Manuscript Assessments

Strategic Insight to Elevate Every Chapter

A strategic, in-depth evaluation of your draft to identify strengths, gaps, and actionable ways to elevate your manuscript for readers and the market.

  • New York Times Bestseller!

I get it…

You’ve poured energy into drafting, but you can’t tell if your book actually works—or if it even makes sense.

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Without expert eyes, structural issues, pacing problems, or confusing sections will go unchecked.

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You risk moving forward with revisions (or even publishing) on a shaky foundation that weakens your book’s impact.

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The uncertainty leaves you stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, spinning your wheels instead of progressing.

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You can publish a book you’re incredibly proud of.

You just need someone with industry experience and a passion for helping people tell their stories.

A manuscript assessment elevates your draft by providing expert insight into structure, readability, clarity, and market alignment. Instead of guessing what’s working, you’ll receive a detailed evaluation that highlights strengths, identifies gaps, and offers actionable steps for improvement.

This assessment examines both the big-picture elements—organization, flow, messaging—and the finer points like tone, consistency, and reader engagement. With this clarity, you’ll know exactly how to revise your manuscript to maximize impact and marketability.

The result is a clear, strategic roadmap for refining your book, giving you confidence that every revision moves your manuscript closer to publication-ready quality.

My manuscript assessment gives your draft a professional reality check.

It offers strategic, actionable feedback on structure, tone, and readability so you can elevate your draft with confidence.

Manuscript Assessments Include

  • Discovery Call

    This call is more than just logistics and scheduling; it’s where I get to know you, your goals, your challenges, and your publishing dreams, so the edit is deeply aligned with your vision.

  • Manuscript Assessment & Report

    A comprehensive review of structure, readability, tone, and market alignment, with actionable feedback and suggestions to elevate your manuscript. This deliverable averages at fifteen to twenty pages of feedback.

  • Author Success Roadmap

    This is a personalized resource I create for all my one-on-one clients. It outlines query guidance, market trends, and publishing paths tailored to your goals. This is support you won’t find in a typical edit.

Let's Chat About Manuscript Assessments

I’m Rebecca, an editor, coach, and your personal publishing consultant

About

The publishing world has a reputation for being exclusive.

But here, you and your book are welcome, and I want to hear your story.

I’ve worked on everything from New York Times and USA Today bestsellers and Indie Next picks to self-published debut novels. I’ve worked with authors who have a lot of letters after their names, attended the most prestigious schools in the world, and have a lot of famous friends. But I’ve also helped people who take money out of their retirement to follow their dreams and write a book.

I’m so proud of all the corners of the publishing world I get to play in. No book is more important to me than another. What matters most to me is in the end, it feels like you. I’m so proud to have helped hundreds of authors elevate their voices and amplify their messages. This work is more important now than ever.

Are you ready to get started?

Success Stories

  • “Rebecca went beyond the call of duty. She spent time mapping the story, developing a glossary. Above all else, her edits and suggestions brought more profound understanding of my characters. So grateful to her.”

    Lori Keesey, award-winning author of Always Think of Me and Second Chance Highway

  • “To my editor and writing coach, Rebecca Andersen, there are not enough thank yous on the planet to tell you how much I appreciate you. Your help, suggestions, ability to organize my chaotic thoughts, editing, and encouragement are next level. This book would not have been written without you.”

    Erin Stafford, high-performance strategist, Cambridge social psychologist, and best-selling author of The Type A Trap

  • “You are far beyond ‘my editor.’ You are a gift from God. You are my thought partner, the ying to my yang. When I look back on the first chapters vs. this final manuscript, I feel the depth and the transformation that has taken place, and, because of you, this book blossomed into more than I could have done on my own.”

    Carolina Migliaccio, brand strategist, founder of Soulful Moxie, author of Emotional Bondage

How Manuscript Assessments Work

  • We start with a thirty-minute discovery call where we can get to know each other and discuss your goals. I’ll gather details about where you’re at in the writing or brainstorming process, when you’d like to publish, and other nitty-gritty details.

  • I read your manuscript thoroughly, evaluating:

    • Structure & Organization: Overall flow, chapter sequencing, and section clarity

    • Messaging & Purpose: Does the manuscript communicate its main ideas effectively?

    • Tone & Voice: Consistency, authenticity, and alignment with intended audience

    • Readability & Engagement: Sentence clarity, pacing, and narrative flow

    • Market Fit & Industry Standards: How the manuscript compares to similar books in your genre or niche

    • Gaps & Opportunities: Areas to strengthen, expand, or clarify

    • Author Notes & Queries: I leave comments and suggestions for consideration

  • I prepare a thorough assessment document, often greater than twenty pages in length, that covers the following components of your book:

    1. Structural Analysis

    • Evaluation of chapter and section organization

    • Flow and pacing across the manuscript

    • Suggestions for reordering or restructuring for clarity and impact

    2. Content & Messaging Review

    • Assessment of clarity and coherence of ideas

    • Identification of gaps, redundancies, or sections needing expansion

    • Alignment of content with the book’s stated goals and purpose

    3. Tone, Voice & Style

    • Consistency and appropriateness for your intended audience

    • Strengths and areas to refine in narrative voice or professional tone

    • Suggestions for improving readability and engagement

    4. Market & Industry Fit

    • Comparison to similar books in your genre or niche

    • Analysis of audience expectations and standards

    • Recommendations to increase marketability and competitiveness

    5. Tactical Revision Guidance

    • Specific, actionable suggestions for each chapter or section

    • Queries and in-line recommendations for improvements

    • Prioritization of revisions based on impact and feasibility

    6. Readability & Clarity Metrics

    • Notes on sentence-level clarity, word choice, and flow

    • Identification of sections that may confuse or disengage readers

    • Recommendations to streamline and clarify complex passages

    7. Author-Focused Insights

    • Guidance for preserving your unique voice while elevating the manuscript

    • Recommendations for next steps in drafting, rewriting, or polishing

    • Notes on long-term strategy, such as potential publishing paths or submission readiness

  • At the end of your assessment package, you’ll receive an author success roadmap compiled specifically for you.

    I share best practices and guidance on how the author can navigate things like contacting agents, querying publishers, investigating self-publishing, contacting internal or cover artists—pretty much everything involved in getting your book into readers’ hands.

QUESTIONS andANSWERS

  • A manuscript assessment is an in-depth, expert evaluation of your completed draft. Unlike a reader report, it combines strategic and tactical feedback to assess structure, messaging, narrative flow, tone, readability, and market potential, giving you a clear roadmap to elevate your manuscript.

  • I work with both nonfiction and fiction manuscripts across a variety of genres. Each assessment is tailored to your manuscript’s purpose, audience, and market, ensuring the feedback is relevant, actionable, and industry-informed.

  • You’ll receive a detailed PDF report outlining strengths, areas for improvement, actionable revision suggestions, and guidance for improving structure, clarity, market resonance, and reader engagement. Minor structural or content notes are included to help you make strategic revisions, but hands-on editing is not part of this service.

  • Pricing depends on manuscript length and complexity. For standard industry-length books, assessments typically range from $1,250–$3,000. Submit your manuscript to receive a personalized quote tailored to your project.

  • Turnaround depends on manuscript length and complexity, but most assessments are delivered within three to four weeks. This ensures thorough, thoughtful feedback while giving you actionable insights to start revising immediately.

  • Absolutely! The assessment evaluates whether your manuscript meets industry standards, highlights strengths and weaknesses, and identifies gaps or areas that may require revision. It gives you confidence and a clear path forward for publishing or further editing.

  • A reader report focuses on how your book lands with readers, providing high-level feedback on pacing, engagement, and reader experience. The manuscript assessment is more intensive, offering detailed editorial insights, tactical recommendations, and strategic guidance to elevate the manuscript in preparation for publication.

  • You can use the assessment as a roadmap for revisions, structural changes, or further editing. Many authors follow up with developmental editing, copy editing, or coaching to implement recommendations, refine their manuscript, and ensure it reaches its full potential.

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