Should You Pay for a Manuscript Assessment?

A manuscript assessment is not essential, and many authors submit to publishers without one. However, a manuscript assessment can help you identify potential issues with your work and give you a far greater chance of being accepted by a traditional publisher. A manuscript assessment by an editor who knows the industry will provide you with valuable feedback on your manuscript, discussing structure, plot, and character development, and making constructive criticisms and suggestions you can use to improve your work.

While a manuscript assessment is exceedingly valuable and helpful, professional manuscript assessments can cost substantial money. It is not a good idea to get your first draft assessed professionally. Every author knows that the first draft is only the starting point. Publishers do not accept first drafts. Instead, polish your manuscript several times, send it to an editor for copy editing, and when you are ready to send it to a publisher, send it to a manuscript assessor first. You might receive criticism that requires rewriting some sections, but you will not waste your time getting a manuscript assessment for a document that will dramatically change anyway.