At its core, a manuscript assessment answers one practical question: Where should you focus your revisions first?
A manuscript assessment is designed for authors who have completed a draft but aren't sure what deserves their attention next.
Rather than providing a full editorial breakdown, this service offers a high-level professional evaluation of your manuscript, helping you identify the three or four revisions that will have the greatest impact before investing in deeper editing or beginning another revision pass.
Think of it as a roadmap for prioritizing your revisions—not a comprehensive diagnosis of every issue within the manuscript.
Unlike a developmental edit, a manuscript assessment doesn't examine every chapter or scene in detail. Instead, it identifies the biggest patterns affecting your manuscript and helps you determine where your time and energy will be best spent during revision.
Starting at $495 USD (final quote based on manuscript length).
What you'll receive:
This service does NOT include:
Best suited for authors who:
A note: Many authors use a manuscript assessment as the bridge between a finished first draft and deeper revision.
If your assessment leaves you knowing what needs attention but unsure how to tackle those revisions, a Story Strategy Session can help you work through individual challenges. If you're ready for a comprehensive editorial roadmap across the entire manuscript, a Developmental Edit is likely your next step.
“Alexa never fails to deliver insightful and challenging comments through her beta reading. I’ve used her for every book in my Singularverse series, and with each successive volume, her expertise has grown. She’s come into her own as a premier beta reader and partner. Because that’s what LIAS is for authors—a partner in the creative process. She won’t always tell you what you want to hear, but she’ll always tell it like it is. And that is something every author needs!!”
Author of the Singularverse sci-fi/fantasy series, the Descent thriller series, & more
Pricing is in US dollars and is subject to change. Manuscript length and complexity can lead to additional charges. We will always contact you before proceeding in such cases.
We do not accept manuscripts with a poor mastery of the English language. If you are unsure, please send us the first chapter of your work. Any misrepresentation of the complexity of your novel will lead to your order being cancelled.
Unless otherwise specified on your invoice, turnaround for the majority of our packages is 3-4 weeks. We can accommodate urgent requests, but there will be an additional rush fee. Please contact us in advance.