Manuscript Assessment
Take it from me: you’re not the first writer to get hung up on the question of whether your manuscript is any good. The problem is that it’s extremely difficult (almost impossible, in fact) to evaluate the quality of your own work before you send it out into the world.
Here’s where a professional manuscript assessment can help.
A read from an experienced writer and editor will give you the honest feedback you need to refine your book before sending it out to agents or publishers – or embarking on a final line edit. A manuscript assessment is a chance to evaluate the strength of your premise, the quality of your prose, and the flaws and fortes of your narrative.
Crucially, a manuscript assessment can also help you work out where your book might sit (and where it might stand out) in a crowded and complicated market.
Why Me?
If you hire me to assess your manuscript, you’re not just getting a fresh pair of eyes. You’re getting the perspective of a novelist whose work has been shortlisted for major literary awards including the Nero Book Award and the Betty Trask Prize. I’ve also ghostwritten and edited traditionally published books, and I’ve worked with a London literary agency to assess submissions.
Trust me to assess your manuscript, and I’ll return a written report offering my honest perspective on what works and what doesn’t, starting with the big-picture stuff and finishing with precise, actionable refinements and next steps (the points you can carry through into the editing process).
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Immediate Impressions: Does the premise work? Is the opening as gripping as it should be? Is your synopsis interesting and coherent?
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Narrative: Does the plot make sense? Are you giving the reader enough encouragement to keep turning the page?
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Character: Do your characters read like real people? Do their motivations and behaviours make sense? Are they vivid, distinct, and believable?
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Prose: How’s your style? Is your writing pleasing on the ear? Are there any tics or clichés in your prose, or any writing traps you keep falling into? (My specialism – and my favourite part of any assessment.)
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Targeted Editing Notes: What do you need to do to fix your problems? What concrete next steps will make your book better?
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Submission Suggestions: Where do you take your book next? How do you distil this manuscript into a perfect query letter? Which titles would sit on a shelf next to yours?
This last point is perhaps the most crucial. I’ve been there myself: from drafting to querying to submitting, and I’ve had to discover for myself how opaque and confusing this world is. My aim is to provide the kind of service I was desperate for when I was starting out.
What You Get
Your Options
£499: Submission package assessment
I’ll assess your first 10,000 words, your synopsis, and your draft query letter, if you have one. You’ll get a written report of up to 4,000 words.
£2,000: Full manuscript assessment
I’ll assess your entire manuscript (up to 100,000 words), as well as all submission material. You’ll get a written report of up to 6,000 words. For manuscripts longer than 100,000 words, get in touch to talk bespoke pricing.
You can start by sending me your writing – either the opening chunk or the entire manuscript, plus submission materials if you have them. I work across genres, including non-fiction, but if I feel like I’m not the right person to assess your work, I’ll tell you straight.
I’ll get back to you with a confirmed turnaround time, four weeks at the most. When I’m done, you’ll get a digital written report, and I won’t charge you until you receive it. The whole process is completely confidential.
Send your words, queries or submission materials to georgeharrisonwriter@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you. I look forward to reading your work.
How It Works
“George fully immersed himself in my novel, not wanting to change my writing voice but focus on its strengths. As a published author, his insights carried extra weight. George clearly explained what works and what doesn't to make the best impact on the reader with examples and practical fixes.”
Alan Mac, Manuscript Assessment Client