Manuscript Critique

The silver manuscript critique offers an overall assessment of your story from the reader’s perspective. I look at macro elements such as character development, believability, pacing, plot holes, and inconsistencies.

If you are looking for feedback on your story or characters on a conceptual level (i.e. Does this work? What should I do more of?), or want to know where to focus your revision efforts, then this is the service for you.

You’ll receive a broad but detailed manuscript critique (editorial letter only).

The more comprehensive gold manuscript critique is an excellent option if you want what I call “story mechanics diagnostics”. Basically, it’s an in-depth look at how the developmental elements of your story work together at a chapter level.

At the end of the comprehensive manuscript critique, you’ll receive an editorial letter (i.e. the global comments as in the silver critique), and a separate Revision Notes document which has an analysis of what works and what could be improved in each chapter of your book, and how those pinpointed elements contribute to the overall reader experience.

Note: Authors I’ve worked with in the past like to keep a copy of the Revision Notes next to them as they work as a “revision cheat sheet”.

An authenticity read (also known as a sensitivity read or a targeted critique) is a great tool for authors writing outside their areas of knowledge and experience, who want to make sure that the representation in their book is both authentic and avoids harming the reader.

If you’re an author who is writing cross-culturally and have some hesitation on whether you’re writing in your blind spot, then an authenticity read is a good way to check in with someone of that culture to point out any inaccuracies or aspects you may not have considered.

I am particularly equipped to read for the experiences of:

• Fat, Black cis-gendered women
• Black people in majority White spaces
• Southern African nationals raised in the USA (e.g. impact of matriarchial and non-traditional/Western family structures)
• People who travel extensively
• People with family members with alcohol abuse/dependency and mental illness—narcissism, borderline personality disorder, depression—and the impact within the family
• Individuals with trauma-based social anxiety
• Chronic illness (asthma, chronic sinusitis, ligamentous laxity)
• And any intersectionalities that occur therein

At the end of the targeted critique, you’ll receive an editorial letter outlining major representation issues, as well as in-manuscript comments directing your attention to finer concerns.

Please fill out my Project Information Form.