Manuscript Evaluation
Nonfiction, Memoirs, Novels
By email: a typed overview letter of 2-4 pages, offering general impressions of the manuscript and suggested improvements. (Allow at least two weeks.)
Contact editor Flat rate $517 prepay full sum via PayPal
Advise page length, word length. On agreement, you email the manuscript to me in 12 pt. font, 1" margins, with a one-paragraph summary.
For by the page details: order a Critique
Recommended for thorough details. (You may submit a portion only, such as the first third or first half.)
- Flat rate. 2 cents/word (minimum job $300). Prepay 50% (thru PayPal). Balance due when completed (about 3 to 6 weeks later). Emailed to you. Contact editor
Client Testimonials in left column.
What's checked in a Content Critique:
- Narrative reading flow and organizational structure.
- Writing voice and style
- Content strengths and weaknesses, such as: effectiveness start to finish of plot (novels), story (memoirs), message or ideas (nonfiction)
- As well as characters (including real people or self, as in a memoir), dialogue, narrative descriptions (e.g., setting/background, where and how to present it), action and active writing (e.g., active sentence structures and active verbs, rather than passive), use of specifics (e.g., strong nouns, adjectives, adverbs, without overuse).
- May cross out weak passages to consider deleting or rewriting (e.g., passive writing).
- May point out your strongest scenes/images. May suggest a more dynamic arrangement.
- Summary notes and revisions include suggested improvements and recommendations (e.g., ideas where to cut/tighten, develop/expand, as well as marketability).
Critique Submission Format:
Include a brief cover letter: one paragraph summary of the book. Manuscript format: double-spaced, Times New Roman 12, tab paragraphs (not block paragraphs and not spaced between), page numbers top right, start each chapter and section on a new page. Projects done in the order received.
Copyright 2010 The Writing Doctor: Ghostwriters. All Rights Reserved.
Testimonials
2011 November
"Your critique was SO helpful in getting the book in much better shape... Loved your work... I'd love for us to work together again in the future..." Frederick Pinto, Attorney/Trade-mark Agent,
Montreal, Quebec
2011
“I want to update you and let you know I am working my way through the editing process. What a ride! I am having fun with it. Thank you for all of your suggestions and the time and energy you put into the first draft. I clearly see what you mean – this is a first draft.” - Molly Fiore, Opting In (response to first edit) - We did a full polish.
2011
“I’m excited... You warned me that the second half of a manuscript usually needs the most work :). I’m a little worried about that half myself… You really did give me a lot of guidance. Thank you so much. Thank you also for putting smiley places and ‘ha’ where you enjoyed it. It’s nice to have positive feedback… Thanks again for going beyond what you normally would do at this point of the game…. By the way, I'm working on the second half... and things are clicking. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what it was about the second half that bothered me. Now, I know. I wasn’t in a lot of the scenes. The narrator was stealing my scenes :). So, I’m still plugging along. Just to clarify - it was you that pointed it out that I was missing in those scenes. What I just love is that now that you’ve pointed it out, it makes sense. I’m not sure I got them all, but I am sure you will find where I missed.:)” - Judy Haisten, Florida
“Charol, in the wee hours of the morning as I am crafting changes with bags under my eyes, a crick in my neck, and cramps in my fingers, I will curse you ... so let me express my profound gratitude now. Wow. I'm on cloud 8-½ (I had to come down from cloud nine in order to drive to work this morning). I am so thankful for your critique. Of course, I am tickled by your positive comments; I am both overjoyed and relieved to know that I may have something here. (My daughter protests that she's told me so all along, but I feed her - what else would she say?) You gave me so much more to work with than I expected. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and implement your suggestions. Your comments will both help me to improve the manuscript where it's needed and, just as importantly, keep me from fiddling and futzing with what is already working.
“Several of the problem areas you identified were scenes where I knew something was 'off' but I couldn't quite put my finger on the issue. I'm operating mostly from my belly, so your expert insight will save me many hours of false starts and allow me to focus on the solution. This manuscript is my baby, and as we know, babies need both encouragement and discipline in order to grow into healthy adults. Thank you for being so gentle with my baby, while providing me the information I need to help it thrive. I'm so energized! - Theresa"
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