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The Manuscript Critique

With Actual Critique Examples

Once you've completed your book manuscript or your book proposal, your work may benefit from a Manuscript Critique. The purpose of the critique is to give you an overall evaluation of your manuscript. Properly done, you'll know what works in your manuscript, what doesn't, and what to do next.

It's important to realize that a critique is not an edit. Editing deals with specifics; the critique is a more general assessment. Although the professional performing the critique reads your manuscript thoroughly, the kind of information you get is less specific than you'd expect from a rewrite editor or a copy editor.

Some Examples

Not to long ago I was asked to provide a critique for a self-help book. First, I delivered the good news:

Let me start by saying that your book is potentially great, but you’re not done yet. As a self-help book, it offers a new and fresh approach--the whole concept is dynamite… a potential industry.

You write well, but you already know that, and the book needs a major rewrite--I know, that’s not what you wanted to hear, but … I suspect you know that too. Rewrites can either be a drag or a creative experience… and you know that!

Next, I took on what I considered the first major problem:

Now, here’s my sense of the manuscript as a whole: It’s too long, which is another way of saying it needs serious tightening.

Then I made some specific suggestions:

Before you do anything else, I’d like you to do write two things:

• A 10-word purpose for the book. Something like this: The purpose of (Book Title) is (insert your 10 words here.)
  The purpose statement is also a summary of your vision for the book
• A detailed definition of your ideal reader. I think you’ve got one in mind, but I’d like to see it written down. Include sex, age, education level, where they are likely to buy the book – things like that. Ideally, you’ll create three ideal readers, but one is a good start.

Then I took on the organization of the book as a whole:

Next, realize your book really has three parts:

• What I elegantly call the “guts” of the book.
• The conversations between (proprietary characters).
• The exercises.

I continued in this fashion for several pages - pointing out a problem and making some suggestions for fixes.

Winding Up

In this case, the client was interested in using me either as a writing coach or as a rewrite editor, so I wound up the critique with a specific proposal for both situations. Ultimately the client decided to continue without me because she felt she could handle the changes on her own.

Costs, etc.

When pricing a critique I take into consideration how long it will take me to carefully read the manuscript. Often I end up reading it twice, the first time to get a general sense of the whole, and the second time taking notes along the way.

Then there's the time to write the critique itself, which is almost always at least four or five pages long, and may be longer, depending on the situation.

My goal in a critique is to give the author two things:

1. insight into the problems in the manuscript

2. a way to move forward, either with me or without me

A manuscript critique can be an excellent tool to help you understand exactly what your book or book proposal needs to become a true success.

Write well and often!

If you'd like information about a critique on your manuscript or proposal, contact me.