Writers Helping Writers - The Benefits of Professional Manuscript Evaluation
It’s finally done. You’ve finished your first novel after many years of painstaking work. You’re sure it could be an international best seller. Your friends, family, work colleagues and just about everyone you know are very enthusiastic. Yet before long, your manuscript has been returned by at least ten publishers, complete with a form letter giving you no clues as to why they didn’t like it. The process can be extremely frustrating and at times like these, its tough to know where to turn.
A professional manuscript evaluator will often provide you with a detailed written assessment of the content of your work, which may include comments on characterization, the setting of the story, your use of dialogue, the believability of the general premise, the structure and plot, the language employed and the research undertaken. The evaluator will give a summary of the strengths and weaknesses, if any, of your writing, along with comments on your writing technique, format, technical ability and the market potential of your story. They can offer advice on how to develop your manuscript further and may even be happy to provide responses to specific questions that you may have about your manuscript, its marketability to publishing houses and the potential readership.
Writing is by nature a solitary occupation and can be a lonely business, without the benefit of cheering fans on the sidelines. A professional manuscript evaluator is someone with whom you can consult, ask questions, send your work to and receive constructive feedback, a guide to help you with your writing as you try to build your career as a professional writer. Having your work independently evaluated gives you with an unbiased opinion, helping you to tighten your manuscript and fix problems you may have overlooked.