Manuscript Critique:

 

For a fiction manuscript, I will assess the material for plot, character development, narrative flow, dialogue and voice, among other things. Non-fiction manuscripts are assessed for organization, clarity and accessibility. I provide an in-depth report, usually two to four single-spaced pages in length, detailing the manuscript's strengths and weaknesses. The report includes revision suggestions, which may be minor or extensive. I also make notations on the manuscript itself, which enables me to target comments to specific problems. At the writer's request, I am also available for phone consultations.

 

Line Edit:

 

Line editing consists of correcting spelling and grammatical errors, and also more substantive editorial work. I look for and correct common errors, such as repetitive word use, overuse of adjectives and adverbs and passive voice construction. I also edit for clarity; for instance, eliminating run-on sentences, smoothing awkward transitions and correcting point of view problems.

 

Rewrite:

 

Some stories are worth being told, yet the author has little facility or interest in writing. The manuscript might, therefore, need extensive reworking that goes beyond a simple line edit. I will rewrite sections of a work as required, making certain that the original and rewritten sections blend seamlessly.

I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the
morning and took out a comma.  In the afternoon, I put
it back in. -- Oscar Wilde.