Next Step Assessment

Not sure what your manuscript needs next? Let’s figure it out together.

The Next Step Assessment gives you clear, personalized feedback to help you move forward with purpose.

About the Next Step Assessment

Feeling unsure where to focus your revisions? This service helps you get clear on what your manuscript needs most—without the time or cost of a full developmental edit.

The Next Step Assessment is a streamlined alternative to the manuscript critique. It’s perfect if you’re working within a tighter budget or simply want targeted, high-impact feedback that tells you exactly what to work on next.

You’ll receive a focused editorial overview that looks at your story’s structure, pacing, character arcs, and voice—and identifies the single most important issue that’s holding your manuscript back.

Whether it’s an underdeveloped antagonist, a structural imbalance, bland dialogue, or shifting POV, I’ll break it down for you with clarity. You’ll get a plain-language explanation of the issue, helpful resources tailored to your needs, suggestions for revision, and personalized “homework” to guide your next steps.

Price:

$300 USD (up to 50,000 words)
$500 USD (up to 100,000 words)

Format: Delivered as a PDF or Word document—your choice.
Since this assessment doesn’t include in-line edits, you don’t need Microsoft Word to review the feedback. A simple PDF works just as well.

Sample edit: Due to the format of this service, I don’t offer a sample edit. But if you have questions or want to see an example of what the report looks like, feel free to reach out!

Genre fit: I specialize in fantasy, cozy mystery, and self-help nonfiction. If you're not certain whether your book fits, please reach out and tell me more about your book.

I do not edit in Scrivener or other writing tool.

This Is for You If...

You’ve revised your manuscript but aren’t sure what to tackle next.
You don’t have the budget (or need) for a full developmental edit or manuscript critique.
You want clear, actionable feedback without the deep-dive commitment.
You’re confident in some areas of your story but need help with just one or two key elements.
You’re feeling stuck and want someone to point you in the right direction—so you can revise with purpose.

Book now

Iris is wonderful to work with. She has great communication, is well organized, timely, and taught me many things I didn't know as a new writer. I appreciate her encouragement, support, as well as her great editing and overview of my first book. I know my book(s) will be better with her eyes on them! Looking forward to working with Iris on the other books in my series, and encourage others to use her expertise and knowledge to elevate their writing as well!

Kat J. Wallace, Fantasy author

The Process at a Glance

Here's how things flow once you reach out for a booking:

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

2. Assessment Begins

I’ll read through your manuscript and make notes as I go. If anything’s unclear, I’ll check in with you. From there, I’ll identify the one issue that, if fixed, will have the biggest impact on your story—and write a detailed report explaining the problem and outlining the steps you can take to address it.

3. Next Steps
You revise with clarity and direction, using the tools and feedback from your report. And if you get stuck or have follow-up questions? You’ve got email support—I’m here to help.

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? Send me a message, and I’ll help you figure it out—no pressure.

Get in Touch

What You'll Receive

You’ll get a detailed PDF report focused on the next big step your manuscript needs to move forward. Here's what's included:

Market positioning insights
I’ll help you identify where your book fits in the current market—so you can make smart choices about tropes, reader expectations, and even your book cover.

A deep dive into one high-impact issue
We’ll focus on the one story element that needs the most attention right now—whether it’s structure, pacing, character arcs, POV, or something else that’s holding your manuscript back.

Actionable feedback & “homework”
You’ll receive specific, practical suggestions to help you revise with confidence—no vague advice, just clear steps you can actually follow.

Next steps guidance
I’ll wrap up the report with recommendations on what to do next in your revision journey—so you’re never left guessing.

The Big Focus

You won’t get a laundry list of vague feedback. Instead, I’ll help you zero in on the one issue that—if fixed—will make the biggest difference in your story.

Price & Dates

Price: The Next Step Assessment is a flat-rate service based on your manuscript’s word count:

Up to 50,000 words: $300 USD
Up to 100,000 words: $500 USD

Have a manuscript over 100,000 words? No problem, just get in touch to request a custom quote.

Date: We’ll decide on a start and delivery date together when you book. Once your assessment begins, you can expect your feedback within 1–2 weeks, depending on the length and condition of your manuscript.

Ready to stop second-guessing and start revising with direction? Let’s figure out exactly what your manuscript needs next.

Book Your Assessment

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.