What is a manuscript evaluation? When editors evaluate manuscripts, they aren’t necessarily looking at grammar and punctuation. Instead, they perform an in-depth read to identify narrative gaps, plot gaps, and other issues in the story arc, depending on the fiction or nonfiction nature of the manuscript. Perhaps clarity is needed for concepts that are new to readers. Perhaps the action or interaction can be elevated.
Manuscript evaluators also help wrap up loose ends or may even suggest cliffhangers for books in a series. We weigh in by suggesting character development, improved transitions, and a more satisfying sense of pacing — basically, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your story arc and the book as a whole.
The Value of a Manuscript Evaluation
A manuscript evaluation brings a professional and objective set of eyes to your book project. Rather than having audiences point out issues with your work, it is much better to catch and correct those issues on the front end.
The process and what I do…
As a manuscript evaluator, I’m hired to assess your book. I thoroughly read through your manuscript and make suggestions to ensure that your book becomes its best version. I do not edit your book structurally or developmentally (as described in the paragraphs below). Instead, I share guidance for improvement.
For instance, depending on your genre, I address subplots that aren’t satisfactorily resolved, lackluster dialogue, one-dimensional characters that should be three-dimensional, or scenes that are missing or lack depth and potency. Can your chapters be better ordered? Do your flash-forwards and flashbacks enhance the story or confuse the audience? Is your premise plausible? Does your audience need to be convinced? The evaluator may also call out the need to verify dates, locales, and facts, especially with non-fiction manuscripts.
Manuscript editors/evaluators focus on the points above and below:
- story structure (the “architecture” of your book, top to bottom)
- voice
- prose style
- action
- sensory elements
- authenticity (fact-checking, genealogical research when appropriate)
- POV (point of view of fiction characters or the nonfiction experts cited in your book)
- marketability
What is the difference between a manuscript evaluation and a structural edit?
Some refer to a manuscript evaluation as “editorial assessment” or “manuscript assessment.” Some equate evaluations with structural edits. What’s the difference?
In my view, manuscript evaluations and structural editing are the same thing. I provide 1.) an editorial report and 2.) a marked-up, “commented” manuscript for both services. Other editors may or may not follow suit, but I have found that authors benefit doubly from the mark-ups and the reports, especially new and emerging authors.
Manuscript evaluators and structural editors can also weigh in on your book synopsis, author bio, and back cover blurb after your book is completely edited and ready for a literary agent or self-publishing.
What about developmental editing?
Many authors hire me to developmentally edit their books without a manuscript evaluation, meaning they rely on me to be “hands-on” and implement the development editing myself, basically turning me loose to bulk up, weed out, connect the dots, and sometimes rewrite entire passages. There is often a bit of ghostwriting in the developmental editing process. At times I contribute entire chapters simply to bridge from one scene to the next, or set up a trajectory that will later come to fruition.
- As a developmental editor, I do the editing for you.
- As a manuscript evaluator, I suggest improvements and rationale for your consideration.
Note: Based on your experience as an author and your mastery of the language and literary conventions, it may be more cost-effective to hire a developmental editor and skip the evaluation. Why? Because this condenses a two-step process into one. And that’s IF you trust your developmental editor to do what’s best for your manuscript. Definitely check credentials, interview by phone and/or Zoom, and establish a comfortable working relationship.
Sensory elements and show vs. tell — an example by Anton Chekhov.
The Method
Professional manuscript evaluation is an invaluable service that happens to be extremely collaborative. The relationship between the author and editor/evaluator is based on honesty and trust, with the evaluator providing insights and suggesting improvements while the author considers and implements the advice.
First, be sure you have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in place to protect your intellectual property. I provide NDAs for every project, whether it be manuscript evaluations, book editing, book proposals, or ghostwriting.
A professional editor and manuscript evaluator should offer an NDA without being asked.
I evaluate from the Word document provided by the author and use a color-coded tracker. I add comments, indicate areas that need improvement or rearrangement, and suggest tweaks. I also provide multiple pages of insights in a separate document (the editorial report) and generally go over these suggestions with the author via phone or Zoom. In short, I provide a blueprint that enhances your manuscript, generally five to ten pages of suggestions for your reference. As I work through the document, I update you weekly. Normally, four weeks is the average turnaround for completion, although some projects require more or less time based on the needs of the author (budget) and the manuscript itself.
Before, during, and after an evaluation, I love to collaborate and bounce around ideas. Brainstorming can be so helpful in making a good story great.
How does a manuscript evaluator “know” how to evaluate? Honestly, much of it has to do with training. A professional manuscript evaluator has taken coursework, studied various genres, and does this work full-time. They should have tons of testimonials and book covers that demonstrate their experience. For instance, I’m a former English teacher, a book editor, a ghostwriter, a content copy editor, and an award-winning journalist. I’m pursuing a master’s degree in digital media after thirty-plus years in the industry. No, I don’t necessarily need a graduate degree at this point in my career, but I feel the coursework is valuable because so many of my author clients are self-publishing. Plus, there is always something new to learn. The literary world has now merged with the world of digital media, and it’s good to know how to navigate our industry. It is a pleasure to share this knowledge.
Pricing and Quotes
I need to see a manuscript before I can quote a price for a manuscript evaluation / structural edit or a developmental edit. The length of the manuscript and the amount of work needed affect the price. Remember, this is much more than a copy edit (starting at .03¢ per word). This is a monumental project at the highest level that prepares your manuscript for publication. The cost can be as high as .07¢ or .08¢ per word, but again, an honest quote can’t be given without a look-see.