Manuscript Critique Services
Overview
Professional 1 to 2 Page Report
Review your manuscript from a new perspective
Reviewed by Professional Appraisers
Multiple Genres
Honest and Professional
Optional Zoom or Skype Sessions
$1,200
Professional 1 to 2 Page Report
Review your manuscript from a new perspective
Reviewed by Professional Appraisers
Multiple Genres
Honest and Professional
Optional Zoom or Skype Sessions
What is a Manuscript Appraisal?
| A
manuscript appraisal, also called a manuscript critique or
assessment, provides authors with expert feedback on their work. This
objective and honest evaluation from seasoned professionals offers crucial
insights that friends and family cannot provide. In today's competitive
publishing landscape, an expert appraisal has become indispensable for
crafting a manuscript that stands out to agents and your reader
audience. At Queensland Self Publishing, our experienced manuscript
appraisers aim to support writers at every stage of the process. We
deliver cost-effective, high-quality appraisals that identify strengths
and weaknesses along with a careful eye for detail. Our manuscript appraisers
conduct a thorough, systematic analysis of key elements like plot,
characters, dialog, organization, and clarity - tailored to the work's
genre and format. Regardless of whether a manuscript is fiction or
non-fiction, or short or long, we provide you with constructive
recommendations of your manuscript in order to enhance its potential. This enthusiastic approach concludes with a manuscript that appeals to your intended reader audience. Why is a Manuscript Appraisal Worthwhile? A manuscript appraisal proves a valuable investment, especially for debut authors. Writers often repeat common errors that an objective professional can point out. These may include unclear plots, clichés, narratives that lack structure or flow, underdeveloped characters, overly descriptive prose, misuse of adjectives or adverbs, or telling rather than showing key details. When an appraisal highlights such issues, authors gain valuable insight to refine and potentially rewrite sections as needed. An unbiased assessment from our experienced appraisers identifies weaknesses the author may have overlooked. Armed with this feedback, writers stand ready to craft a polished final draft and feel confident submitting their work to publishers and agents, or self-publishing their own work. How do I Benefit from an Appraisal and What do I Receive? Our appraisal reports provide comprehensive commentary tailored to each unique manuscript. Report length depends on the manuscript page count and number of points requiring suggested edits or rewrites. We identify strengths and make constructive recommendations for improvement while also considering readership interest. Authors receive both their annotated manuscript and a detailed appraisal report outlining our professional evaluation and perspective. Please note also that an appraisal is not a substitute for an edit; it is the final step before a professional edit. The purpose of an appraisal is to give you pointers that will help you redraft and improve your manuscript in any number of ways. Your Package Includes
FAQ What types of writing qualify for a book critique and appraisal? Novels, novellas, and short stories Books that are selling poorly or have low readership Plays and screenplays Poems and collections of poetry General nonfiction (memoirs, biographies, self-help, etc.) How much does it cost? Based on the industry average rate of between 1 and 1.5 cents per word, our project fee consists of a professional editor with over 10 years experience who reads your completed manuscript and than prepares an in-depth written report. If you like, an optional 30–minute follow-up mentoring session is available ($170). For draft manuscripts that are between 200 and 100,000 words — our appraisal project fees range between $450 and $1,200. For draft manuscripts that are between 100,000 words and 150,000 words — our appraisal project fees range between $1,100–$1,790. There is a small deposit payable on submission after we have reviewed your manuscript. Your initial manuscript reviewing process is free of charge. Your manuscript appraisal involves a full read of the manuscript, adding comments with suggestions to the manuscript and preparing the final appraisal report. How long does it take? The timeline for completing a book critique / appraisal through Queensland Self Publishing's Book Critique Services depends on the specifics of each manuscript. Our priority is a quality, thorough evaluation. While we strive for efficient turnaround, the duration may vary with complexity and length. Our experienced editors are committed to comprehensive critiques, focusing on overarching elements like character development and narrative cohesion. This is one of the few, yet very important elements in publishing that cannot be rushed. Average timelines are below shown as single spaced pages- Book Critique (up to 10,000 words or 20 pages) 4 days Book Critique (up to 25,000 words or 50 pages) 1 week Book Critique (up to 40,000 words or 80 pages) 9 days Book Critique (up to 65,000 words or 130 pages) 2 weeks Book Critique (65,000 to 100,000 words or 200 pages) 2 to 3 weeks Book Critique (100,000 to 150,000 words or 300 pages) 3 to 4 weeks Book Critique (150,000 to 250,000 words or 500 pages) 5 to 6 weeks Book Critique (250,000 to 400,000 words or 600 pages) 7 to 8 weeks Which is better: a manuscript critique appraisal service or editorial feedback? Selecting between manuscript critique and editorial feedback depends upon one's objectives. Our book critique appraisal services encompass both approaches, offering a holistic perspective. Our skilled editors analyse the overall work, than provide honest feedback in order to strengthen narrative and character arc. This service caters to various genres, from picture books for young audiences to works of young adult fiction. Whether you are an established creator or debut author, our critique / appraisal service is guaranteed to create a perfect masterpiece. Past clients highly recommend our offerings for a complete and impactful means of progressing the manuscript. What are the critics' qualifications? The manuscript reviewers at Queensland Self Publishing are seasoned professionals with extensive experience providing top-tier Book Critique Appraisal Services. Each reviewer is a skilled editor and writer, well versed in various genres including fiction, children's picture books, and young adult. Their qualifications include expertise in fundamental storytelling elements such as character development and narrative flow. With a commitment to excellence, our team will ensure your work receives meticulous attention and constructive feedback, making Queensland Self Publishing a premier choice for authors seeking comprehensive and qualified Book Critique Services. Who does the Manuscript Appraisal? We have professionally qualified Accredited Editors on staff who have worked in the publishing industry for decades. Having worked on hundreds of manuscripts of all genres, we know what good writing is! We can confidently say we can give you an unbiased opinion about your manuscript that will guide you on the next step in the journey of your book. Will my Manuscript Appraiser criticize my book? There is an important distinction between a critique and criticism. We will provide an appraisal of your work, not criticism. Our mission is to offer thoughtfully honest and considerate feedback that fosters the professional perfection of your manuscript. To get started, register for a free Queensland Self Publishing account and select the Manuscript Critique Service. A consultant will get back to you with the necessary details. |
Register for a free Queensland Self Publishing account and upload your document. Once we have reviewed your manuscript, you will be prompted for a small starting deposit so we can get started appraising your manuscript. Once the deposit has been received, one of our manuscript appraisers begins analysing key elements of your work, such as structure, coherence, plot, dialogue, characterization, consistency, and organization, looking for where the storyline or flow could be improved and identifying unfinished or contradictory thoughts.
A 2-3 page professionally produced report on your first three chapters (max 10,000 words), is produced, highlighting ways of tightening and improving them further. The report is delivered in a Microsoft Word™ file or as a .PDF.
There is an optional 40-minute Zoom session (or Skype, Teams etc.) with a team member of our team at this phase; after you’ve had the chance to read and digest the review of your manuscript. In this session we outline issues raised in more detail and you’ll have the chance to ask further questions about how you can move forward.
At this stage the manuscript appraisal service is complete and we will request the remaining balance.
Developmental edit of essay
I engaged Queensland Self Publishing to work on two projects. When I retained them to perform a line edit
and proofread on my book, the goal was to refresh a story that was three years old for
publication on my website. I cannot emphasize enough the level of quality
Queensland Self Publishing brought to the book. Based on analytics from my website,
direct traffic has nearly doubled since publishing the book, after it underwent professional editing.
Copyediting of poetry collection
For my first self-published poetry collection, I engaged Queensland Self Publishing for book formatting and
production services. As an early-stage author embarking on self-publishing, their
ability to handle manuscript preparation, editing, proofreading, and final formatting
for Kindle Direct Publishing in one integrated offering was appealing. Their all-in-one solution enabled completion
of my book in time for launch on Amazon. The end result exceeded my expectations in terms
of visual design and production quality. I am pleased to bring this work to market
thanks to the expertise and support of Queensland Self Publishing.
Line editing and proofreading for short stories
The team at Queensland Self Publishing demonstrates immense professionalism as well as thoughtful consideration
for an author's work. They exhibit a creative vision that surpasses expectations. Initially I was apprehensive
about sharing my work externally, however I found their kind and helpful guidance put me at ease. I trusted they
would handle the material with utmost care. Their editorial feedback included appropriate grammatical edits
while prompting reflection on certain aspects. This process helped me to grow as a
writer. I confidently recommend Queensland Self Publishing..
Copyediting and book design
I am pleased to recommend Queensland Self Publishing. Recently, I engaged their developmental editing services
for a challenging nonfiction work. Queensland Self Publishing handled the project with the utmost professionalism,
respect and care. Their editing helped bring clarity to the theme and more focus to the completed work. Additionally,
they provided constructive recommendations to enhance character development, dialog, scene work, tension and pace.
These revisions served to optimize my readers' experience and facilitated a stronger emotional connection to the
material. It was a pleasure working with Queensland Self Publishing. I give them my highest recommendation and
would welcome the opportunity to collaborate again in the future..
Queensland Self Publishing
Suite CA 6-10
28 Eenie Creek Road
Noosaville Qld
4566 Australia
0400122673
