Manuscript assessment services
What are the services?
At Writers Victoria we offer Manuscript Assessment, Publisher Submission Appraisal and, as a follow up to both of these, Post Assessment Consultations.
Writers Victoria services are independent and have a proven track record, with assessments and consultations performed by professional writers and editors at competitive rates.
Why get an assessment?
For many writers, manuscript assessment is an important first step before seeking a publisher. It brings a fresh eye to your manuscript and provides you with an objective analysis that enables you to further develop your work.
The assessors are sensitive to writers' intentions for their manuscripts and provide a rigorous and serious reading.
What the Writers Victoria service assesses
- poetry
- fiction, including novels and short stories
- non-fiction, including history, autobiography and biography
- children’s books, including picture books, chapter books and young adult books
- film/TV/play scripts
What an assessment looks at
An assessor will comment and advise on many elements of your manuscript. Depending on the type of manuscript, these may include character, point of view, plotting, pace, writing style, narrative or poetic voice, dialogue, tone, length, structure, presentation of the manuscript, appropriate research and appropriate use of research, likely readership and marketing possibilities.
This is not an editing or proofing service, so there will be no assistance with the more technical aspects of writing, such as grammar, sentence structure, word meaning, indexing or bibliographic format.
You can request that the assessment focus on a particular aspect of the manuscript.
What is a Publisher Submission Appraisal?
Generally speaking (though not always) publishers accepting solicited and unsolicited manuscripts will only request a synopsis of a manuscript and the first two or three chapters. Writers seeking publication would benefit from a Writers Victoria Appraisal of their proposal, prior to sending it to a publisher, to ensure that their submission is the best that it can be.
The appraisal will be of any two chapters of your manuscript (up to 6000 words), a one-page synopsis and cover letter to the publisher.
As a follow up to these we also offer a Post Assessment Consultation
Sometimes there are questions or points of discussion that can’t be addressed in a written report. There is now the option to request a consultation with your assessor once your assessment is complete. See the form for more details.
Cost
All prices include GST. Australian Poetry members receive Writers Victoria members' rates for all MS Assessment Services.
Short manuscripts
Writers Victoria members $220, non-member $250 covers one of: * Short manuscript/s, max 6000 words * Up to three children’s picture books, max 6000 words
Children’s/YA fiction
Writers Victoria members $335, non-member $395 covers:
- Children’s/YA fiction, max 50,000 words
Full-length manuscripts
Writers Victoria members $480, non-member $540 covers one of:
- Fiction or non-fiction, max 80,000 words
- Poetry collection, max 3000 lines
- Script or screenplay, max 120 pages
The industry standard for published manuscripts is 80 000 words, therefore manuscripts over 120,000 words may not be submitted for assessment. See the form for pricing of full-length manuscripts up to 120,000 words.
Publisher Submission Appraisal
Writers Victoria members $250, non-member $300 covers:
- First two sample chapters with synopsis and cover letter, max 6,000 words
How to book a manuscript assessment service:
Download the manuscript assessment form and upon completion, please email to info@writersvictoria.org.au.
Upon receipt of this form, we will contact you with details of how to electronically submit your work for assessment. Please note we will no longer be accepting hard copy submissions.
For further information contact us
