Manuscript Critique

You don’t need a full edit to get meaningful guidance.

A manuscript critique offers affordable, professional insight into the core of your story—so you know exactly where to focus next.

About the Manuscript Critique

Think of this as the lighter, faster cousin of a full developmental edit.

The manuscript critique gives you a high-level review of your story’s structure, character arcs, pacing, and more—without the deep-dive scene work or in-line comments of a developmental edit. It’s ideal if you’ve done a few rounds of revision and want professional insight before investing in heavier edits.

This service is especially helpful if you want to:

pinpoint where your plot and subplots need work
ensure the stakes escalate clearly and consistently
strengthen your character development and arcs
get feedback on your worldbuilding (if applicable)
improve the overall pacing and story flow.

This critique focuses purely on big-picture feedback—it does not include tracked changes or sentence-level edits.

Price: $10 USD per 1,000 words (starting at 20,000 words).

Format: PDF or Word document—your choice.
Since there are no in-line edits, you don’t need Microsoft Word to review the feedback. A PDF works just as well.

The editorial letter you’ll receive (PDF) typically ranges from 15–20 pages, depending on the scope and complexity of your manuscript.

Sample edit: Due to the format of this service, I don’t offer a sample edit. But if you’d like to see an example of the report, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to share one!

I do not edit in Scrivener or other writing tools—please export your file as a .docx or .pdf.

Genre fit: I primarily work with fantasy, cozy mystery, and self-help nonfiction. Not sure if your book is a good fit? Just ask!

This Is for You If...

You’ve finished a draft and revised it a few times, but aren’t sure what’s working and what still needs attention.
You’ve received beta reader feedback, but don’t know how to implement it.
You’ve read through your story and feel like something’s missing… but can’t quite figure out what.
You’re not ready for a full developmental edit but still want high-level, professional guidance.
You’re feeling overwhelmed by revisions and want help prioritizing your next steps.
You want to ensure your story hits the right beats.
Whether you’re planning to self-publish or query, you want to strengthen your story’s foundation before moving forward.

If you’re looking for clear, actionable feedback that helps you revise with confidence, the manuscript critique is a great place to start.

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"Iris is phenomenal! She spots the things that I as the author have glossed over, ignored, or tried to get away with. She doesn't pull any punches in her critique, pointing out clearly the things that need work, but she does it so kindly and instructively that it's exciting to go through. I love working with her!"

H. Doan Sperry, author of A Missouri Star Mystery series

The Process at a Glance

Here’s what to expect once you reach out to book your manuscript critique:

1. Booking
Have questions before committing? Feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help.
Once you’re ready, we’ll confirm the timeline, sign a simple contract, and secure your spot with a 50% deposit. (Need a different payment option? Let me know!)

Please submit your manuscript as a Word doc (.docx) or PDF.

2. Critique Begins

I’ll read through your manuscript and take notes as I go. If anything’s unclear, I’ll check in with you before I finalize the feedback. Then I’ll put together a detailed editorial letter highlighting what’s working, what needs improvement, and how to move forward.

This service focuses on story-level feedback—it does not include line edits or in-document comments.

Turnaround time is typically 3–4 weeks, depending on manuscript length and my current schedule.

3. Your Next Steps
You revise with purpose using the suggestions in your report. And if questions pop up along the way? You’ve got email support—just reach out anytime. I’ll also check in after delivery to see how you’re doing with the feedback.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Request your booking below—I’d love to hear about your book.

Not sure if this is the right fit? No pressure at all. Just send me a message, and I’ll help you figure out what makes the most sense for you and your story.

Get in Touch

What You'll Receive

When your critique is complete, you’ll receive:

A detailed editorial report (15–20 pages)
This comprehensive PDF focuses on high-level story elements and includes feedback on:

your manuscript’s genre and market fit
story conventions and reader expectations
theme and emotional resonance
point of view and narrative voice
character wants, needs, and arcs
global story structure, with a clear breakdown of how it unfolds
character development
worldbuilding (if applicable)
overall writing style and clarity.

A clear list of action steps
At the end of the report, you’ll get a personalized checklist of next steps so you know exactly what to focus on in your revision.

Thoughtful, approachable feedback
My feedback is always honest, kind, and actionable. I want you to feel empowered by your critique, not overwhelmed by it.

Tailored to your learning style
I adapt my feedback to suit how you learn best—whether that’s a visual explanation, structural breakdowns, or resource links to dive deeper.

Email support included
If questions come up while you're reviewing your critique, you’re welcome to reach out. I’m here to clarify anything that’s unclear.

This service does not include line edits or in-line comments—only big-picture feedback to guide your revisions with clarity.

Price & Dates

Price: $10 (USD) per 1000 words

Minimum word count: 20,000 words.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

60,000-word novel → $600
90,000-word novel → $900

Note on word count:

I round down to the nearest 1,000 words. So if your manuscript is 60,499 words, I’ll calculate your price based on 60,000.

If your manuscript is just slightly over a bracket (say, 60,800), I’ll calculate the price based on 61,000 words.

Date: We’ll confirm your project start and delivery date when you book. Once your critique begins, turnaround is typically 3–4 weeks, depending on length and overall manuscript condition.

You don’t have to revise in the dark.
A manuscript critique will light the way toward a stronger, sharper draft.

Request Your Critique

What’s the difference between a line edit and a copyedit?

A line edit focuses on the style and flow of your writing—word choice, sentence rhythm, tone, pacing, and clarity. A copyedit looks at technical accuracy—spelling, grammar, punctuation, and consistency. My service combines both in a single, thorough pass.
Will you rewrite my story?

No. I’ll make suggestions to improve clarity and flow, but I won’t rewrite your voice or story. My goal is to enhance your style—not replace it. You always have full control over what edits you accept or reject.
What genres do you edit?

I specialize in fantasy, mystery, and self-help nonfiction. I tailor the edit to your genre, tone, and target audience.
Do I need to format my manuscript in a certain way?

A clean, readable format helps a lot. Double-spaced, 12pt font (like Times New Roman), with standard 1-inch margins is perfect. You’ll get detailed instructions once we start—no stress!
How long will the edit take?

Turnaround depends on the manuscript length and my current schedule, but typically ranges from 4–6 weeks. I’ll give you a clear timeframe before we begin.
What if I have questions during or after the edit?

You have unlimited email access to me throughout your revision process. I’m happy to explain comments, talk through tricky scenes, or just cheer you on.
What’s the second pass, and when should I send it?

After your revision is done, you can send your updated manuscript (up to 5,000 new or adjusted words) for a final look. I’ll do a global review to check flow, voice, and consistency. If you have more new/adjusted words, there might be a small additional fee for the extra work.
Do you offer a sample edit?

Yes! If you’d like to see how I work, you can request a short sample edit (usually around 1,000 words) before booking.