If you are seeking an editor rather than an assessor, click here

The following should answer many of your questions about assessments. Please email us at submit@manuscriptassessments.com if you have any further queries.

Please note, we will not respond to questions already answered on this page. If your question is relevant to everyone, then we'll add it here for others to reference.

How much will it cost?

There are three levels of assessments:

1. The first 1,000 words: US$69.00*
2. The first 5,000 words: US$129.00. This also includes a PDF copy of The Mechanics of Crafting Speculative Fiction by Sonny Whitelaw and Jennifer Fallon, normally available only through workshops at $14.99.
3. Complete manuscripts (short stories, novels, novellas). Minimum charge $129.00 up to 5,000 words. Thereafter, four cents per word up to 120,000 words. For example, a 120,000 word novel would cost : $129.00 + ($0.03 x 11,500 words)= $589.00. We do not normally undertake assessments beyond 120,000 words. However, if you wish to have a longer novel edited, click here.

Cost aside, which assessment is best for me?

That depends on what stage you are at as a writer. For novice writers we strongly recommend:

1. 1,000 words - because that's all it takes in many cases. Most editors/agents reading unsolicited manuscripts will rarely read past the first two pages unless the work grabs them from the first line. It doesn't matter how good your second act, or your 27th chapter is, if nobody gets past your poorly written prologue. You need to get your first 1,000 words polished enough to entice an editor, producer or agent to read on.

For writers with some experience, for example if you've had a short story or essay published and you would like an assessment of your first novel:

2. 5,000 words - assuming you've hooked the editor and they're thoroughly immersed in the narrative, you better keep them hooked for the next 4,000 words. This is the crucial setup phase where your key characters are established, the narrative is compelling, and your plot has direction. The price includes a copy of The Mechanics of Crafting Speculative Fiction.

3. Complete manuscript. We do NOT recommend this option unless:

• You have undertaken earlier assessments through Manuscript Mechanics or a college/university level writing course, or are published in another genre.
• You are certain that your written English is in good shape and you have a fundamental grasp of story versus plot, POV, and pace. It's a terrible waste of hundreds of dollars - your money - to learn that your entire manuscript fails because you've made fatal writing errors that our assessors picked up in the first 1,000 words.
• You know your story is in good shape; you just need a professional eye to pick apart plot and character holes, world building and continuity issues, the odd grammatical blunder (which every writer makes) excessive adjectives and adverbs, flat chunks of information, and excessive telling instead of showing.
• You already have been published or you're an adept writer but need a professional overview (as per above). In which case our assessor will provide a comprehensive structural edit.
• You are self-publishing. Publishers are declining well-crafted stories simply because it's not likely to make them enough money to justify their investment in today's volatile market. Rather than an assessment, if you are certain that you do not wish to change your story, you might find a line edit more beneficial

Can I send you my synopsis as well as my first 1000 or 5000 words?

No. We will be assessing the first 1000 or 5000 words of your work for style and errors. Most editors don't even look at a synopsis unless the writing grabs them.

Can I send you a story based on an existent character or licensed work, for example, a novel based on a comic strip, movie or television series?

Yes, but this is conditional. All submissions are vetted by a third party to ensure there is no potential conflict with any of our assessors' contracts. We would advise you accordingly if this is the case.

Can I choose which author assesses my work?

No. In your assessment you will often see comments (see formatting) from two or more sources. This is because our authors assess the same way as they write when working on a joint project: in consultation with one another. While their personal writing styles differ they use common assessment criteria and invariably point out the same strengths and weaknesses.

How do I know you won't steal my idea?

If you're worried about this happening, the solution is simple: don't submit your MS for assessment. We are professional authors who commonly workshop with other professional writers, editors, and producers to develop ideas. We have huge backlists and projects lined up for the next several years and don't need to steal yours.

Will paying for an assessment mean I'll be published?

No. Writing is a creative art and while our assessors use key criteria and up-to-date knowledge of the industry to asses your work, they cannot guarantee you will be published. The more willing you are to re-evaluate your work in light of their comments, the more value you will get for your money. Based on the feedback from students who have gone on to be published (one recently won an international award) their successes have come about because they have taken our assessors' advice and used it to tune their story in their own style.

I have a very fragile ego. Will you be gentle with me?

No. If you want a warm and fuzzy assessment of your work, send the MS to your friends. Our assessors operate on the assumption that you want clear-cut information and directions from people within the industry. That's what you're paying for, not 'it's nice but you might like to re-think it' advice. They will tell you exactly what they think based on key criteria, without sugar-coating. They will mention the strengths of the work as well as the weaknesses. Writing is a savage business and the editing process can be soul-destroying. If you're ever at a seminar or workshop run by one of our assessors or other professional writers, ask them how much they savage each other's first drafts during the writing process. They never, ever, take personal offence to this. Indeed, they would be deeply offended if a colleague wasn't brutally honest. Once your story is published, it's too late to correct mistakes and the world will have plenty to say about it.

How long will an assessment take?

• 1000 words generally are done within 2 weeks.
• 5000 words generally 3 weeks but can be up to 5 weeks if more than one assessor is backlogged and consultation is slow
• Novels - allow 3 months.

NB: These times are not absolute. Our assessors have returned a 1,000 word manuscript in as little as 3 days and a novel in 3 weeks. It depends entirely on our backlog and their individual writing commitments.

How long will my assessment be?

As long as it needs to be. No two writers make the same mistakes in quite the same way. Some novels have been returned to the writers with as much as 30 page of notes. Conversely, some 1,000 word assessments have needed less than a quarter page (plus in-text comments on specifics) to allay doubts or target specific problem and point out solutions. Our assessors spend far more time explaining what's not working, why, and how to fix it that on what has worked. If you work is technically good but banal, overdone, or simply not selling right now, then there will be very few in-text comments. Instead, the assessor will suggest techniques to make your story more appealing or more saleable.

Will you edit my work or do I then have to pay for an editor?

Creative writing is a craft. Assessors focus on evaluation and education, how you can correct common errors that hobble good writing, and how you can turn the banal into brilliant. While they will point out any obvious mistakes such as spelling, grammatical, referential, verb tenses and so forth, it is assumed that you have a fundamental grasp of written English.

Will I get a discount if I resubmit the same manuscript after taking your advise?

No. Every manuscript is viewed in isolation to prior assessments. You would gain far more if you applied what you have learned from the first manuscript to a new story and submitted that instead. This greatly increases the chances of an assessor finding different strengths and weaknesses rather than confirming that you have overcome prior flaws.

Formatting for submission

All manuscripts should be submitted in 12-point Times or Times New Roman font, double spaced, with at least a 2.5cm margin on all sides. Documents should be saved as Word  using *.doc, *.docx, or *.rtf. Word counts per page are approximately 250 so if your word count on one page is 400, something is wrong. Left margin alignment, do *not* justify. Indent all paragraphs clearly and do not leave line breaks between paragraphs unless it's a major scene change (in which case we suggest a chapter break). Your name and the title should be on the first page and in the footer, along with page numbers. We will be using the 'Comments' function in Word to comment on your work, so you will need to be familiar with it. If you are unable to format your document or do not use Word, you will need to beg, borrow, or (gulp) buy a copy because it is the industry standard. We strongly recommend that you use a spell checker before you submit.

How will I pay?

Paypal. If you wish to pay in Australian, New Zealand, or Canadian currency, direct payment to a bank account. Please advise us upon submission of your manuscript. A receipt will be furnished. Your manuscript will not be passed to the assessors until funds are cleared. Email us at submit@manuscriptassessments.com if you require any further queries.