Our manuscript assessment will be an honest evaluation of your writing, and include comments on plot, characterisation, themes, style, and publication potential. We make practical suggestions for improving those aspects of your manuscript that are in need of extra attention.

• Manuscript assessments are generally 10-15 pages long for a full-length novel.
• Non-fiction work varies considerably. Our assessments are focused on providing comprehensive feedback on style, subject, expression, organisation, and publication potential.
• We include a separate letter to publishers for manuscripts that we judge to be publication-worthy.

 

What should you send?

• Your manuscript, or up to 20,000 words of a partial manuscript, printed on one side of the page only and numbered (perfectionists can consult our hints for presentation)
  • OR e-mail your document as a Word attachment.We will print out a copy at 30 cents per page
     
• A self-addressed, pre-paid red plastic postal bag for its return (don't waste money on Express Post or Registered Post: they are no faster.)
  • OR ask us to e-mail the report to you. We will recycle the manuscript.
     
• A brief letter stating that the manuscript is your intellectual property and you want a manuscript assessment. Add any specific instructions or concerns that you wish us to address in the assessment.
   
• Payment. Please see our Prices page for chareges and payment options.

• A rough word count
   

If you include an e-mail address we will notify you when your manuscript arrives.

 

Where do you send it?

The Book Doctor
69 Sandville Place
Sandford
Tasmania 7020 

Or, if you are taking up our electronic manuscript assessment service (we print out a copy of your ms at 30 cents per page and e-mail the report to you) send your ms and instructions here.

 

Got a question? Please ask us.

We consider having a manuscript professionally assessed an essential step on the way to publication, whether the writer is experienced or novice.

---

 

I just wanted to let you know some good news that I have had. You will remember me as the author of "The Starship Superia", a book that you assessed for me in 2005 and again in 2007....applying many of your suggestions to improve my writing, I made significant progress. After the 2007 edition, you said that I had discovered a plot that works, but pointed out numerous weaknesses in my writing - especially the fact that the main character didn't solve enough problems on his own. In 2008....I found the time to re-write the Starship again. Once again, I was careful to apply your recommendations for the improvement of my writing. I found that I was getting better all the time.

I entered "The Starship Superia" in the 2009 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award and have just been informed that, while I did not win the competition, my story was shortlisted and Scholastic have retained the manuscript to consider it for publication. This is an enormously exciting moment for me, at age 25, because it marks the first time that my work is seriously being considered by a publishing house.

I just wanted to express my gratitude to you for your services in 2005 and 2007. Although I paid for them, I still consider that you went above and beyond the call of duty and really helped me to identify weaknesses in my writing. I am getting better all the time and it is in no small way because of your input. -Michael

Michael's novel is now available from Scholastic Press as The Four Powers of Daren Saner.

 

 back to top