Manuscript assessment
So you’ve written a short story, part of a novel – or the whole thing! Before you start sending it to publishers, it might be a good idea to get it assessed by an expert.
That’s where a manuscript assessment comes in. It’s an invaluable way to get feedback on your work to see where
your strengths are and where you can improve.
We can offer manuscript assessments for writing aimed at children, young adults or adults. We do not provide the
service for picture books. Your writing needs to be directed
to readers aged 9 and above.
What is a manuscript assessment?
The manuscript assessment is a detailed and objective
report on all aspects of your work.
For fiction and life-writing assessments the report discusses:
- Style
- Structure
- Point of view
- Character development
- Plot technique and development
- Scene-setting
- Time frames
- Relevant genre conventions
- Any other elements particular to your work
The assessment will also address such questions as:
- Have you achieved what you set out to do?
- Does it reach the target audience?
- Does it grab the reader?
- Is it a good story?
- Does it feel fresh or is it cliched and predictable?
- Will an agent or a publisher like it?
Who will assess your manuscript?
Cathie Tasker is a fiction editor with over 25 years experience. Her specialisations are in science fiction, children’s and young adult fiction and genre adult fiction.
She is also a judge for the Aurealis Awards, fantasy novel section. Cathie trained as a librarian, in literature, and in marketing. Her academic qualifications are: libraries and literature (BA in Library Science & Literature), children’s literature (half of a Graduate Diploma in Children’s Literature), and marketing (Graduate Diploma of Marketing).
She worked in public libraries for seven years, and has spent over 25 years in book publishing, both in editorial and marketing, in children’s publishing, and in adult fiction and manuscript assessments. Her publishing background has been at Scholastic Australia, HarperCollins and now at Koala Books.
Dr Rose Moxham writes for adults and children and has published short stories and two young adult novels. Her most recent work is a novel, Teeth Marks (Allen & Unwin), April, 2007.
She has served as a judge for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards (2000) and on the committee of the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge.
Rose has designed, developed and delivered undergraduate and post-graduate courses in writing and editing (non-fiction and fiction) at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and Macquarie University since 1997.
She has vast experience in manuscript assessment and has reviewed peer textbooks on writing techniques (eg, Hazel Smith, The Writing Experiment, Allen & Unwin 2004) and mentored various authors.
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