MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION @ $5/Page (standard format)

• Recommended if you have a partly written or completely written novel or memoir and need professional help to determine its marketability in today’s market

Manuscript evaluations include a full manuscript read with some line-by-line comments on the manuscript. Copy-edits are not part of this service. However, if your writing contains ongoing grammatical issues, I will point these out in the line-by-line commentary.

Evaluation includes a typed letter detailing the following:

• Comments and suggestions on content, characterization, dialogue, setting, plot, POV, believability, and research, etc.
• Comments and suggestions on overall writing technique, pace and flow, tension, “voice” & “color”, show & tell, use of metaphor & imagery, etc.
• Recommended steps to develop the manuscript (may recommend consultation and tutorial)
• My guidebook The Fiction Writer if you pay for over $500 worth of my services

Manuscript evaluation works best if combined with in-person or online consultation, where interactive storyboarding and discussion can best help the writer take his/her manuscript to the next level. Consultation may include online or in-person tutorial on aspects of the writing craft that need improvement as evaluated.

MANUSCRIPT COPY & STRUCTURAL EDITING/PROOFING @ $5/Page

• Recommended if you are almost finished a novel or memoir and need professional help to make it publishable in today’s market

My copy-edits consist of thorough line by line edits on grammatical issues like punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, etc. I include commentary on issues like story flow, effective language, achieving tension and increasing pace, great dialogue, show & tell, use of metaphor, simile, allegory and other language devices to achieve a compelling read.

Sometimes a work may require some re-arranging; some structural elements are missing or misplaced. My structural edits include commentary and recommendations on plot alignment, sub-plot weaving and story arc, character inclusion/exclusion; chapter re-writes and re-arranging; beginnings and endings; scenes & sequels.

PERSONAL COACHING TOWARD PUBLICATION @ $50/hour

Personal coaching may include in-person or online consultation and discussion or tutorial on writing craft elements.

I provide individual coaching on any aspect of your writing including storyboarding, molding idea to premise, plotting successfully, developing memorable characters, creating compelling hooks and beginnings, writing vivid and meaningful settings.

Nina and Oli in Mahone Bay, NS

I also work closely with authors on a chapter by chapter basis on their subsequent drafts. It helps if I’ve initially done a manuscript evaluation and they have been following my initial recommendations. For any payment over $500, I include a copy of my guidebook The Fiction Writer.

Please send inquiries to nina.sfgirl@gmail.com (message header: Nina, the Writing Coach) for other services, listed in the Services & Fees Page (including helping with Self-Publishing, promotional writing, etc.)