Inspired Revision Manuscript Reviews
Structural editing and ‘coachy’ manuscript critiques for writers who are at major milestones in the journey of writing a book.
A manuscript review is for when you’re ready to look at the big picture of your work in progress, perhaps after the first draft, the first act, or when you’re so close to the book you can no longer see the woods for the trees.
See your book afresh, lean into what it wants to be...
“your insights are transforming the way I’m looking at my writing and my ability to make progress with clarity, purpose and direction. Really you are amazing at what you do.” — Rachel Blackmore
“I was struggling to understand how to move from a first draft to a second without getting totally overwhelmed. Now I’ve worked with you, I feel very, very excited about writing my book again! I feel like I’ve finally got that ‘hook’ that always seemed to be missing.”
— Sophie Flynn, author of All My Lies (2021)
The Process
Phase One
You send your pages to me.
I read your pages and reflect on what the book seems to want to be.
I write a detailed editorial letter, reflecting on what I’m seeing and identifying the key areas to explore.
I’ll also annotate a 10,000 word sample so you can see some pinpointed moments of what’s working well and what might be tightened up.
I return the manuscript and editorial letter to you before our call.
Phase Two
On our call, we have a deep conversation about your book. We explore the possibilities and questions raised by the review. You leave feeling inspired!
After the call, I create a Next Steps document, capturing your insights and the vision for the next draft. I also send story development tools to help you on the next leg of your journey, the Inspired Revision.
Phase Three
Sometime later, you check back in for a second call so that you can discuss any developments as you implement your inspired revision and receive further support to make it happen.
Pricing Guide
To give you an idea of the investment for an Inspired Revision package on an 80,000 word manuscript, here are some guidelines. Shorter or longer submissions are welcome and are priced accordingly.
Option One:
Inspired Revision £1000
Payment plans available
Includes:
An editorial letter covering an 80,000-word manuscript so you can see the big picture and get detailed feedback on your strengths and challenges.
Annotations on a 10,000-word sample so you can elevate your craft.
Your Inspired Revision Session (90 minutes of coaching) so we can brainstorm and reach further heights of insight.
Next Steps Document and targeted resources to capture your new insights and launch you into the next draft.
A follow up call around a month later (60 minutes of coaching) with a ‘second pass’ review of up to 10,000 words so you can maintain the momentum and see your progress.
Sounds Inviting? Start the Conversation…
FAQ
+ Can I have more Details about What’s included?
— Editorial Letter to give feedback on the submission as a whole:
The editorial letter gives you wide-ranging feedback on your pages.
The letter will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript and give a thorough account of where I see the potential for improvement, as well as questions you might ask yourself to determine the best way to take your manuscript to the next level. This is a sustained, in-depth analysis over several pages.
— Feedback
I will read the entire submission and feedback using the editorial letter.
In addition, I will annotate a 10,000 word sample. Annotations on the page might pinpoint moments, for example, where you might dig deeper, where you might be using too much telling, or where you have nailed it!
These annotations are not proofreading or copy edits. Instead, they are like ‘teachable moments’ (what I call ‘coachy’ developmental edits) that help you see where you have done something well and at times where you could strengthen your technique.
— Deep Conversation:
A sixty to ninety-minute coaching call to have a deep conversation, brainstorm, reflect, dream and strategise for the next draft.
— Next Steps Document:
The ‘Next Steps’ Document captures the insights and strategies of the coaching call so that you know where to focus your energy and thought as you make any revisions or write forward.
— Story Development tools:
After your review, I’ll usually offer some exercises to help you plan the changes and troubleshoot.
— Follow up 60-minute call:
After your review, you can schedule a follow up call for any questions that come up and report on your progress.
+ What does it cost?
All writers are unique and require different levels of feedback, so I provide bespoke quotes based on your wordcount and needs. To give you an idea for an 80,000 word manuscript, the total investment would be £1000.
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+ Why don’t you do annotations on the entire manuscript?
By giving detailed feedback on a sample you get the benefit of teachable moments without it feeling disempowering or overwhelming.
+ What kind of feedback can I expect in the annotations?
I consider this developmental editing or structural editing with some line editing.
It is not a proofread or copyedit. Instead, my on the page feedback of your sample is focused on ‘teachable moments’ (that is what I mean by ‘coachy’ developmental edits) that help you see where you have done something well, and at times where you could strengthen your technique or convey motivation more clearly, or think through your cause and effect etc etc.
I use annotations on the page to pinpoint moments, for example, where you might dig deeper, where you might be using too much telling, or where you have nailed it!
You can expect at least one comment on every page of the 10,000 word sample included as part of the Inspired Revision Overview.
I also sometimes use annotations to suggest structural and line edit level changes. For instance, if a section or scene or paragraph would flow more smoothly somewhere else. I might use Tracked Changes to suggest where. If a beat of dialogue would be more dynamic in a slightly different order, I might use Tracked Changes to show you what I mean.
My annotations and comments might:
- Highlight points of craft (whether strengths or weaknesses) so that you can grow as a writer.
- Ask you to dig into character motivations so that you can see where you can go deeper.
- Exemplify how you might rewrite more effectively, so you can see how nuanced points of craft work in practice.
- Locate precisely where clarity is lost or narrative tension has gone slack so that you can get a reader’s perspective on your writing and keep future readers hooked.
+ What genres do you specialise in?
As a developmental editor I have experience across many genres. I’ve worked with YA writers, memoir writers, literary fiction writers, fantasy writers, psychological thriller writers, domestic suspense writers, historical fiction writers and crime writers. Wow...I never really thought about how much experience I have built up over the years!
I tend, more and more, to work with those writing upmarket or book club fiction and literary fiction. Left to my own devices, these are the books I would read for pleasure so it makes sense!
+ How long do you need to read my pages?
For up to 20,000 words, 14 days, subject to availability.
For over 20,000 words, one calendar month, subject to availability.
+ How and at what times do you hold the coaching session?
We usually meet on Zoom. When you sign up, I will send you a link to my scheduler. I offer weekday appointments between 10 and 14.30 (UK time) as a standard. Still, if there are timezone issues, childcare issues, or you work during the day, I also offer weekend appointments and the odd evening appointment (BST). These usually have a waiting list.
+ What stage do I need to be at?
This could be your first draft of your first 20k, your hot mess 8ok first draft, or your more coherent but not ‘there’ draft. I can meet you where you are and help you develop your novel.