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Manuscript Assessment FAQ
(How/what/how much?)
1. What manuscripts do you assess?
We assess ---
Children's books, including picture books, chapter books, easy-reads, mid-age novels and YA novels, non-fiction and poetry.
Fiction for adults, including fantasy, science fiction, romance, thrillers and general novels, as well as popular non-fiction.
2. What do I get?
A manuscript assessment is a written in-depth assessment of your writing, covering strengths and weaknesses, and offering specific suggestions and advice for improvement. It may include edited passages from your work, plus comments on plot, characters, style and format. It will not include specific marketing advice.
3. How do I send my manuscript?
Save your manuscript as a single MS Word document or in RTF. It should be double spaced in Times New Roman 12 (or a similar font). Do not use fancy formatting such as text boxes unless the work is non-fiction. Send the document as an e-mail attachment to mail@affordablemanuscriptassessments.com
4. Who will assess my manuscript?
In 2008, your assessment will be done by either Sally or Gillian. You may request one of us, but if no such request is made, whoever is free will do the job. Submissions may be made through the mail@affordablemanuscriptassessments.com e-mail for both of us, and from then on you will communicate directly with your assessor/editor. Payment should be arranged directly to your assessor. You will be given an account along with your assessment.
5. Can I send hard copy instead?
Yes, but it will cost more and take longer. Hard copy assessments typically take five times as long as e-mailed attachments.
6. How much will this cost?
Assessment costs vary. We charge by the hour (which includes both reading time and time spent writing the assessment), and some jobs take longer than others. In general, if your manuscript is up to 5000 words Australian clients will pay $22.00. A manuscript of 10,000 words will probably cost $35.20 For each additional 10,000 words add an extra $13.20. Thus, a manuscript of 50,000 words would probably cost $74.80 to assess. Clients from other countries will pay AUD $20.00 for the first hour and $12.00 for each subsequent hour, since they do not pay the GST.
7. How long will this take?
Turnover time varies, according to how many manuscripts have joined the queue, how long they are, and what other jobs are to hand. A manuscript will usually be acknowledged within a week of arrival. Turnaround can be as short as a day (for a very short manuscript) to several weeks (if the queue is very long).