Editorial Evaluation
If you have a manuscript (or a partial manuscript), and you would like a professional assessment of your work, including constructive advice on how to improve your content and move forward with your project, then your manuscript is ready for an editorial evaluation.
An editorial evaluation is a written analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript and its potential positioning in the market. My report—which is typically about 8 to 10 pages—provides you with professional advice and suggestions for bringing your manuscript to the next level.
When I approach an evaluation, I endeavor to leave no stone unturned. I analyze and offer feedback on each of the following: title, subtitle, target audience, genre/category, word count, manuscript formatting, writing style/voice, structure of the overall content, chapter titles/subtitles, subhead levels, paragraph placement, sentence structure, pacing, and if applicable, characterization, description, setting, plot, dialogue, plausibility, relatability, and more. I also offer suggestions for the next step in the process.
This is a subjective field so I always remind my clients to take from my advice only what feels right after careful consideration. After all, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to authoring and publishing a book.
Some editors and/or editorial services might refer to this service as a manuscript assessment, a manuscript evaluation, an editorial assessment, a overview of your manuscript, a manuscript critique, and so on. Whatever it’s called, the purpose of this evaluation should be to set you on the path toward improving your work and understanding how that can be accomplished. That’s always what I aim to do.