Library Cushion

A second opinion either allows you, in agreeing or disagreeing, to reinforce your own view, or offers a new, inspiring one.

The Writers' and
Artists' Yearbook
Guide to Getting Published

I couldn't imagine finding anyone more helpful, supportive, or nice to work with. I never would have made it this far without your guidance!

Erin Hughes, author

Click to see an example of a budget book critique.


Click to see an example of a comprehensive book critique.

BOOK CRITIQUEYou've written a book. Congratulations! But now what will you do?

a) Shove it in a drawer and spend the next few years telling people wistfully 'I wrote a book once, you know . . .'?

b) Convince yourself it's the next Harry Potter and send it priority mail to every publishing house in the country?

c) Develop your book further and discover whether it really is the next Harry Potter or is best left in the drawer?

If you chose the third option then you've come to the right place. The Book Specialist editors are well equipped to assess manuscripts – to see what's working, and what could be improved, and to take a view on publishing potential. My book critique service helps authors develop their writing and gain realistic feedback on their manuscript to inform their next steps.

HONEST FEEDBACK A book critique (also known as a manuscript critique or manuscript assessment) reviews the big picture of your book, looking at elements such as structure, writing style and content. As an author, you're too close to your book to spot most problems, weaknesses and inconsistencies, but a professional book critique helps you address issues, further develop your book and get a better idea of its suitability for publication.

The editor's role is not to criticise and knock an author's confidence, but to offer constructive feedback. The editor is sensitive in their approach, but always honest (there's no point commissioning a book critique unless you want the truth), and makes a point of telling authors what's good in their writing as well as where they can develop.

While accepting constructive feedback is very difficult (I don't find it easy myself!), it really does help you grow as a writer. A book critique is therefore an essential element of the book-writing process.

I offer two levels of book critique: comprehensive and budget. The following sections outline the differences.

COMPREHENSIVE BOOK CRITIQUEThe comprehensive book critique is a document (usually between seven and ten pages in length) that summarises the editor's opinions on and recommendations for the book within certain areas: usually genre, audience, title, writing style, characterisation, setting, plot, structure and readiness for publication.

The comprehensive book critique is the industry standard manuscript appraisal. It gives you a clear picture of which areas you may want to develop and how you may take the book forward for publication. Sometimes a critique is abundantly positive, and the editor recommends, after a proofread, that an author submit the book to publishers and agents straight away; sometimes the editor tells an author that the book is unlikely to have a market, or has fatal flaws. Often, however, critiques fall somewhere in the middle, with commendations for good elements and recommendations for improving weaker areas.

Please note: The comprehensive book critique is an overview document. The critique is designed to look at the big picture; thus the critique does not drill down into the minutiae of the book, highlighting each small inconsistency, weakness and mistake. If you want a more fine-tooth-comb appraisal, take a look at my development editing service.

BUDGET BOOK CRITIQUE The budget book critique is designed to offer a quick and concise opinion on the two questions to which authors want an answer: Is my book any good? and Will it sell/publish? Before investing your time, energy and possibly money in developing a book, it's a good idea to find out whether the manuscript has legs.

For the budget book critique, the editor examine the synopsis (outline) of your book and a 10,000-word extract (ideally, the first section of the book). From this the editor gets a feel for your book as a whole and your ability and potential as a writer. The editor then produces a one-page report outlining their impressions, whether you can develop the book, a brief indication of how you may do so, and whether they think the book is, or can be, of interest to a publisher and to readers.

WHICH ONE COMES FIRST, A BOOK CRITIQUE OR EDITING? If you want to develop your book and/or you want to know whether it's of a publishable standard, commission a book critique before considering any editing services. The book critique is the first step in the editorial process. A book critique can often recommend large-scale changes to a book, and you want to make such changes before any editing or proofreading – otherwise you'll be revising beautifully edited/proofread text and no doubt introducing flaws, which means you need to shell out for a second edit/proofread. Ensure the foundations are solid before prettying up the content.

SAMPLE BOOK CRITIQUES To get a feel for The Book Specialist book critique, take a look at these samples: budget book critique example; comprehensive book critique example.

BOOK CRITIQUE TERMS A comprehensive book critique costs £5.50 per 1,000 words. A budget book critique costs £75. If you'd like me to look at your book again after the critique, I offer a 25% discount on the initial fee.

Standard turnaround is four weeks for the comprehensive book critique, and two weeks for the budget book critique. I offer an express service, for an increased fee, if required.