What do you get from the critique service?

"What I learned from your critiques about my writing was just as valuable as the hundreds of dollars I spent on "How-To" books on writing."
Paul Perron

My comments

Please remember that the feedback I send you regarding your work is my personal opinion. I am not able to offer you professional editorial advice, neither can I guarantee that your work will be accepted for publication.

First Impression Critique

This is a basic level critique ideal for trying out the critique service, or for getting some general feedback and advice on your manuscript. I will read through your manuscript only twice, to provide my comments and to check for errors.

You will receive a short report in PDF format, along with my comments in Track Changes in your Word Document.

If you don't use a PDF reader or MS Word, please let me know so that I can arrange alternatives with you.

Detailed Critique

The detailed critique is excellent value for money. I will read your critique several times and provide a more in depth assessment along with my general first impressions of your work.

I do my critiquing in layers and this involves an initial read through and edit for spelling, grammar, and clarity. I then go back through the copy more finely, looking at the more technical aspects of constructing the prose. In doing this I might jump around the text to check how aspects fit in together, reading your copy several times over.

I like to take a day or two to mull over your work before providing my report, so this critique can take between three and twenty working days. Clients have found the insight that comes from this process very valuable. However, do let me know if you're on a deadline so that I can cater for your needs.

Depending on the length of your manuscript or extract and the nature of any problems you highlight, you will receive a detailed report outlining areas and suggestions for improvement, advice regarding the style and structure of your writing, characterisation, dialogue, etc.

Example critique

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Formats

Microsoft Word

The easiest format for me to work with is a Microsoft Word document. I will provide my comments and suggested corrections in a copy of your document using Word's Track Changes feature. You will then be able to review my comments and accept or reject the changes as you feel appropriate.

If you're unsure of how to use the Track Changes feature, I will be happy to guide you through it.

I will also send you a separate file containing my comments and notes on your work.

Other Word Processing Programs

If you use a word processing program other than Microsoft Word, please send me a single page test file so that I can determine whether I can open your file on my system.

Alternatively, send me your document saved in Rich Text Format (rtf), or as a Plain Text file (txt). These formats are generally readable on any system.

I will return my corrections and suggestions in pdf format (Portable Document Format), along with my comments and notes in Text format.

Lengthy manuscripts

For manuscripts longer than 10000 words, , together with a sample of approximately 1000 words.

Alternatively, you may wish to start by sending me just the first chapter or two, which you can do using the order buttons.

This is useful for screening your manuscript for that initial submission to agents or publishers, who often don't want to see more than three chapters. I can help you refine your submission, and you can decide whether you want me to look at the rest of your manuscript. At this stage, I can give you a quote taking any previous payment into account.

Elsa has critiqued many of my stories. She has a real eye for plot and character motivation and can see clearly when you've gone astray. Her grammar is spot on as well. Thanks to her, my story "The Rich People's School" recently appeared in the prestigious U.K. based literary magazine, Mslexia. I would highly recommend her.
Lauri Kubuitsile - author of the novella, The Fatal Payout (Macmillan 2005)