/need (use stats, quotes, or anything else you can think of to paint a picture for the editor about your issue). This is your hook (the element will draw readers and keep them turning the page).
- A description of your target market (specifically: male or female, age, any other demographics you can identify).
- A brief presentation of the solution (just a paragraph or two).
- A single spaced synopsis. For non-fiction books, your synopsis should include a one paragraph summary of each chapter. This is your one opportunity to tell editors what you will cover, as specifically as possible, in each chapter. This is no place to hide details from the editor. If you have four points to make in a chapter, then list them all. For fiction, your synopsis should be a two to three page narrative summary (not broken down by chapters) of your novel. Think of it as a condensed version of your novel.
- Ten pages of sample chapter, double spaced.
If you are missing any key elements in your proposal, we'll let you know.
Investment
$50
Professional Manuscript/Book Proposal Team (alphabetically)
(Please email individuals for genre specialties or to find out availability)
- Sharon Norris Elliott (manuscript, book proposal, magazine article)
- Julie Ferwerda (non-fiction manuscript, non-fiction book proposal, magazine article, blog/website copy, query letter)
- Linda Gilden (manuscript, book proposal, magazine article, blog/website copy, brochure, Bible study, devotional)
- Susan Osborn (manuscript, book proposal, magazine article)
- Karen Porter (manuscript, book proposal, magazine article, blog/website copy)
- Robin Stanley (manuscript, book proposal, magazine article, blog/website copy)
- Lee Warren (manuscript, book proposal, magazine article, blog/website copy)
- Tama Westman (manuscript, book proposal, magazine article, blog/website copy)